The Malta Independent on Sunday
Feel the Magic of Orchestral Progressive Rock
Chorus Urbanus Productions has announced its latest concert from the Feel the Magic programme: Feel the Magic of Orchestral Progressive Rock.
This concert will feature the première of Edward Mifsud’s concept album Raġġ, an orchestral work inspired by the progressive rock style that originated in the UK in the early 1970s, with lyrics derived from Maltese poetry from the same era, namely Oliver Friggieri, Marjanu
Vella, Ġorġ Peresso, Achille Mizzi, Joe Friggieri and Ġorġ Borg. Raġġ explores the dualities of hope and helplessness, secrecy and openness, individualism and collectivism, youth and old age, and life and death, which all fall within the work's overarching theme of light and darkness. These dichotomies are resolved in the work’s final piece, which discusses harmony and connectedness. Such themes echo the juxtaposition of “masculine” and “feminine” traits, a common characteristic of progressive rock music.
The programme will also feature music by prominent progressive rock bands ELP, Yes, King Crimson and Genesis, arranged and orchestrated by Edward Mifsud in the style of Raġġ.
Feel the Magic of Orchestral Progressive Rock will be held on Saturday, 18 May at Teatru Astra, featuring the Malta
Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Dr Mro John Galea, and special guests Dorothy Bezzina and Chris Grech.
This project is generously supported by Arts Council Malta, the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, the Cultural Heritage Directorate, Melita Foundation, APS Bank and Teatru Astra.