THE Philharmonia Orchestra performs a spectacular Russian programme at The Anvil, Basingstoke on Sunday, January 18 at 7.45pm.

And they are joined by one of the most compelling young violinists today Ray Chen and conducted by Diego Matheuz, one of the most promising developing talents from the Americas and a product of the famous El Sistema programme.

The programme begins with Mussorgsky’s spine-tingling Night on a Bare Mountain, depicting a witches’ Sabbath, which is one of his most successful tone poems.

This is followed by Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, one of the most tuneful and popular of all violin concertos, which ends with a whirling Russian dance.

Finally, Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral suite Scheherazade takes tales from the Arabian Nights and dresses them in gorgeous, inventive orchestral colours to make a dramatic and satisfying work.

The Philharmonia Orchestra is Anvil Arts Orchestra in Partnership Tickets for the Philharmonia Orchestra are priced from £13 to £39; under 16s and fulltime students pay just £10 (all ticket prices include £1 booking fee).

n For more information or for tickets, call the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244, or use the Anvil Arts website anvilarts.org.uk.