It was beyond our wildest expectations, a resounding success!

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of the super talented Joseph Vella, performed superbly! It was a concert not likely to be forgotten by those who were privileged to be present and others who followed it on the internet. The Basilica was resplendent in all its glory, a venue that has known a multitude of high-profile concerts by the best in the world, from choirs, to orchestras and soloists!!!

The mood was set right from the start, with Rossini’s bubbly Overture to Tancredi, followed by the ethereal ‘Morning’ by Grieg and Isouard’s charming Overture to his opera Cimarosa. The highlight of the evening was, without doubt, the performance of Tchaikovsky’s devilishly difficult and equally ravishing Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, op. 35, during which virtuoso violinist Dejan Bogdanovich dazzled the audience with his gorgeous technique, refined sensibility and superb execution of one of the best-loved concertos in the canon. From pyrotechnical fireworks to the most haunting pianissimos, the whole dynamic gamut was explored in all its gorgeous detail.

The audience leapt to its feet at the end and the resounding applause was a merited response to an evening of extraordinary class.

And this is just the beginning … a whole range of 31 concerts are still waiting to be performed, with a trio from Paris performing works for viola, mandolin and harp.

Make sure you don’t miss any of this! It’s a rare luxury, one that comes with a tremendous amount of work, dedication and commitment to a worthy cause!