ONE of Britain's best-known symphony orchestras returns to the region tomorrow (Saturday, 7.30pm) as part of the new Sinfonia season.

The Halle Orchestra performs at the Westmorland Hall, as one of three concerts in the subscription series with tickets on open sale.

Thierry Fischer conducts the ensemble which gave its first concert way back in 1858 under its founder, pianist and conductor Charles Halle and since has gained a worldwide reputation and a new orchestral home at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.

Thierry Fisher was recently appointed principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra, as well as being chief baton wielder of the Netherland Ballet Orchestra.

And he was in Kendal earlier this year when he conducted the Northern Sinfonia's highly-regarded Vaganza contemporary ensemble at the Brewery Arts Centre, along with the first lady of the Northumbria pipes Kathryn Tickell.

The Halle concert opens with William Walton's Suite No 2 from Facade, written to accompany poems by Edith Sitwell when the composer was living with the Sitwell family in London in the early 1920s.

For Walton's Violin Concerto in steps soloist Stephanie Gonley - an internationally-renowned performer who is director of the English Chamber Orchestra.

And the Halle bows out in dramatic style with Schubert's Symphony no 9, The Great C Major.

The evening begins with a pre-concert talk by a member of the Halle, from 6.30-7pm.

The subscription series continues with the Lakeland Sinfonia conducted by Simon Wright on October 21, with the next open sale event being the marvellous and always highly-entertaining Jack Symons Christmas Charity Concert on Saturday, December 16 (7.30pm).

This year promises to be another outstanding and memorable night as well-known musical figure Mary Powney picks up the powerful K-Shoes Male Voice Choir baton for the final time.

The other concert in the subscription series on open sale is the BBC Philharmonic on Saturday, February 10 (7.30pm).

Tickets from Tim Keegan on 01539-722533.