Music critics yesterday described a planned public concert by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) dubbed “The PM’s Playlist” as “an odd idea normally fit for regimes like China or North Korea”.

Social media sites were yesterday inundated with posts poking fun at an announcement made by the MPO about a concert in February based on music Prime Minister Joseph Muscat likes to listen to.

Described by the organisers as a “unique concert for the MPO, organised by the Office of the Prime Minster”, the announcement said that concertgoers should “expect a varied selection of pop and rock tunes, featuring the Prime Minister’s favourite choice of timeless hits”.

MPO sources told the Times of Malta that the concert, to be staged at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, was a joint idea of the MPO’s management – a State entity – and top officials from the Office of the Prime Minister.

“We wanted to create something unique and elevated. We don’t really find anything odd about it. There are other countries that hold these type of concerts,” a senior official at the MPO said.

This is another attempt to create a personality cult

However, when asked, the official could not name other countries, and said: “This does not mean that we should not do it.”

Various music critics contacted by this newspaper described the idea as “in very bad taste” and could not understand the cultural reason behind the initiative.

“I’ve been to concerts all around the world and I’ve never come across this type of concert,” music expert Albert Storace said.

“However, I don’t want to enter into any political controversy on music and I am not saying that this shouldn’t be done. It’s just something I’ve never encountered and I’ve been to concerts all over the world,” he said.

Two other critics, who preferred to remain anonymous, were less diplomatic.

“This is obviously another attempt to create a personality cult typical to undemocratic regimes,” one of the critics said.

“It would have been somehow acceptable had it to be a concert for the head of State on some special occasion. But for a Prime Minster of such a politically divided country, it’s quite insensitive.”

Another critic said he had initially thought it was a joke.

“I really find it pointless. What are the organiser’s trying to push?” he asked.

“We are not talking about the Pope or the Queen here. I think that the organisers’ intentions were quite genuine in the sense that they wanted to come out with something different. However, it’s really in bad taste.”

Social media users, mostly of PN tendencies, put up tongue-in-cheek comments on what Dr Muscat’s playlist at the concert should be, suggesting the Dire Straits hit Money for Nothing or Celine Dion’s Because You Love Me – dedicated recently to Dr Muscat by former minister Edward Zammit Lewis.

A government spokesman said the Prime Minister had been invited to participate by the MPO.

“The concert was an idea of the MPO, which the Prime Minister accepted,” he said.

“The event will be open to a paying audience and will be funded in this manner.

“All proceeds from the concert will go to the Mari-gold Foundation.”

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