March 7 saw celebrated conductor Riccardo Muti's successful return to the Teatro Bellini in Catania where he had made his artistic debut in 1968. Mro Muti's return to Sicily was characterized by a superb performance which was well received by an enthusiastic, 1,200-strong capacity audience.
The concert was successfully organised by the Maltese company Renaissance Productions Ltd and was attended by leading Sicilian personalities. The tickets for the concert were sold out in two hours.
Mro Muti conducted the 70-strong Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini in the overture to Rosamunde (Die Zauberharfe) by Schubert, Symphony No. 4 "Tragic", also by Schubert, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.
Following the concert, distinguished guests were entertained to a lavish reception at Palazzo Biscari at which Mro Muti was present.
This prestigious concert in Catania signalled the first overseas event organised by Renaissance Productions, who had also organised a similar concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Malta in July 2005. RPL were personally requested by Mro Muti to represent his interests in the organisation of the Catania concert.
"Mro Muti's trust in RPL goes back to the successful Malta concert in 2005. That concert struck a particular chord in our professional relationship with him but it also stimulated in Muti a strong affinity to Malta. The concert in Catania has been a rewarding experience for us, working with foreign organisers, authorities and sponsors. As a result we have now started talks to organise another concert with Mro Muti in Montecarlo in 2008," said RPL directors Dr Anton Tabone and Amabile Zammit.
The Teatro Bellini concert was also attended by some Maltese personalities who were guests of RPL. Also thanks to RPL's efforts, Air Malta was chosen as the principal sponsor of this concert offering invaluable exposure to the airline, and transported Mro Muti and his orchestra from and to their destinations.
Apart from tenor Joseph Calleja's concert in July and a series of events being organised in Malta this year, RPL will shortly be announcing details of other exciting productions being planned overseas this summer.