From Score to Sound

Maltese conductor Matthew Bugeja, sits down in an exclusive interview with Muzika Recruitment Agency. He recounts his hobbies, experiences, dreams and aspirations.

 

Starting his musical journey as a violinist at age 7, Matthew Bugeja has developed his love for music into a passion for conducting. Asked what music means to him, Matthew stated that, ’Music is an integral part of almost everyone’s life, especially mine. I cannot imagine life without music’.

 

Matthew’s love for classical music is never ending, however, he does not mind exploring more modern sounds and techniques. ‘It all depends on my mood, sometimes I feel like a symphony, other times I feel like a metal song, and thats why music is so precious because its a versatile tool’. Asked why he chose conducting, Matthew passionately explained that, ’Conducting is so special because it bridges the gap between the score (which is such a static document) and what the audience actually hears. It is through the conductor’s interpretation, in collaboration with the musicians, the music comes to life’.

 

Matthew loves listening to anything performed live. ‘I tend to only listen to live versions of any song’, he admitted. His passion remains in merging the distance between modern music and the great classics which lay the foundation of the entire music world today. Asked about his passion for merging orchestral music with the modern facilities offered through today’s technology, Matthew said, ’I have long been obsessed with crossovers between orchestras and a more modern vibe’. ‘Nothing beats a classical classic however’, Matthew concluded jokingly.