Orchestra to Perform Virtual Concert in Second Life

— -- One of Britain's oldest symphony orchestras is to play a concert in Second Life, the virtual Internet world, organisers said on Tuesday.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is building areplica of its concert hall where it will perform works byRachmaninov, Ravel and two contemporary composers from thenorthern English city.

The online audience will be able to cough, rustle sweetwrappers and check their phone for messages without upsettingthose around them.

After the concert, they can chat to the orchestra'sprincipal conductor Vasily Petrenko and performers in thevirtual bar.

Michael Elliott, the orchestra's chief executive, said hehoped the Sept. 14 concert would attract a new audience toclassical music.

"It's a lot of fun and certainly adds a different dimensionto the more traditional visit to a concert hall," he said.

Second Life (www.secondlife.com) is a three-dimensionalworld where millions of participants create characters, buy

property and interact with each other.