The English Symphony Orchestra has an exciting Spring Series lined up for Malvern Theatres.

If you have never attended a concert before then you will still find something in this Series for you, with opportunities to explore music in a completely new way.

Romance

Invite a loved one to enjoy a special Valentines Day Concert (February 14) for an evening of romantic music featuring the pianist Mark Bebbington. The programme will include Tchaikovsky's passionate and romantic Piano Concerto No 1, music for Peer Gynt by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, Debussy's hauntingly beautiful l'apres midi d'un faune and Elgar's brilliant musical portrait of his friends - The Enigma Variations.

Discovery

A new development by the ESO is a 'Discovery Concert' (February 28) where Music Director William Boughton and the orchestra will take you on a journey of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony.

Martino Tirimo joins the Orchestra for an evening of Viennese Classics (March 28) that includes Schubert's Overture in the Italian Style, Mozart's Piano Concerto No 25 in C K503 and Beethoven's mammoth human struggle as portrayed in his 'Eroica' Symphony. Three giants of composition that span the transition from classicism to romanticism.

Passions

Easter is celebrated with a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion at Tewkesbury Abbey (April 12). This great spiritual work was one of two Passions that Bach wrote for the Easter Mass at St Thomas's Leipzig. It will be William Boughton's and the ESO's first performance of the piece, featuring Gavin Carr in the role of Jesus and the St Michael's Singers from Coventry.

Fantasy

A Zoological Fantasy children's concert (May 2) features Prokofiev's

'Peter and the Wolf and Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals. There will be two concerts one at 1.30pm for school parties and an evening concert at 6pm for families.

Climax

The great American pianist Emanuel Ax is the guest soloist for the final concert in the Series (June 5).

Emanuel Ax has performed all over the world with the greatest orchestras and conductors and is about to perform in a series with the LSO.

His performance of Brahms huge 2nd Piano Concerto should prove a fitting climax to a great season.

Tickets for all Malvern concerts can be booked on 01684 892277 or online at www.malvern-theatres.co.uk. Tickets for Tewkesbury Abbey can be booked on 01684 560696.