On Friday at 7.30 p.m., the Manoel Theatre presents the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert directed by Latvian conductor Andris Poga.
The programme consists of the Tragic Overture, Op. 81, the Concerto N. 1 in A minor for cello and orchestra, Op.33 by Saint-Saëns with soloist Simon Abdilla Joslin and Beethoven’s Symphony N.3 in E flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’.
Poga was born in 1980 and graduated from Riga’s Jazeps Vitols Academy of Music. He also studied philosophy at Riga University and in 2004 and 2005, at Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts studied conducting with Uroš Lajovic.
Since 2007 he has regularly directed the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra in symphonic works by, among others, Beethoven Mahler, Brahms, Hindemith, Weber, Berg, Richard Strauss and Messiaën.
Founder of the Konsonanse Chamber Orchestra, Poga has toured Latvia with it and also abroad. He has released two CDs: Merry Christmas in 2007 and Windstream in 2008, with the Riga Professional Symphonic Band of which he has been music director and chief conductor since 2007.
Among various prestigious awards, Poga was winner of the Latvia Great Music Award (2007) and last year won first prize inthe Yevgeny Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Montpellier.
He has also conducted various French orchestras, including the Orchestre Nationale de Bordeaux, the Orchestre Nationale de Montpellier and last year was assistant to Myung-Whun Chung for a concert by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
Simon Abdilla Joslin began his cello studies at the age of nine. He furthered his studies when he won a scholarship and went to Trinity College London where he studied under Derek Aviss and Arthur Davison.
He also studied at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia of Rome with Salvatore Degirolamo and Jorge Schultiz, first cellist of Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera.
Abdilla Joslin has been invited to perform with the National Orchestra of Malta, the Ochestra del Mediterraneo, the Accademia Musicale Siciliana, the Upper Austria Youth Orchestra and I Filarmonici di Bologna.He has recorded for both radio and television and is responsible for cello tuition at the Johann Strauss School of Music.
To book, e-mail bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or call2124 6389. Visit also www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.