Latest news with #HassinaBegamAbdulGani
Malay Mail
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
From anime and film scores to heritage music: How the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is winning over new audiences
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — When orchestras worldwide returned to perform after the Covid-19 pandemic, their once-brimming concert halls found little enthusiasm – and revenue – with an ageing and dwindling audience. Instead of playing its swan song, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) bounced back stronger when it began moving away from its primarily classical roots starting from 2021, to embrace pop culture, local heritage, and film scores like those from the Harry Potter franchise and Avatar: The Last Airbender. And this month, the MPO will be playing the cult classic mafia film The Godfather. 'The MPO and DFP are living, evolving cultural forces, not just a place for classical music but a home for diverse artistic experiences. 'The MPO is a versatile orchestra; its artistry transcends all genres,' the MPO and Dewan Filharmonik Petronas' chief executive officer Hassina Begam Abdul Gani told Malay Mail. While sharing on how the orchestra curates its concert calendar, Hassina said the rebranding has certainly been rewarding and has struck a note with a broader and younger audience. MPO and DFP chief executive officer Hassina Begam Abdul Gani said planning for the concert season begins 18 to 24 months in advance. — Picture courtesy of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra In the first half of 2025, she said the MPO sold out several big concerts: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets In Concert (January 6-9) Vivaldi's Four Seasons (March 8 & 9) Symphony of Memories: Nostalgic Hong Kong Classics (March 22) La La Land In Concert (May 4 and May 9-12) The second half of the year looks promising too; as of May, the sold-out concerts are: John Williams vs Hans Zimmer (August 21-24) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba In Concert (September 20) How does MPO curate its concert calendar? Behind the scenes, the planning starts months ahead. Hassina explained that curating each season takes 18 to 24 months – factoring in performer bookings, tour schedules, logistics, and marketing. Each year is built around a unifying theme. For 2025, it's 'Where Every Beat Tells A Story', a nod to music's role in narrating human experiences. The calendar is then segmented into sub-themes to give each quarter its own character and rhythm. January kicks off with celebratory concerts to ring in the new year, followed by romantic serenades to mark Valentine's Day in February. Some seasons include Hari Raya Aidilfitri collaborations with local artistes in the second quarter. By mid-year when National Day and Malaysia Day roll around, the MPO shifts gears to highlight the nation's rich cultural heritage. From joget to Chopin This July 5, Simfoni Budaya II brings a symphonic spin to traditional joget, asli, and zapin songs. On August 9, Mistik Pura Masyrik dives into East Coast folklore, featuring legends like Cik Siti Wan Kembang and Ulik Mayang, brought to life by Artistana Istana Budaya and Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia. On September 6, the Temple of Fine Arts takes the stage with Ragas and Mudras, a showcase of Indian classical music and dance. Special classical concerts also take place in August to commemorate the orchestra's founding anniversary, which made its debut concert on August 17, 1998. This year, a two-part Chopin Festival will take place on August 16 and October 11, celebrating the works of Polish maestro Frédéric Chopin. Led by music director Junichi Hirokami, MPO will perform some of Chopin's renowned concertos with pianists Melody Quah and Martin Garcia Garcia. Pop culture meets philharmonic While the classics remain, it's the blockbuster soundtracks and pop culture tie-ins that have broadened the MPO's appeal. From August 21 to 24, the MPO will feature the iconic movie scores of two Oscar-winning composers at the John Williams vs Hans Zimmer concert. In September, the MPO will reimagine the pulse-pounding score of shonen anime hit series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The year ends with a two-weekend Ballet Festival in December, pairing Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and The Nutcracker with Russia's Ballet Stars of Moscow. The 2025 concert season will conclude with a two-weekend Ballet Festival, featuring 'Swan Lake' and 'The Nutcracker' respectively. — Picture courtesy of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra Coming up in 2026 Though the 2026 calendar remains under wraps, Hassina hinted at more blockbuster productions, landmark symphonic tributes, and genre-crossing experiments. The year will also coincide with major musical anniversaries: the 270th birthday of Mozart, the 50th death anniversary of Benjamin Britten, and Steve Reich's 90th. Asked if fan-favourites like The Shang Sisters might headline a solo concert, Hassina was open-ended but optimistic. 'The MPO is open to all possibilities,' she said. The female jazz trio first performed with MPO and the WVC jazz band on April 26; and if current trends hold, they may not be the last to bridge the old with the new.
