MALTESE-Australian composer Jes Grixti, who presently lives in Canberra, is having his piano work “Anzac Koyu” (Anzac Cove) premiered by Australian concert pianist Stefan Cassomenos tomorrow, April 28.

The work will be heard at a private recital in the Australian Official Residence in Malta on as part of the nation’s response to the Anzac commemoration. Malta, because of its geographical position, became known as ‘the nurse of the Mediterranean’ during WWI and there are also Commonwealth cemeteries on the island.

Grixti describes himself as “touched and humbled” by this performance as he is well aware of Cassomenos’ high reputation as a pianist, saying he could not believe his eyes when reading an email asking to send him some of his music for consideration.

Grixti’s compositions have been performed internationally at the National Gallery of Art in Washington and Carnegie Hall in New York, while Cassomenos has played at Zurich’s Tonhalle and Leipzig’s Gewandhasu.

As well as “Anzac Koyu”, Cassomenos says he has chosen pieces which relate to the ANZAC theme in some way. The other compositions are HAYDN’s Sonata in B minor, Hob XVI No 32; LISZT’s Funerailles S.173 No 7; CHOPIN’s Berceuse Op 57; CARL VINE’s Toccatissimo; (2012) and BEETHOVEN’s Sonata No 31 in A-flat major, Op 110.