SPRING concerts by two of the world’s best orchestras and two leading national orchestras begin at Middlesbrough Town Hall with the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra on February 17.

Spokesman Rob Guest said: “You’d have to travel to Leeds or Edinburgh to find a remotely similar line-up. It puts us up there alongside some of the best classical venues in the country. We have a very loyal, knowledgeable and passionate classical audience and we’re looking forward to some incredible nights over the coming months.”

Soloist Norika Ogawa is the special guest with the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra in a programme that includes works by Shostakovich, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky.

On March 5, Kyra Humphreys directs the Royal Northern Sinfonia in works by Mozart, Barber and Copeland. The Halle, Manchester’s award-winning orchestra, brings uplifting music by Strauss, Ravel and Beethoven on Tuesday, April 28.

The season ends on May 12 with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and a first for town hall audiences, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, one of the greatest symphonic masterpieces ever written.

Student tickets cost £8, standard tickets from £13.50 and £12.50 for concessions. Up to two children under 16 go free with every adult ticket in selected areas. School groups are welcome, tickets £3 for groups of ten or more, plus one teacher free.

Call the box office on 01642 729729 or visit middlesbroughtownhallonline.co.uk.