Maestro Joseph Vella had a steady, fruitful collaboration with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) over the years. In 2012, for instance, he was appointed MPO`s first Composer in Residence.

As part of their Valletta 2018 International Tour, MPO will continue the legacy by playing Mro. Vella`s “Rebbieħa” in six prestigious concerts to be held in Philadelphia, New York, Moscow and St Petersburg, amongst other cities. Through “Rebbieħa”, MPO will be presenting Maltese music to their foreign audiences, alongside other works by Shostakovich and Shor.

The concerts are planned for the last week of November and the first week of December 2018.

A seventh concert – the University Foundation Concert to be held at Malta`s Mediterranean Conference Centre on the 23rd November 2018 – will also include the same work by Vella.

“Rebbieħa” (Opus 45) – a 12-minute-long symphonic poem – is one of Vella`s most popular orchestral works. It was composed in 1986 and is also available on CD.