LONDON (Reuters) - This week a Viennese orchestra of a very special sort is in London making music with vegetables. The First Vienna Vegetable Orchestra features carrot flutes, leek violins, celery bongos and aubergine* cymbals. Supported by the occasional use of kitchen utensils such as spoons and food processors, the orchestra has been a hit in its hometown of Vienna.

　　The inspiration for the orchestra came from listening to the sound of vegetables being chopped. Before each performance, thesgroupstours local markets to find fresh vegetables of just the right caliber and quality. The "gurkophone" is one of their classics, made from a hollowed cucumber, a pepper and a carrot. Once the instru-ments are worn out, the musicians, and a conductor who doubles as cook, toss each onesintosa stewpot to make soup -- to be enjoyed by the audience after the concert. A taste of their music is available at www.gemueseorchester.org

　　* "Aubergine" is "eggplant" in American English.