The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) has kicked off 2026 with its 28th concert season, one that blends classical storytelling with cross-genre collaborations and crowd favourites. With programmes ranging from Verdi and Mozart to anime, film, and Broadway, the season reflects an orchestra constantly rethinking how it connects with audiences. We catch up with Gerard Salonga, the MPO’s Resident Conductor, to talk about the music, the musicians, and what makes this season such an exciting one to experience live.

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) has kicked off 2026 with its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.mpo.com.my/season-2026">28th concert season</a>, one that blends classical storytelling with cross-genre collaborations and crowd favourites. With programmes ranging from Verdi and Mozart to anime, film, and Broadway, the season reflects an orchestra constantly rethinking how it connects with audiences. We catch up with Gerard Salonga, the MPO’s Resident Conductor, to talk about the music, the musicians, and what makes this season such an exciting one to experience live.

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The MPO in 2026: Music Across Generations and Genres

What does it mean to grow up under pressure, and what happens when systems meant to help us quietly cross a line? Those are some of the questions explored in two new plays coming out of The Young Blood Experiment by EJKLS Seni. We speak to Adelia Khalid, director and writer of Mary/am, and Hanna Lee, director and writer of Lapar, two emerging theatre makers whose works invite us to look closely at faith, morality, and the cost of conformity.

What does it mean to grow up under pressure, and what happens when systems meant to help us quietly cross a line? Those are some of the questions explored in two new plays coming out of The Young Blood Experiment by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ejklsseni.com/">EJKLS Seni</a>. We speak to Adelia Khalid, director and writer of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/5020-maryam">Mary/am</a>, and Hanna Lee, director and writer of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/5078-lapar">Lapar</a>, two emerging theatre makers whose works invite us to look closely at faith, morality, and the cost of conformity.

 The Young Blood Experiment by EJKLS Seni: Mary/am & Lapar

Malaysia is often described through slogans, policies, or headlines, but rarely through the messy, contradictory voices of everyday people. Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menipu flips that around, taking candid street interviews and transforming them into a 60-second snippets that form a full length contemporary dance performance, one that blends movement, text, multimedia, and live music. This is not a neat or polished portrait of the country, it’s cracked, chaotic, noisy, and defiantly alive. Joining us to unpack how this production came together, and what it’s trying to hold up to us as a mirror, are choreographers and collaborators Mohd Nur Faillul Adam and Mohd Nuriqram Azhar, who are also performing in the production.

Malaysia is often described through slogans, policies, or headlines, but rarely through the messy, contradictory voices of everyday people. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/5067-kami-penipu-tapi-kami-tak-menipu">Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menipu</a> flips that around, taking candid street interviews and transforming them into a 60-second snippets that form a full length contemporary dance performance, one that blends movement, text, multimedia, and live music. This is not a neat or polished portrait of the country, it’s cracked, chaotic, noisy, and defiantly alive. Joining us to unpack how this production came together, and what it’s trying to hold up to us as a mirror, are choreographers and collaborators Mohd Nur Faillul Adam and Mohd Nuriqram Azhar, who are also performing in the production.

Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menipu

BUKA 2026 is a space for opening up. Through solo works in theatre and dance, it brings forward stories of identity, belonging, and emotional truth, and asks what it really means to be seen without defences. Joining us to talk about the production are producer Hoe Hui Ting, and performer Yon Lynn, who is the solo actor for the piece called “Kenapa Tak Tukar Nama?” - which explores love, faith, identity, and the pressures that come with navigating bureaucracy as a Muslim convert. We also hear more about the other two pieces, the dance performance Me Nari, and the theatre piece Denganmu Ibu (DEBU).

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/4963-buka-a-new-platform-for-solos">BUKA 2026</a> is a space for opening up. Through solo works in theatre and dance, it brings forward stories of identity, belonging, and emotional truth, and asks what it really means to be seen without defences. Joining us to talk about the production are producer Hoe Hui Ting, and performer Yon Lynn, who is the solo actor for the piece called “Kenapa Tak Tukar Nama?” - which explores love, faith, identity, and the pressures that come with navigating bureaucracy as a Muslim convert. We also hear more about the other two pieces, the dance performance Me Nari, and the theatre piece Denganmu Ibu (DEBU).

The MPO in 2026: Music Across Generations and Genres

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