The new Malta Philharmonic season kicks off with a bang as violinist Carmine Lauri joins conductor Michael Lausand the full orchestra on stage.

“To carry on performing to the best of my abilities around the world.” It sounds a bit like a Boy Scout motto, but this is what has driven Carmine Lauri, one of Malta’s best exports in the musical field, to always achieve his best.

Classical music sadly is always going to be for the minority

It all started back when he was two years old, when he watched his next-door neighbour’s uncle playing violin with his sister accompanying him. Lauri was so enchanted by it all that he decided to make his own music… using his mother’s wooden spoons.

Lauri has been studying and working in London since 1988, an experience that has profoundly changed his life. “Being a big fish in a small pond leads one to nowhere, and the fierce competition I faced from day one at the academy made me work hard and compete with them. I have not stopped since.”

It might come across as odd that this accomplished violinist, with a long list of honours to his credit, should feel the need to “work hard and compete”. But this is not a vainglorious crusade for personal honour, but a lifelong commitment to music.

To these honours and accolades, Lauri can add guest leader of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, a title that enables him to lead three projects per season. Despite his absence from the island, Lauri has often played with the MPO, and he has performed most of his concerto repertoire with them. But what does it mean to be a guest leader?

“Being a guest leader of other orchestras always feels as if I am new to my job, and to the repertoire I play. I always have to adapt to their ways of playing and their traditions. It is amazing to learn from other musicians and to observe, and then to pass on the information.”

But Lauri is not simply coming to Malta to be the guest leader. He is also performing the famous Bruch Violin Concerto. This work is particularly close to his heart as it was the last piece he performed before his mother passed away two days later back in 2002. Still, the memories he has are mostly happy ones, especially those with the London Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has played for over 17 years. He also has fond memories of working with the Vienna Philharmonic, and was impressed by their particular sound and work ethic.

Strangely enough, he is still rather pessimistic about the music scene in Malta. “Classical music, sadly, is always going to be for the minority. We can try our best to promote it and encourage people to discover its beauty but ultimately it has to be the initiative of the public to learn how to appreciate this art. Malta can do so much more I am sure to spread this wonderful art.”

For someone who has dedicated his life to music since he was a teen (or maybe since he was two!), there can never be enough music and music lovers in the world. He is also keen to do his part for the cause, and has played countless concerts in Malta. And from the looks of it, he will be playing countless more.

Carmine Lauri opens the 2012-2013 Malta Philharmonic Orchestra season on Friday under the baton of conductor Michael Laus.

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