First Maltese music festival may be held in 2005

The National Orchestra board is studying the possibility of holding the first festival of music by Maltese composers next year.

Two days will be devoted to classical music while a third would feature classical and less classical music.

The board also plans to hold a concert this year during which classical and non-classical music will be played.

The new orchestra board chairman, Mario Tabone-Vassallo, said it was the policy of the orchestra to give precedence to contemporary Maltese music and composers.

Dr Tabone-Vassallo was speaking at the signing of the new four-year contract with orchestra musical director Michael Laus at the board's premises in Valletta yesterday.

The contract was the subject of controversy after one of the board members, Kenneth Zammit Tabona, insisted on seeing the contract before it was signed. Mr Zammit Tabona has resigned from the board.

But Dr Tabone-Vassallo said that Mro Laus' contract was approved by board members during a meeting on Thursday.

Dr Tabone-Vassallo said that a few months ago the post of board chairman and music director of the orchestra used to be occupied by the same person, that is Mro Laus. But it was deemed better to separate the posts although the two persons occupying the different posts would work closely together.

The development required a redefinition of the duties of the persons concerned, with a view to allowing the musical director to dedicate more time for the development of the orchestra.

Dr Tabone-Vassallo said it was felt that the musical director should be freed from the responsibilities of the board and that he should be employed on a full time basis with the orchestra.

He said that while Mro Laus' contract was being negotiated with the various government departments concerned he had kept board members updated, although not in detail. It was not possible at certain stages to divulge all the details that were being negotiated for obvious reasons, he said.

He added that since he became chairman he was having regular discussions with the board, the musical director and the orchestra committee.

Mr Zammit Tabona, who did not attend Thursday's meeting, had been appointed on the National Orchestra board in August last year by Youth and Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett.

Mr Zammit Tabona said that at one of the meetings the board chairman had announced that the post of artistic director was vacant and that the board was negotiating a new contract. He insisted he wanted to see the contract before it was signed. The chairman replied that this was a "private and confidential matter".

"Being a board member I had the right to insist to see the contract," he said.

He said his resignation did not reflect any mistrust in Mro Laus.