MPO’s 2027 programme pairs classical concerts with cinema and pop
Aina Abdul will return in April, while a two-week Beethoven Festival in December will feature the Ninth and Pastoral symphonies.
Classical repertoire, films accompanied by live orchestral music and performances featuring Malaysian entertainers are on the 2027 programme for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) and Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in Kuala Lumpur. It will be their 29th concert season.
The programme includes 10 classical concerts with artistic guidance from music director Junichi Hirokami. Works by Strauss, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Brahms feature in the schedule, followed in December by a Beethoven Festival spanning two weeks, including the Ninth and Pastoral symphonies.
For six cinema screenings, the MPO will play the accompanying scores live. The films are Titanic, In The Mood For Love, How To Train Your Dragon, Baahubali – The Beginning, Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire and P. Ramlee’s Antara Dua Darjat.
April will bring singer-songwriter Aina Abdul back to DFP, where she first performed in 2024. Ahmad Muriz Che Rose will conduct orchestral versions of her songs. The February schedule includes the returning Symphony of Memories – Nostalgic Hong Kong Classics series, with Francis Kan conducting and guest singers taking part.
Resident conductor Gerard Salonga will direct the Beatles and disco programmes. Separate concerts will feature music associated with Celine Dion, Bollywood and Naruto, while Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy will celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary.
In July, Ballet of Stars Moscow will join the orchestra for Ballet Splendour. Yayasan Warisan Johor will also present Simfoni Penawar Rindu that month, focusing on Johor’s heritage music. Outside the concert programme, comedian Douglas Lim is scheduled to give three Old Money shows.
