Photo: Joe Smith 2019
Christopher Muscat's Mesogeios has just been released on CD performed by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) under the baton of principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan. This new CD released by Navona Records – Contemporary Colours - features new works by six Maltese composers.
"The most impressive work, on a disc that is something of a revelation, is Christopher Muscat's Mesogeios (2017), a cleverly structured concertante suite in five sections (played without a break) for various Maltese exotica - including the zummara, zaqq and flejguta, all played evocatively by Francesco Sultana - percussion (including hand-clapped passages) and strings. The music's range of expression is extraordinary, evoking medieval and Levantine music (perhaps a relic of the Knights of St John), as well as African and Balkan music."
Christopher Muscat's sensitIV, commissioned by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce, has been nominated for Arts Council Malta's INNOVATION AWARD 2019.
This work is divided in 4 movements:
i. Locus Iste (solo s, satb choir and percussion)
ii. Loop the Loop (marimba and live looping)
iii. Akva (piano and live electronics)
iv. Pavan (viola, choir, piano and percussion)
and was first performed on Tuesday 24th September 2019 at Palazzo de La Salle, Valletta performed by Daniel Cauchi (percussion), Nadia Debono (viola), the Goldberg Ensemble and Michael Laus (piano/conductor).
Due to the current, unfortunate situation many concerts worldwide had to be cancelled. These include performance of Muscat's Concerto for strings by the Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra "Georgian Sinfonietta" in Georgia and in Malta, and the premiere performances of the Cantata "Qui Cantat Bis Orat" in June and Missa San Ġorġ Preca in August.
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You may now purchase copies of scores for study or performance purposes directly from the Sheet Music store.
The Global Climate Change Music Project
Because climate change is a planetary problem … composers from every country on the planet contributed 4 bars of music to create one composition that speaks for the earth.
Christopher Muscat is one of the 187 composers featured in this project. Click here for a preview of the project.
On 3 February 2018 Fondazzjoni Paulus launched the CD Celebrating St Paul that features Christopher Muscat's Cantata L-X ta' Frar 1928 performed by the Jubilate Deo Choir and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Marco Frisina. The launch took place at the Presidential Palace of Verdala under the distinguished patronage of H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta.
Click here to find out more.
Excellent review on Christopher Muscat's Stabat Mater in the prestigious music magazine TEMPO published by Cambridge University Press. Click here for review.
It is indeed difficult to tackle the Stabat Mater, but Muscat's work impresses with its freshness
"In this recording, Muscat guides the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, his distinguished soloists and the listener with authority and passion through his very personal vision of Mary's harrowing journey."