The line-up for Warwick Arts Centre's re-opening Orchestral Series 2021-2022 has been announced and features blockbuster orchestras, returning favourites, and a World Premiere.

As advertised in our What's On section, the series begins with a special re-opening concert hosted by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Fri 8 Oct 2021), which includes Franz Liszt's symphonic poem Hamlet alongside works by Mozart and Sibelius.

Accompanying the orchestra are the celebrated conductor Anu Tali and Hungarian violinist Barnabás Kelemen.

The Brodsky Quartet (Thu 11 Nov 2021) present the World Premiere of composer/ broadcaster Stephen Johnson's String Quartet No.1. Johnson will also be visiting to discuss his work in a special talk, One Song, Four Voices (Sun 7 Nov).

Pianist Freddy Kempf joins the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra (Wed 1 Dec) for a programme that includes Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian's Masquerade Suite, which opens with a celebrated and instantly familiar waltz.

Also returning are Chineke! Orchestra (Wed 23 Feb 2022), Europe's first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, who take on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's dramatic Othello Suite.

Other highlights include The Hallé (Wed 27 Apr 2022), with a programme that includes Vaughan Williams post-war Symphony No.6, the City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Sat 7 May 2022) under the baton of Kazuki Yamada, and a second appearance from the Royal Philharmonic (16 Mar 2022) - this time with conductor Chloé van Soeterstède and Ukrainian-born pianist Dinara Klinton.

Doreen Foster, Warwick Arts Centre's Director, said: "After months of silence, we're pleased to see our Butterworth Hall alive with the sound of the some of the best orchestras and musicians in the world.

"It's an outstanding series. Our Re-Opening Concert, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, will undoubtedly be a night to remember - especially as the orchestra are also celebrating their 75th year - while we're also looking forward to welcoming back Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE's pioneering Chineke! Orchestra, and the region's very own CBSO."

Following a major four year transformation, Warwick Arts Centre is set to reopen on Friday 1 October 2021. The redevelopment, the largest in its 47 year history, combines extensive upgrades of existing spaces with spacious new areas, including a more welcoming foyer, three new cinemas, a repositioned Mead Gallery, and new restaurant.

Tickets for all Orchestral Series concerts are on sale now. To book, and find out more, contact Warwick Arts Centre Box Office via [email protected], or visit its website here.

For more local events, follow this link to our What's On page!