Horn soloist Etienne Cutajar knew he wanted to play an instrument ever since he was a toddler. At four, he would wake up early to watch music concerts on television. Now principal horn of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, he tells Veronica Stivala how he worked his way up to this position.

Etienne Cutajar

While most four-year-olds would wake up early on a Sunday morning to watch their favourite cartoon, Etienne Cutajar would do so to watch the Teatro Alla Scala concert on television and then go back to sleep.

The horn soloist is one of those people who has known what he wanted to do in life practically all his life. His passion for music was evident from when he was a toddler and continued to drive him through to his 32nd year.

Cutajar, who started playing the instrument at the age of 10, has worked his way up and has occupied the prestigious position of principal horn of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since 2006.

Although Cutajar lives abroad, he was recently in Malta for a concert at the Manoel Theatre, conducted by Brian Schembri, so I had the opportunity to meet up with him.

Interestingly, despite Cutajar’s passion for all things music, the actual instrument he now plays was chosen for him.

He admits that he initially wanted to play the trombone but was told the horn was more suited to him. Cutajar shares some more gems of his fascination with music and recalls how his four-year-old self would also revel in feast celebrations when he could sit on his grandparents’ balcony and observe the band march.

As he grew into his teens, his passion for music remained and was so overpowering that it overrode his ability to study for school exams.

“I refused to study for my exams,” he confides, “and would go to practise horn instead of doing school work.” Cutajar made a half-hearted attempt at trade school until he was appointed third horn of the national orchestra of Malta at age 18.

He resigned from this post two years later and went on to pursue a two-year, full-time postgraduate course at the Royal Academy of Music, of which institution he is now an associate on a full scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

It is always interesting to learn what a musician’s favourite composers are. However, when I put the question to Cutajar he admits he struggles to pinpoint a few.

I practise 359 days in a year. On the other six days I go to the beach

“I go through phases. Right now it’s the late Romantic composers, Richard Strauss, Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler,” he says, though is quick to add that this might change by next week.

How wonderful to have such a close relationship with music. One can really sense Cutajar’s passion for the discipline.

His life is, of course, devoted to music. He says: “I practise 359 days in a year. On the other six days I go to the beach. That’s as intimate as it gets.”

Speaking of intimacy, it comes as no surprise that Cutajar has a strong bond with his instrument which, he admits, he feels naked without.

When Cutajar has rehearsals, he spend some six hours rehearsing, plus some 45 minutes over and above that stretching.

Cutajar has an impressive portfolio of prestigious performances to his name. He has appeared as guest principal horn with some of the finest British orchestras and chamber groups and has also collaborated with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra a number of times.

He has appeared at renowned venues in the UK, including the Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall, in Malta and at a number of venues in central Europe.

During the Edinburgh International Festival of 2006 he took a solo part in Schumann’s Konzertstueck for four horns – accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

He says this was one of the highlights of his career.

Later that year he recorded Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 with Trevor Pinnock and his European Brandenburg Ensemble and has recently played Richard Strauss’s second horn concerto accompanied by Orchestre-Atelier Ostinato of Paris.

The list is impressive but, as with all things worthwhile, it is the result of much dedication, passion, preparation, sacrifice and loyalty. As Cutajar puts it: “You reap what you sow.”

In 2007 Cutajar released the solo album Fantasie on the UK label Divine Art. This album, which is “closely tied” to his heart, features the Fantasie Sonata for Horn and Piano dedicated to him by his compatriot and dear friend Charles Camilleri.

“It is a snapshot of me in my early 20s,” says Cutajar. Cutajar is also a founder member of Carnyx Brass.

What’s next on the list for this musician?

A highlight is a music tour in China with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with performances of Beet-hoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Vaughn Williams’ Symphony No. 5 and Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture.