MPO at the Twin Towers: Metropolitan Rhythms and a First-Timer's Guide to Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS
On Saturday 18 July 2026 at 8pm, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra plays its last concert of the month inside Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS — the concert hall buried in the base of Tower Two of the Petronas Twin Towers. Titled Metropolitan Rhythms: The Emigré and the American, the one-night programme pairs Broadway, jazz and ballet works by Kurt Weill, George Gershwin and Igor Stravinsky, with conductor Aziz Shokhakimov on the podium and Japanese jazz pianist Makoto Ozone as soloist. For anyone who has never been inside the hall, this is the concert to use as an excuse: the repertoire is accessible, the soloist is a genuine draw, and the venue is the cultural anchor of the KLCC precinct.
The programme, and why it hangs together
The concert is built around three composers who each left their home country and redefined what an orchestra could sound like. Weill's Symphonic Nocturne from Lady in the Dark opens — Broadway material refitted for the concert stage. Gershwin's Concerto in F follows, with Makoto Ozone at the piano bringing his improvisational jazz background into a piece that was already blurring classical and jazz in 1925. The second half is Stravinsky's Petrushka (1947 version), the ballet score that turns an orchestra into a fairground. It is a short, punchy programme by orchestral standards — roughly two hours with interval — and the through-line is rhythm rather than melody, which makes it an easier entry point for a first-time concertgoer than a full Mahler symphony.
There is also a lead-in event worth knowing about: on 16 July 2026, two nights before the concert, Makoto Ozone runs a jazz piano masterclass at the DFP, listed separately on the MPO site. If you play or study piano, that is the more intimate of the two events; the concert itself is the big room.
First-timer's guide to Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS
The hall is one of the more unusual things about visiting the KLCC precinct. It sits on Level Two of Tower Two of the Petronas Twin Towers, and the entrance is through a dedicated lobby off the KLCC esplanade, not through Suria KLCC. If you arrive by LRT, KLCC station is the closest stop; the walk to the DFP lobby is under five minutes via the concourse level, and signage is marked. Box office is on site — phone 03 2331 7007 — and tickets can also be bought online via the DFPTickets portal linked from mpo.com.my.
A few rules catch first-timers off guard. The dress code is smart casual, and the hall enforces it: no torn jeans, shorts, collarless t-shirts, sweatshirts, singlets, sports attire, slippers or flip-flops at any time. Children under 8 are not admitted, unless a specific family concert is flagged. The hall is a proper shoe-box auditorium with very little tolerance for latecomers, so arrive at least 15 minutes before the 8pm downbeat. If you use a wheelchair, your ticket includes a companion seat — contact the box office in advance to arrange access.
Tickets, discounts and how to actually buy them
Standard seats for the 18 July concert are priced at RM249, RM299, RM349 and RM399, with two suite tiers at RM449 and RM499 that include light refreshments. Online bookings add a RM5 per-ticket fee plus a 3.5% transaction charge. Three discounts are available and worth using: 10% off for MyKad holders with the code MYKAD10, 15% off for senior citizens with SENIOR15, and a flat RM149.50 student ticket, which can only be bought at the box office counter with a valid student ID. Discounts cannot be combined. There is also a 20% discount if you buy a 'Classical Concert' package of at least three concerts — a better deal if you plan to return. For this single concert, the MyKad or senior code is the one to use.
Dinner before the concert, the KLCC way
The concert starts at 8pm, which leaves a clean window for a 6pm dinner at Suria KLCC — a five-minute walk from the DFP lobby. The Ground and Concourse floors carry the mall's usual range: Madam Kwan's for Malaysian, Chilantro or Cilantro for something quieter, or the food court on Level 4 if you want fast and cheap. The DFP itself does not serve a full meal, so eating first is the move. After the concert, which ends around 10pm, the KLCC Park esplanade and the Petronas Twin Towers forecourt are empty and at their best — the tower lights stay on late, and the Lake Symphony fountains run their final shows shortly after 10pm. It is a five-minute walk back to KLCC LRT station.
Practical Details
- Date: Saturday 18 July 2026
- Time: 8:00pm (doors approximately 7:30pm)
- Venue: Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, Level Two, Tower Two, PETRONAS Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
- Nearest station: KLCC LRT (Kelana Jaya line), under 5 minutes on foot
- Programme: Weill Lady in the Dark: Symphonic Nocturne; Gershwin Concerto in F; Stravinsky Petrushka (1947)
- Artists: Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra; Aziz Shokhakimov, conductor; Makoto Ozone, piano
- Price: RM249 / RM299 / RM349 / RM399; Suite RM449 / RM499 (incl. refreshments). Student RM149.50 (box office only). Discounts: MYKAD10 (10% off), SENIOR15 (15% off)
- Dress code: Smart casual — no torn jeans, shorts, collarless t-shirts, singlets, slippers or flip-flops
- Age limit: No children under 8
- Website: mpo.com.my — Metropolitan Rhythms