Drums, saxophones to join violins in orchestral pop concert

The National Orchestra Goes Pop concert will enter its fourth edition on July 28 and 29, forming part of the three-week Summer Arts Festival 2007, aimed at attracting a wider and younger audience to Malta's orchestra.

The classical-orchestration-meets-pop event should offer the public the opportunity to experience a high quality concert of popular music by an entire symphony orchestra.

In fact, it is teaming up with an extra set of saxophones, a whole rhythm section, including lead and bass guitar, piano, keyboard, drum kit, auxiliary percussions and extra bass.

Attracting a younger audience could open them up and encourage them to attend more classical and traditional concerts, said Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

The National Orchestra's profile was growing more than ever, and it had a vast and full programme of events ahead, he said.

Under the musical direction of Sigmund Mifsud, it will feature a 60-piece orchestra, which will perform a range of Maltese and international numbers, together with some of Malta's leading entertainers and young talent. It will offer a variety of music genres from swing to soul and rock.

The line-up of the fourth edition, which is being held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, includes Nadine Axisa, Eleanor Cassar, Ludwig Galea and Lello, interpreting numbers from Pink Floyd, Christina Aguilera and Stevie Wonder, among others.

The duo Chasing Pandora will perform two songs from their latest album.

Led by Marcelline Agius, the concert will also feature numbers like Light My Fire by The Doors and Against All Odds by Phil Collins, as well as excerpts from a selection of soundtracks, including Pirates of the Caribbean and Schindler's List. All numbers performed have an orchestral music arrangement created solely for the one-time event.

The event's main sponsor is Vodafone Malta Ltd and it falls under the umbrella of the Vodafone Music Jam Events. Vodafone customers are being encouraged to register with the Music Jam Club to benefit from special upcoming concert ticket prices.

The National Orchestra Goes Pop starts at 9 p.m., and tickets, costing Lm6 for the stalls and Lm8 for the dress circle, are available from the MCC box office, or by calling on 2559 5750/1, or ticket hot line 9977 4400. Discounts are available for Vodafone customers, student card-holders and senior citizens who hold a Karta Anzjan.