A concert of modern music by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, entitled Crossing Lines, is being held at the Manoel Theatre on Saturday .

The orchestra is being conducted by Brian Schembri with Nazareno Ferruggio from Bari as solo pianist. Composer Mariella Cassar is the producer.

Most of the works in Crossing Lines were composed specifically for this event, while others are being performed for the first time in Malta.

The project aims to promote Malta, Maltese artists and musicians, and Maltese cultural heritage on an international scale.

It also aims to promote Maltese contemporary music with both local and foreign publics.

Musicians and composers from different parts of Europe, Russia and the United States, are being brought together to work as a team on this project which aims to offer a new musical genre to the Maltese public.

The event aims to portray music composition as an artistic medium, which can be expressed and exposed in various ways.

The concert’s programme starts with Igor Stravinsky’s Suite No. 2 for Chamber Orchestra in four movements.

Ms Cassar’s Waiting will be followed by Daniele Del Lungo’s La Creazione di Malta.

The first part of the programme ends with Valentin Silvestrov’s Zwei Dialoge mit Nachwort (Two Dialogues with an Epilogue) in three movements and Eurico Carrapatoso’s Mentes, Peer! Suite No. 1 ((Peer, you’re lying! Suite No. 1) in five movements.

An experimental piece in three movements, 4’33” by American composer John Cage ­– in which the score instructs the performer not to play the instrument for the entire duration – follows the piece How Great, How Fall’n by British composer Christopher Best in the second part of the programme.

Charles Camilleri’s Kosmos Suite ‘2001’ in four movements precedes the final work, January, also by Ms Cassar.

The concert is targeted at a wide range of people, including youths and mature people.

Guests will also be able to enjoy an informal pre-concert talk by Ms Cassar and Mr Best about their works in the new backstage theatre.

Mr Ferruggio will give details about the pieces he will be perform as accompanist and solo pianist.

Th concert is to be recorded live and being broadcast both locally and internationally later.

• Tickets may be obtained by phone on 2124 6389, e-mail: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or online: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.