The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will later this month present the world premiere of a new work commissioned by Professor Robert Ghirlando as a tribute to his late wife Maria, herself a fine pianist and patron to the arts.
The concerto entitled Concerto for Maria will be performed by the composer-pianist Veronique Vella.
The piece borrows techniques from diverse musical genres, ranging from baroque counterpoint to romantic piano music to a more minimalist approach. Various virtuosic pianistic techniques are displayed, including large octave leaps in the central movement.
Brian Schembri, chief conductor of the MPO leads, the orchestra and introduces the second half of the programme with Ravel's Pavane pour une enfant defunte summing up the idea that a little princess might, in former times, have danced at the Spanish court and Shostakovich's 9th Symphony, a pure and perfect, almost neoclassical work.
The programme will also include Ravel's Pavane pour une enfant defunte and Shostakovich's 9th Symphony.
The premiere will be held at the Manoel Theatre on 20 February.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 21246389 or by logging onto www.maltaorchestra.com