London Gala Orchestra in Cheltenham (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

London Gala Orchestra in Cheltenham

FOLLOWING the success of last year's show, Stephen Bell returns to introduce and conduct the London Gala Orchestra in the New Year Viennese Spectacular at Cheltenham Town Hall on Sunday, January 2 at 7.30pm.

Also returning to Cheltenham is tenor Lynton Atkinson who will be joined by soprano Bibi Heal whose recital venues include the Royal Albert and Festival Halls and the Brighton, Chichester and Windsor Festivals, as well as Covent Garden.

The new programme will not only include some great Viennese favourites like Blue Danube, Radetzky March and the Skaters' Waltz, but will feature music by some of the Strauss's contemporaries such as Lanner (New Year Galop), Ziehrer (Pleasure Maker) and some galops by Lumbye.

Strauss's Morning Paper's Waltz, which amazingly has never been played at the New Year Concerts before, is also included and so are well loved operatic arias which proved so popular last year.

To make the concert go with a fizz, there will be a champagne lottery, special effects, seasonal fun and some special New Year surprises - ending, of course, with Auld Lang Syne.

Tickets from the Town Hall box office on 01242 227979.