The Star
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
No popcorn, no problem: MPO hits all the right notes with film concerts
These days, when you browse through the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra's (MPO) annual programme, you'll find special shows that take your movie experience to the next level at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) – where your favourite films come to life with live music by the MPO. Since 2010, when it first screened Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Psycho, the MPO has been delighting film lovers with its cinema-inspired programmes. MPO and DFP chief executive officer Hassina Begam Abdul Gani said the orchestra began exploring film-with-live-orchestra programming as a way to diversify its music offerings and reach a newer, younger audience. 'The positive response from the public, evidenced by sold-out shows, has demonstrated a clear appetite for this type of programming, which has now become a 'signature series' for the MPO,' says Hassina. By pairing orchestral music with popular films, the MPO has made classical music more accessible, offering an entry point for those who might not usually attend such concerts. To date, the MPO has presented nine film-with-live-orchestra concerts, including Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the recent La La Land, which saw additional shows added due to high demand. 'For me, it's a less daunting introduction to classical music. While I'm not naturally inclined toward traditional concerts, a show like La La Land – though not strictly classical – provides a more accessible way to experience orchestral music,' says Adrian Yap, who attended La La Land at DFP, following his first experience with the format at Ratatouille (also at the DFP) in 2016. A view of the 'La La Land In Concert' series presented by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra earlier this month at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: MPO 'Watching a film I enjoy while observing how the orchestra performs the score makes me more receptive to attending a traditional classical concert in the future,' he adds. Rizal Johan, a fan of the film-with-orchestra format, recalls the Raiders Of The Lost Ark concert at the MPO in 2019 as a standout experience. 'The orchestra played flawlessly from start to finish. It was a unique experience – watching a film with live music and realising how challenging it is for the musicians to stay in sync as the mood shifts from action to comedy, suspense to romance. It was truly captivating,' he says, hoping the MPO will one day give a Star Wars film the full live-orchestra treatment. Opening the symphonic door MPO resident conductor Gerard Salonga notes that the movie screening concert series offers a distinct experience compared to the orchestra's usual performances. 'It's not like ballet or opera where the singers and dancers can hear the orchestra – the film stops for no one. In film music, normally the precision of the musical accents is down to a matter of a few frames which are fractions of a second,' says Salonga. Another challenge is that, although the music is usually well-known, it is not typically part of the repertoire that professional musicians have been playing for many years. 'For example, the first violin part of Don Juan by Richard Strauss is incredibly difficult, but violinists are expected to know the piece well, and have been playing it since they were very young," says Salonga. Next month, the MPO's film-and-orchestra series will feature the classic movie 'The Godfather', starring Marlon Brando. Photo: Handout 'The violin part of John Williams' ET score is also very hard, but musicians would not have spent the same amount of time with it throughout their lives, making the learning curve steeper due to the shorter time to learn it. For a symphony orchestra like the MPO, it makes for an exciting and musically rewarding challenge for both the performers and the audience,' he adds. The Filipino conductor-composer agrees that film concerts are an excellent way to engage audiences with symphonic repertoire. "In films scored by John Williams, the music is directly influenced by great composers such as Mahler and Stravinsky, so these concerts serve to introduce the audience to their orchestras and form a connection with the artists on stage through sharing a profound experience," says Salonga. 'So I hope for our audience members, these film concerts can unlock the door to the world of symphonic music and encourage them to discover the riches that await,' he concludes. For Father's Day on June 14, experience The Godfather Live at DFP. Watch Francis Ford Coppola's classic 1972 film in high definition while the MPO, led by Salonga, performs Nino Rota's legendary soundtrack live – bringing every haunting note and emotional moment to the forefront. More info here.
