SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS on a theme by CHOPIN (in memory of Maria)

Last Friday, 7 March, at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta I conducted the premiere performance of one of my latest compositions  – Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra on a theme by Chopin op 131. I composed this work at the request of Robert Ghirlando as a piece in memory (and as a tribute) to his late wife Maria. I think it was an excellent performance with soloist Natascha Chircop amd the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra rising up admirably to the situation.

What one may call another premier for Malta was the Concerto No 2 for Double Bass and Strings by Bottesini,  excellently interpreted by Georgj Cincievski. Other works I chose for the evening were Der Freischutz Overture (Weber), Ballet Music from Faust (Gounod), and Mid Summer Nights’Dream Overture (Mendelsshon)