Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Violin Concerto in E major BWV 1042

Allegro - Adagio - Allegro assai

Violin Concerto in A minor BWV 1041

(Allegro) - Andante - Allegro assai

Short Interval

Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 in G major

(Allegro) - Adagio - Allegro

Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra in D minor BWV 1043

Vivace - Largo ma non tanto - Allegro

Performers:

Conductor & Harpsichord: Michael Laus

Soloists: Charlie Siem; Carmine Lauri (Violin)

Orchestra: Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

Programme Notes

The third Brandenburg Concerto is scored for three each of violins, violas and cellos, a double bass and continuo. It was probably the earliest of the set of six to be composed, probably before 1714, and it resembles the ensemble sonata in style, with the violins, violas and cellos treated as three antiphonal groups supported by the continuo. In between the outer fast movements, Bach wrote just a cadence consisting of two chords marked Adagio, implying that one of the performers should improvise a brief passage. In this evening’s performance, the Adagio from Bach’s G major Harpsichord Toccata, BWV 916, will be performed. 

Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 in G major

(Allegro) - Adagio - Allegro

Bach’s violin concertos show the influence of his Italian contemporaries, particularly Antonio Vivaldi. The composition date and place of the A minor concerto is unknown, and it could be any year after 1717, when Bach first became acquainted with Vivaldi’s concertos. The better-known E major Concerto was written at a later date. Both solo concertos display the same general form, with the outer movements in ritornello form, with an orchestral tutti which alternates with solo passages, and slow movements based on ostinato, or repeated figurations in the accompaniment. The D minor Concerto for Two Violins is one of Bach’s most popular works. It was written in 1730 for the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig, where Bach was director. The writing is more contrapuntal than that for the solo concertos, with frequent fugal imitation between the two soloists.

Biographies

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) - Orchestra

"The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) traces its roots to 1968, when musicians from the disbanded “Commander-in-Chief” orchestra of the British Mediterranean Fleet regrouped as the Manoel Theatre Orchestra. In 1997, it became an independent national orchestra and, by 2008, expanded to a full-sized symphony ensemble, bringing together musicians from Malta and beyond. The MPO’s Artistic Team includes Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan and Resident Conductor Michael Laus.

The MPO collaborates with Maltese artists like Joseph Calleja and international talents such as Ray Chen and Diana Damrau. Performing weekly, the MPO offers symphonic concerts, opera productions, community outreach, and educational programs, reaching millions globally through its digital initiatives. Internationally, the MPO has performed in major venues in the U.S., Russia, Dubai, and Europe, touring yearly. Dedicated to promoting Maltese composers, the MPO frequently premiers new works and, through its Academy and Malta Youth Orchestra, supports the next generation of Maltese musicians."

Michael Laus: Musical Director & Harpsichord 

Michael Laus graduated in piano, harpsichord and composition at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi of Milan in 1982. He later participated in master classes in conducting given by George Manahan in the United States and Vladimir Delman in Bologna. Principal Conductor of Malta’s national orchestra for twenty-five years and now its Resident Conductor, he has conducted the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in symphonic concerts in Malta, Belgium and Italy. He was the founder and first music director of the Malta Youth Orchestra and of the Goldberg Ensemble, a group specialising in baroque and classical music. In 2016, he conducted the first European performance of Arvo Pärt’s Greater Antiphons. He opened the first edition of the Valletta International Baroque Festival with Vivaldi’s Quattro stagioni. Michael Laus has conducted the Bournemouth Symphony, the Slovak Philharmonic, the New Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Asturias. He has directed several operatic productions at the Bern State Theatre and in Oviedo. These include new productions of Adriana Lecouvreur, Otello, Madama Butterfly and L’amico Fritz. He regularly appears in the double role of pianist/harpsichordist and conductor in a concerto repertoire ranging from baroque to twentieth-century works. In this double role, he has won international critical acclaim for his recording of Cyril Scott’s Harpsichord Concerto. In November 2023, he organised and performed in the first cycle in Malta of Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas, performed in chronological order. He has recorded for Discover International, Unicorn-Kanchana and Cameo Classics. He is Associate Professor in Music Studies at the University of Malta.

Charlie Siem: Violin

Charlie Siem, a renowned 21st-century violinist, blends cross-cultural appeal with artistic versatility. Born in London to a Norwegian father and British mother, he began playing violin at age three after hearing Yehudi Menuhin perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto. Siem attended Eton College and earned a degree in Music from the University of Cambridge. His violin studies include training with Itzhak Rashkovsky at the Royal College of Music and mentorship from Shlomo Mintz.

Siem has performed with premier orchestras, including the London Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, and Royal Philharmonic, and worked with conductors like Zubin Mehta and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He regularly collaborates with pianist Itamar Golan and has appeared at festivals worldwide, such as Spoleto, Gstaad, and Bergen. Recent career highlights include debuts with the Royal Philharmonic under Charles Dutoit, an Australian recital tour, and extensive performances in China, where he was named Cultural Ambassador of Nanjing.

Siem is also committed to education, serving as a Visiting Professor at Leeds College of Music and Nanjing University of the Arts, and giving global masterclasses. Additionally, he collaborates with top fashion brands and composes, having written “Canopy” for CBS Watch!  Siem’s artistry extends to his 1735 Guarneri del Gesù violin, known as the "D’Egville."

Carmine Lauri: Violin

Carmine Lauri is Concertmaster of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and co-leader of the London Symphony Orchestra. Born in 1971, he began playing the violin at four and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Maurice Hasson and Zakhar Bron. 

Lauri's career is marked by his virtuosity and extensive experience as a soloist with leading orchestras such as the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, and Czech Philharmonic, performing romantic violin concertos by Paganini, Wieniawski, Sarasate, and others. His interpretations of salon pieces, particularly those inspired by Heifetz, reflect his commitment to the "old school" of violin playing. Lauri has also premiered violin concertos with the LSO and performed in soundtracks for films like “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars”.

A respected leader, Lauri has collaborated with top conductors including Sir Antonio Pappano, Valery Gergiev, and Yuri Temirkanov, and led the LSO for over 24 years. He enjoys a special relationship with the Oxford Philharmonic, performing concertos and chamber music, including duos with Maxim Vengerov.

Lauri performs on prestigious Stradivarius violins and is known for his expressive, spontaneous playing. A strong ambassador for Malta, his homeland awarded him the Member of the Order of Merit (M.O.M.). He is also an Associate and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. His two CDs, “Bravura” and “Violin Extravaganza”, showcase his technical brilliance and musical depth.