Top violinist to perform in Cheltenham (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Top violinist to perform in Cheltenham

TICKETS for two charity performances featuring one of the world's leading violinists together with one of Britain's top orchestras are selling fast and potential concert-goers are being urged to book their seats soon.

The renowned violin virtuoso, Nigel Kennedy, will be performing with the English Symphony Orchestra at the Centaur Centre, Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday, July 23 and at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on Sunday, July 24, in support of Acorns Children's Hospice during a brief visit to the UK.

Both concerts will include Elgar's hauntingly beautiful Violin Concerto in B Minor Op 61 as well as Polish composer Emil Mlynarski's romantic masterpiece, the Concerto No 2 in D Major for Violin and Orchestra Op 16.

The concerts are part of a major project by Nigel Kennedy to tour and record Mlynarski's Violin Concerti II from a brief and magical period in Polish history and will be conducted by compatriot Jacek Kaspszyk.

Mlynarski lived and worked in all the influential cities in the early part of the last century and he pioneered the Warsaw Philharmonic.

He also persuaded Elgar to compose for the Polish nation and while taking refuge in Moscow during the First World War Mlynarski combined all his experiences into this beautiful and emotional concerti reflecting his beloved homeland.

Over 80 years later, Nigel Kennedy and the ESO will reveal again this stunning concerti.

The concert at Cheltenham Racecourse will start at 8pm, with the Parade Ring open in the early evening for picnics.

Tickets priced £17.50 to £37.50 are available from 01386 791045 or from Cheltenham Town Hall on 01242 227979. There is an optional charge of £2.50 for those wishing to picnic in the Parade Ring.

Tickets are also available on-line at www.eso.co.uk (£1 postage and administration charge for on-line bookings).

The concert at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, will start at 8pm. Tickets priced £13.50 to £35 are available from 0121 780 3333. Tickets are also available on-line at www.symphonyhall.co.uk/boxoffice (£1 postage and administration charge for on-line bookings).