The Rite of Spring: MPO & Heritage Malta Collaboration

The Rite of Spring: MPO & Heritage Malta Collaboration
22nd August 2019 MPO Marketing

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra shall be performing Stravinsky’s revolutionary work The Rite of Spring for the first time in Malta on Saturday 14 September at 8.00pm. In collaboration with Heritage Malta, a limited number of complimentary tickets are being offered to Senior Passport Holders. In addition, any 2 accompanying adults may benefit from a 75% discount on tickets purchased.

Commissioned by Diaghilev, The Rite of Spring describes a pagan ritual where a virgin dances herself to death. In 1913, the premiere of the ballet caused a scandal. The riots that ensued in the theatre were a reaction to Stravinsky’s jarring rhythms and complex innovations, Nijinsky’s exotic choreography and Roerich’s bizarre settings.

The programme also presents fellow Russian Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 – contrastingly full of lyrical melodies. Often described as the greatest piano concerto ever written, the work is full of dialogue between orchestra and soloist. The concert, part of the MPO 19/20 Season, will be under the direction of the MPO Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan and features pianist Alexei Volodin, acclaimed for his highly sensitive touch and technical brilliance.

The performance shall be preceded by a short pre-concert talk at 7.15PM delivered by David Cardona, Heritage Malta Senior Curator Phoenician and Roman sites, and Ruben Zahra, composer and promoter of contemporary music.

Interested Senior Passport holders are requested to email Heritage Malta on passport@heritagemalta.org for more information and further details. The offer is valid until September 2nd and available on a first-come first-serve basis.