WHAT'S ON: The Durham Sinfonia, conducted by Philippe Bach, will appear at Durham Cathedral at 7.30pm on Saturday.

The programme includes George Butterworth's A Shropshire Lad, Sibelius' violin concerto with soloist Geoffrey Silver. Tickets: 0191-384-3720 or on the door.

REVIEWS

Beecham: Beethoven Symphony No 9 (BBC Legends, BBCL4209-2)
Thomas Beecham conducts a spirited rendition of the National Anthem, played in the presence of the Queen, followed by a magnificent account of Beethoven's Ninth recorded live at Usher Hall, Edinburgh in August 1956. The recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra features soprano Sylvia Fisher, tenor Ruichard Lewis and bass Kim Borg.

Szyring: Mozart, Vivaldi (BBCL4210-2)
 Violinist Henryk leads the English Chamber Orchestra in a keenly articulated account of Mozart's Violin Concerto No 3. Vivaldi's Four Seasons has become popularly known through Nigel Kennedy' efforts, but Szeryng's performance is quite refreshing.

Klemperer: Bruckner, R Strauss (Medici Masters MM001-2)
The new label Medici Masters is launched with four CDs from the WDR archive in Cologne. Among the first releases is Otto Klemperer's interpretation of Bruckner's Symphony No 4.