The collaboration between the National Orchestra and the Manoel Theatre, resulting in concerts held at the Manoel Theatre, is bearing excellent fruit.

The next concert will take place on Tuesday at 7.30pm at the Manoel Theatre and will feature the National Orchestra Brass Ensemble in a colourful programme of all-time favourites that will juxtapose the old with the new.

Starting with an arrangement of Giuseppe Verdi’s Grand March from Aida, it will end with Ruben Zahra’s Halel or Big Waves, the highlight of the composer’s folk ensemble Nafra, which he arranged into an outstanding showpiece for virtuoso brass ensemble for this concert.

In between these two extremes there will be a wide range of exciting pieces of the best of brass encompassing a century or so of originals and arrangements bound to set feet tapping and enthusiastic applause.

The programme has been formulated to suit all ages and musical tastes. It comprises Bizet’s Carmen Suite, Suppe’s Poet and Peasant Overture (soloist Roderick Bugeja), Botsford’s Black and White Rag, Mortimer’s Jelly Roll Blues, Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe (soloist Kevin Abela), Sousa’s Washington Post, Mancini’s Theme from Pink Panther, Monty’s Theme from James Bond, Irving Berlin’s Puttin’ on the Ritz, Jan Hadermann’s Joy of Music, and a traditional arrangement of Carnival of Venice (soloist Sigmund Mifsud) and the best of Maltese folklore.

Reservations for the concert can be made at the Manoel Theatre Booking Office, telephone: 2124 6389, e-mail: [email protected].