FOLLOWING the success of two performances by Royal Northern Sinfonia chamber ensembles in the newly-refurbished Witham in Barnard Castle, it’s encouraging to see plans for more along with an expansion in its classical music programme with a new recital series, writes Peter Bevan.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

MOST POPULAR: Guitarist Giulio Tampalini

Both concerts were well attended and clearly enjoyed by audiences and musicians alike.

Members of The Sage-based Royal Northern Sinfonia give regular recitals of chamber works across the region. Performances at the Witham begin on Tuesday, April 8, with Purcell’s Fantasia for String Quartet, Mozart’s Oboe Quartet and the ever-popular String Quartet, Death and the Maiden, by Schubert.

Then it’s the turn of some of the wind players on Friday, May 9, with performances of three Wind Quintets by Françaix, Klughardt and Neilsen as well as Six Bagatelles by Ligeti.

Overlapping these is a series of four recitals by young musicians organised by North Shields promoter, Master Musicians including three pianists. The Witham now has a John Broadwood boudoir grand piano (circa 1934) loaned by someone who just wants it to be used and played.

These start on Wednesday, April 23, with British pianist Julian Evans, His programme includes a selection by Chopin, Five Preludes by Rachmaninov and Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit.

Established pianist, Viv McLean, appears on Wednesday, May 21, with a selection of Chopin, Schumann and two Beethoven Sonatas.

On Saturday, June 14, guitarist Giulio Tampalini, recently chosen as one of the most popular musicians to appear at the Classics in Kirkleatham series, and on Wednesday, July 16, pianist Adam Skoumal will present a varied programme including works by Schubert and Dvorak.

The Sinfonia concerts start at 8pm and the Master Musicians at 7.30pm. Early booking is advisable online at thewitham.org.uk or call 01833-631107.

Bishop Auckland Music Society’s 23rd series of summer concerts opens next Friday when the Primrose Piano Quartet plays a Schubert Piano Trio and Piano Quartets by Mahler and Brahms.

Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu appears on May 16 playing Bach, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Chopin and a selection of Preludes by Szymanowski.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

MAHLER: The Primrose Quartet

On June 13, Cuillin Sound – flute, clarinet and bassoon – offers classical music by Bach, Koechlin, Elgar and Rossini and Shetland and Hebridean folk melodies.

Jane Lindsay, cello, and Alison Rhind, piano, will perform sonatas by Debussy, Beethoven and Brahms as well as Mendelssohn’s Variations Concertantes on July 11. The series ends on September 5 when the Dante String Quartet performs Haydn, Faure and Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Quartet.

All concerts are on Fridays at 7.30pm in the Throne Room in Auckland Castle. Season tickets at £50 (five for the price of four).

Darlington and Stockton Times:

VARIED PROGRAMME: Pianist Adam Skoumal

Single tickets are available from the treasurer on 01388-606075.

Finally, Durham Cathedral’s spring events diary includes a 50th anniversary concert by Durham County Youth Choir with Alumni Choir, soloists and orchestra performing Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, April 26, followed on Saturday, May 10 by Durham Choral Society and guests presenting music old and new, with Vivaldi’s Gloria in D sandwiched between Will Lang’s Canny at Neet, Bonny at Morn and Will Todd’s Gala and Gloria, works commissioned by the society.

On Tuesday, May 27, Northern Chords Artists present a programme of Russian music.

Tickets for April 26 and May 10 are available from the Gala Theatre on 03000-266600 and for April 27 from The Sage, Gateshead, on 01913-343805.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

CHOPIN: Julian Evans

Summer organ recitals will be given on Wednesdays from July 16 to August 20 by cathedral organists Francesca Massey, Daniel Ratnanayagam and James Lancelot as well as visiting organists, Peter King (Bath Abbey), Stephen Disley (Southwark Cathedral) and David Pipe (York Minster).

Tickets for these from the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, 01913-343805 or at the door.

The events diary is available by post or e-mail from events@durhamcathedral.co.uk.