As Czech maestro Pavel Šnajdr prepares to conduct members of both the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brno Contemporary Orchestra in a pioneering concert at the Manoel Theatre on June 9, he tells Jo Caruana why he is so looking forward to this dynamic collaboration.
The opportunity to experience a ‘premiere’ is always exciting. There is something very special about attending the performance of a musical work for the first time or, better yet, witnessing its debut on the island. That very opportunity is just around the corner, as Modern Music Days (MMD) presents the national premiere of four landmark compositions in a concert entitled Tehillim – 20th Century Masterworks.
The concert will feature musicians from both the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) and the Brno Contemporary Orchestra (BCO), led by Czech conductor Pavel Šnajdr. Together, the musicians will present a programme of 20th century works – namely, Octandre by Edgard Varèse; Chamber Concerto for 13 Instruments by György Ligeti; Sinfonietta Op.1 by Benjamin Britten; and Tehillim by Steve Reich.
Pavel has conducted contemporary music in Malta on two other occasions but this time round the two orchestras are joining forces under his baton. “I have no doubt that this will be a landmark event for Malta,” he says.
“Not just because of the unique programme, but also because of the opportunity to experience musicians from the Maltese and Czech orchestras performing side by side.”
This exchange between the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brno Contemporary Orchestra is a wonderful collaboration
On chatting to Pavel, his sheer passion for conducting comes across. It’s a love that dates back to his childhood, and his memories of making music with his father.
“My dad was an amateur musician who played the violin,” he says. “I loved watching him and longed to play too, so I was overjoyed to find a small instrument under the Christmas tree one year, when I was about five years old. Soon after, my dad took me to his friend for lessons – he became my much-loved teacher, and is actually still teaching my own two children today. He helped me a great deal on my musical path to where I am now and enabled me to develop a love for many different genres of music. This has been very useful – especially when you consider a concert like the one I am about to conduct in Malta.”
Tehillim – 20th Century Masterworks is unique in its approach because it showcases the work of four major modern composers. With innovative producer and composer Ruben Zahra at the helm, it promises to take the audience on an exciting music journey like no other.
Pavel Šnajdr“I admire Ruben for putting together such an exclusive programme. It is bold and daring,” Pavel continues. “Whenever I discuss music projects with Ruben, he is always driven to promote contemporary music in an innovative way. I also like the way he brings together different art forms in his own composition projects. This results in a higher level of musical perception – not just in programming a concert, but especially in music as a part of life.”
The maestro believes that innovation is the ethos of the concert that will take place on June 9 at the Manoel Theatre as part of the Valletta 2018 culture programme. “The music is different and yet accessible to any audience. These composers are contributing new music to our own times and they each bring something brilliant to the music world. For instance, Britten created music that is current, while Ligeti’s style is very avant-garde. Varèse is spontaneous and natural, while Reich features the more ‘popular’ side of contemporary music. Each composer is original in his own way.”
With this concert, MMD is creating the opportunity for local musicians to tackle 20th century music with the proper professional pedagogy and coaching. It would have been easier to bring in the whole ensemble from the Czech Republic but MMD is connecting local musicians with international artists to foster contemporary music in Malta, as well as invest in the legacy of this repertoire.
“This exchange between MPO and BCO is a wonderful collaboration. Musicians speak a common language, and the one-week rehearsal schedule we have in Malta will generate the energy that carries musicians towards the performance,” he adds.
Tehillm – 20th Century Masterworks will be held at the Manoel Theatre on June 9 at 8.30pm. Tickets are available online. Modern Music Days is part of the Valletta 2018 cultural programme and is organised by Manoel Theatre, the Malta Association for Contemporary Music and the Valletta 2018 Foundation.
www.teatrumanoel.com.mt