HECTOR Berlioz’ powerful choral classic is the centrepiece of tonight's Westmorland Orchestra concert at Kendal Parish Church which also stars Cumbria Festival Chorus. The performance (7.30pm) is the opening event of the 2019 Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival, which runs at Kendal Town Hall until next Saturday. The 120-strong chorus and 60-strong orchestra will be joined by acclaimed tenor Christopher Steele. The programme also includes Mendelssohn’s fifth Reformation symphony played by the Westmorland. Tickets from Kendal Tourist Information Centre in Finkle Street and at the door.

ROYAL Northern Sinfonia, the resident orchestra of The Sage Gateshead - the UK’s only full-time chamber orchestra, renowned for the quality of its music-making and rapport with audiences - returns to Keswick's Theatre by the Lake tomorrow as guests of Keswick Music Society. The popular ensemble, led as always by charismatic Bradley Creswick, under the baton of their conductor Karin Hendrickson, perform works by Rossini, Mendelssohn and Richard Strauss. Box office 017687-74411.

COMING up at Ulverston's Coronation Hall on Wednesday, April 10 (7.30pm) is a concert by four-time Brit Classical Award winner Russell Watson. Having sold more than seven million albums worldwide, the top tenor is firmly established as the UK’s best selling classical crossover artist of all time. The New York Times recently described Russell as singing like Pavarotti, and entertaining the audience like Sinatra. Box office 01229-587140.