Following last year’s success, The National Orchestra will open the Malta Arts Festival – Summer 2006.

The programme, entitled The National Orchestra Goes Pop with Vodafone, under the musical direction of Sigmund Mifsud, will be performed on Saturday, 29 and Sunday, 30 July at 9pm at the site of the Old Opera House, Valletta.

Organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (MCCA), the Malta Arts Festival – Summer 2006 is sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta plc, Valletta local council, the Westin Dragonara Resort and Bank of Valletta plc.

Sigmund Mifsud has carefully selected a programme of popular orchestral works that will bring to life the Old Opera House site with the sounds of musical arrangements. Backed by an entire 40-piece symphony orchestra, that will team 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 – The National Orchestra Goes Pop with Vodafone will feature both established and young Maltese talent.

“The nature of the spectacle promises to attract a wide spectrum of audiences. This is an opportunity for music-lovers to experience a high quality popular music concert – an all-Maltese talent. Without revealing too much detail, the night will touch rock music, jazz, latin and other music genres – an experiment which will undoubtedly be well received,” said Mr Mifsud.

Guest singers will include Chiara, who will interpret songs by Christina Aguilera, Ivan Grech of Winter Moods, with songs by the legendary band U2, and actress-singer Pia Zammit will perform popular standard numbers from the Swing era.

The National Orchestra Goes Pop with Vodafone will also act as a platform for two new artists: singer Tara, a graduate from the Musical Theatre and The Arts Educational Schools London, now pursuing a solo career in the UK, and composer Alexander Vella Gregory, fresh from Napier University, Edinburgh, with an original piece specifically written for the occasion.

The concert is sponsored by Vodafone, Orienta, Gucci Envy me 2, XFM 100.2, Hotel Kennedy Nova, Music Link and Ikona Artworks and will be presented by Giselle Calleja and Chrysander Agius (Sander).

Early booking is recommended. Tickets, priced at Lm6 and Lm8, are available from Vodafone retail outlets in Valletta, Paola, Birkirkara by-pass, and Gozo, as well as from Orienta in Paola, Music Link in Birkirkara and Hotel Kennedy Nova in Sliema. Ticket hotline 9951-5151.