The Malta Society for the Blind is pleased to announce a unique event unprecedented in Malta. The Al Nour Wal Amal Blind Girls Chamber Orchestra, from Cairo, Egypt, will be travelling to Malta to give a concert of classical music at the Manoel Theatre on 6 May in aid of the Malta Society of the Blind. The performance has been titled ‘The Love, Hope and Music Concert’.

The orchestra is unique in the world in that it is the only orchestra of its kind, entirely composed of blind girls. During the concert they will be playing classics by Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian and Bizet. Their colourful repertoire will also include Theodorakis, Delibes and a few pieces by composers from the Middle East and India among others. On this occasion they will also be playing two pieces by Maestro Joseph Vella as a tribute to Malta.

This remarkable gesture of human solidarity – the talented blind girls from Cairo playing to raise funds for their fellow blind in Malta – promises to be a spectacular evening of classical music, not only for the high standard of musical dexterity these young ladies are gifted with, but more so by the fact that they are equal to any conventional sighted orchestra.

The concert was the brainchild of Mr. Julian Holland, a Maltese gentleman who, in the time he was been based in Cairo, discovered Al Nour Wal Amal. One day he conjured up the idea of flying them to Maltato perform and raise funds for the Malta Society of the Blind.

Al Nour Wal Amal (Light and Hope) Chamber Orchestra has performed for a variety of audiences in schools, universities, embassies, theatres, concert halls, at conferences, the Cairo Opera House and for state visits toEgypt, includingQueens, First Ladies and Heads of State. The original concert was scheduled for February 2011 at the Manoel Theatre, had to be cancelled at the last minute due to the events that unfolded inTahrir Square and across Egypt last year.

The 38 piece chamber orchestra is under the direction of Maestro Dr. Ali Osman, and the Musical Supervision of Prof. Dr. Ines Abdeldaiem. The contingent includes sixteen helpers and all the musical instruments for the concert.

The Concert is being held in aid of the Malta Society of the Blind, under the Distinguished Patronage of Dr George Abela, President of the Republic, to whom we are very grateful for his distinguished support.

This will not be the first time the orchestra has performed overseas. Their list of engagements to date have taken them twice  to Austria and Germany, Jordan, Kuwait, England, Sweden, Spain, Qatar, Morocco, Japan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Canada and Greece and lately in September 2011 to Slovakia. In each of these countries the orchestra has been received with great enthusiasm and achieved outstanding success, recognition and many a standing ovation.

Finally, The Malta Society of the Blind wishes to thank the AX Foundation, Bank of Valletta, Environmental Landscapes Consortium, Foster Clark, GO plc., Ghaqda Muzikali Sant’Elena, Lighthouse & Ashley, Maestro Joe Vella, M. Demajo Group, Medavia, Misr Company Limited representatives of Egyptair in Malta, National Lotteries Good Causes Fund, Playmobil, Qawra Palace Hotel, Teatru Manoel, as well as our Egyptian sponsors Investia, Systel Telecom, for their financial and material support without which this extraordinary undertaking would not have been possible.

Classical music lovers and all members of the public are invited to attend and bring their friends. Proceeds from tickets will help raise much needed funds for The Society and the may blind people it strives to support.

For more information and bookings contact the Manoel Theatre ticket office on Tel: 21246389 or by email: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or visit – http://www.teatrumanoel.com.mt

Visit: www.alnourwalamal.org or facebook.com/lighthopemusic