The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra's World Symphony Series 2001 Summer Season is well underway, with weekly Thursday evening concerts in the Durban City Hall at 19h30.

The orchestra’s conductor laureate David Tidboald takes the podium on March I for The Bold and the Beautiful. Spotlighting Russian keyboard virtuoso Dmitir Vorobiev in Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 3, this programme also includes Kabalevsky's Colas Breugnon Overture, Elgar's Introduction and Allegro and Janacek's Sinfonietta.

The London Chamber Players are the season's guest orchestra, appearing in Cornucopia on March 8. Works to be performed here include Bach's Concerto for Two Violins (soloists Fiona Simon and Josef Frohlich), Haydn's Symphony No 64 and Beethoven's Mass in C, with the KZN Chorale and the Durban Symphonic Choir. This concert is sponsored by Billiton SA.

The gifted young Netherlands based conductor Arjan Tien makes a welcome return to Durban for the final three concerts of this season. The first of these, Nordic Horizons on March 15, comprises Sibelius' Valse Triste, Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor to be performed by Philipp Maier, and the ever-popular Symphony No 2 by Sibelius. This concert is sponsored by the Rupert Music Foundation.

Slavic Gems on March 22 sees Arjan Tien back at the helm for a programme comprising Glinka's sparkling Russlan and Ludmilla Overture, Dvorak's Cello Concerto with Mark Drobinsky as the soloist and Tchakovsky's Pathetique Symphony.

The season's closing concert on March 29 is titled The Grand Tradition and features Mozart's Impresario Overture and Piano Concerto No 17 with the Melvyn Tan as soloist as well as the Symphony No 1 by Brahms. This concert is sponsored by The Royal Hotel.

To subscribe, contact Johan Reiners on (031) 369-9404 or fax (031) 369-9559 or email subs@kznpo.co.za