Teatru Manoel and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra present the next concert in the MPO at the Manoel series on Friday, 28 November at 8pm (with a pre-concert talk at 7.15pm). The concert will be conducted by Brian Schembri and will feature soloist Etienne Cutajar on the horn.

Etienne has been associate principal horn of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since 2006. He was appointed third Horn of the National Orchestra of Malta at the age of 18. He then pursued a two-year full-time postgraduate course at the Royal Academy of Music, and is also a pupil of Fergus McWilliam - horn player of the Berliner Philharmoniker.

For two consecutive years Etienne was first horn of the European Union Youth Orchestra and has appeared as guest principal horn with some of the finest British orchestras and chamber groups. Etienne has, for a number of times, also collaborated with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Brian Schembri is the artistic director and principal conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. A graduate from the Kiev and Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatories, Mro Schembri has conducted major orchestras such as the State Philharmonic Orchestras of Ukraine, Macedonia, Kielce and Tirgu Muras, the Sinfonietta, the London Mozart Players, l'Orchestre de Bretagne, l'Orchestra Ciutat de Barcelona, the Philharmonic Orchestras of Odessa and Brasov, the Moscow Soloists, the Academic Orchestra of Lisbon, Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, the Novosibirsk Philharmonic, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, l'Orchestre National de Lyon, Sofia National Opera Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The programme opens with Carl Maria von Weber's Overture from Der Freischutz followed by Richard Strauss' Second Horn Concerto, featuring Maltese soloist Etienne Cutajar. This work represents the composer's first real concerto since the First Horn Concerto which was written a full 60 years earlier in 1883.

Closing the evening is Brahms' Symphony No. 4, a work which critics and academics consider by far to be a summation of its composer's learning and technique, and a work of art that for all its complexities cuts as close to the heart as music can.

Discounted seats for students and kartanzjan holders are available. A free pre-concert talk will also be held at 7.15pm for ticket holders.

For bookings visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt; email: [email protected] or phone on 2124 6389.