A NORTH-EAST orchestra hopes to strike a chord with disappointed music fans.

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra was to visit Newcastle this month, but when a sponsorship deal fell through, it had to ditch its European tour.

So Northern Sinfonia, based in Newcastle, was asked to step in. The orchestra not only agreed, but also secured John Harle, Britain's top saxophonist to join them at the Newcastle City Hall concert.

Harle was propelled to international fame in 1995, when he performed at the Last Night of the Proms. He has also collaborated with famous names, including Paul McCartney and and Julian Lloyd Webber.

His music for the BBC's Silent Witness programme won the Royal Television Society Best Original Music Award in 1998.

The concert, which takes place on Wednesday, April 25, will be a mix of jazz-influenced work and classical pieces.

Tickets from £7.70 to £21.50 are available from the box office on 0191-261 2606.