STRASBOURG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

The Strasbourg Philharmonic transform Symphony Hall into a land of fairytale and legend with their programme for this mid-month concert. 
Highlights include Franck’s symphonic poem, The Accursed Huntsman - in which the title character gets his comeuppance for skipping church to go hunting and is condemned to be pursued by devils - and Ravel’s Mother Goose suite - featuring some of the composer’s most exquisite music in scenes of Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb and The Fairy Garden. 
Marko Letonja is the conductor for a concert that also sees celebrated pianist Nikolai Lugansky (pictured) performing Rachmaninov’s Second Concerto, the work that propelled the composer to stardom and which remains one of his most popular pieces.

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thursday 15 February

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A VIENNESE STRAUSS GALA

The European Baroque Ensemble join forces with four soloists to recreate the romance of a bygone age of glamorous soirees, glittering ballrooms, jaunty polkas and wondrous waltzes... Featured works include Die Fledermaus, Gypsy Baron, The Merry Widow, Blue Danube Waltz, and a rousing finale of the Radetsky March.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wednesday 21 February

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ROYAL PHILOHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Since their formation in 1946, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) have operated under the directorship of some of the world’s most respected conductors, Rudolf Kempe and Andre Previn among them. Based in the beautiful surroundings of Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall, the orchestra are no strangers to the recording studio, regularly laying down soundtracks for films and enjoying long partnerships with numerous commercial record companies.
The programme for this month’s Warwick Arts Centre concert sees them performing Dvořák’s Symphony No9 (From The New World), a work made familiar to a generation of television viewers via a much-loved 1970s commercial for Hovis bread.
Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture, Leonore No3 and Haydn’s Cello Concerto In C - the latter performed by Zlatomir Fung - also feature on the bill. 
Holding the baton is trailblazing South Korean conductor Shiyeon Sung.  

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Friday 23 February

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GOULD PIANO TRIO

With more than a quarter-century of experience behind them and rave reviews evidencing their incredible talent, the Gould Piano Trio make a Bromsgrove Concerts return with a programme featuring a rarely performed work by Haydn (Piano Trio in B Flat Hob. XV:20). Also included on the bill is Heinrich Marschner’s Piano Trio No6 in C Minor Op 148, and Smetana’s Piano Trio in G Minor Op 15. The latter was written in grief shortly after the composer had lost both of his daughters to illness.

Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School, Friday 23 February

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DUDOK QUARTET

Masterful practitioners when it comes to playing the core quartet repertoire, Amsterdam-based Dudok aren’t shy of swimming in less familiar waters too. Indeed, this month’s concert sees them performing Grażyna Bacewicz’s Quartet No4, marking the first time a work by the celebrated Polish composer has featured in a Leamington Music programme. 
The piece is sandwiched between works by Mozart and Beethoven.   

Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Friday 23 February

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HALLE ORCHESTRA: ROMEO AND JULIET

One of the UK’s top symphonic ensembles, the Manchester-based Halle are admired around the world for their extensive orchestral repertoire. 
This latest Victoria Hall appearance sees Maxime Pascale (pictured) picking up the baton to conduct the orchestra in a concert featuring excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo And Juliet, Brahms’ Tragic Overture and Beethoven’s  Piano Concerto No3. The latter is performed by pianist Tom Borrow, who is here making his Stoke-on-Trent debut. 

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 23 February

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ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN

Held in high regard both for their championing of new music and their performances of works by legendary composers, the Stratford-based Orchestra of the Swan (OOTS) are no slouches when it comes to compiling truly imaginative programmes of work. And this latest concert is certainly an example of them doing just that. 
Exploring the theme of metamorphosis, OOTS bring together music by, among others, Bach, Debussy and Philip Glass, with readings and poetry by authors including Shakespeare, Keats, Kafka, Woolf and Carroll. 

Stratford Play House, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tuesday 27 February

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SIBELIUS & STRAUSS WITH SAKARI ORAMO & THE CBSO 

Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo certainly made a splash during his decade spent as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s (CBSO) music director. Nowadays chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sakari took up the position with the CBSO in the mid-1990s and is fondly remembered for his outstanding contribution to musicmaking in the city. 
He here conducts a concert featuring two works by Sibelius (his seventh symphony and The Tempest: Suite No1) plus Merikanto’s Ekho and Strauss’ Four Last Songs. The latter work sees Sakari joined by his wife, soprano Anu Komsi.   

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wednesday 28 February

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PAUL LEWIS PIANO RECITAL

Widely considered to be one of the finest interpreters of Franz Schubert’s music, Paul Lewis here presents three works by the short-lived but prolific composer: Sonata for Piano No4 in A minor; Sonata for Piano No9 in B major; and Sonata for Piano No18 in G major. 
“I love the vulnerability of Schubert,” Paul recently explained to Interlude. “I love the fragility. I love the lack of resolution. In a way, it’s the most real and human music. He is what he is, with all his worries, vulnerabilities and neuroses, and that comes through in his music... That’s why I love it so much.” 

Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Thursday 29 February