Muti chooses Haydn, Schubert and Cherubini for Malta concert

Among the works musical genius Riccardo Muti has in store for his Malta concert in July are those of composers Haydn, Schubert and Cherubini.

This sneak preview of the anticipated performance by the world-class conductor and his Luigi Cherubini Orchestra was revealed by top exponents of the Ravenna Festival who are collaborating with Renaissance Productions Ltd on the organisation of the event.

It is the first overseas performance of Mro Muti's Luigi Cherubini Orchestra, which augurs the opening of doors for the future, the organisers said.

The orchestra is composed of the "cream of the cream" - about 78 young Italian musicians, whose average age is 24, and who have been selected by the conductor himself over the last two years. It is expected to take the music world by storm.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday to launch the event, Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said Malta was undergoing "a cultural and artistic renaissance" and events of the Muti concert calibre served to heighten its revival as a centre of cultural activity. There was a thirst for such cultural events which would serve to position Malta firmly on the cultural map.

Ravenna Festival superintendent Mario Salvaggiani expressed the conductor's pleasure to perform in Malta and augured that there would be future collaborations. Mro Muti's wife, Cristina, the president of the Ravenna Festival, would also be attending the Malta event.

RPL and the Ravenna Festival were leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the event would go down in the musical history of Malta, the organisers said. RPL directors Anton Tabone and Amabile Zammit have indicated that the Muti concert, which is being held on July 9 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, would be followed by other major, quality events.