Malta Philharmonic artistic director resigns, says he was ignored

Raoul Lay has resigned from his position as artistic director of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
In a long resignation letter copied to the prime minister, Culture Minister Jose' Herrera and MPO executive chairman Sigmond Mifsud, he said several clauses of his contract had not been respected and his efforts to have the situation remedied had been unsuccessful.
"I've never been able to really work on the general organisation of all MPO activities," he said, including the operas given at the Manoel Theatre or in Gozo, the tours conducted by the principal conductor, the need to hire better orchestra soloists, the need to modify the defective acoustics of the Manoel Theatre,  proposals for touring especially in China, his wish to record French music records, his proposal for a partnership with French Embassy for hosting well known French soloists, and his proposal to build an International Malta Opera Factory. 

He said he had been unable to develop the MPO and its musicians as he would have liked. His concerns about musicians having an insufficient level were apparently listened to but not acted upon, he said.
He said he had sought to attract prestigious soloists for MPO concerts...