Winter wonderland symphony

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of their internationally-renowned conductor Vasily Petrenko, will perform Grieg From Holberg’s Time – Suite in Olden Style; the Sibelius Violin Concerto; and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 Pathétique.

Grieg looked back to the elegance of 18th century Scandinavia to write the kind of music that makes you feel good to be alive, especially when it’s cold outside, while Sibelius strode out into a wintry gale - and came up with the most brilliant of all violin concertos, played here by the award-winning British virtuoso Jack Liebeck.

As for Petr Tchaikovsky – Petrenko’s countryman – expressing himself grippingly, tunefully and heartbreakingly in his overwhelming Sixth Symphony.

Box Office: 0844 844 7710 or www.prestonguildhall.com

Comedian Sean Lock is one of the big names at Lancaster Grand this year.

Despite only being a 460-seater venue, it is a testament to the drawing power of this homely venue, which hints that more big names are coming.

Meantime their new season has quality drama, children’s productions, more comedians – some sold out – opera, ballet and TV names.

Back by popular demand and celebrating their 30th anniversary, London Community Gospel Choir arrive on February 2. Six days later there’s a Sold Out show from Russell Kane and Pam Ayres glides in on February 9.

Lancaster Footlights present When We Are Married by J B Priestley from February 19-23.

Following their sell-out run of The Gruffalo, Tall Stories return to the theatre with The Gruffalo’s Child, March 18-19 and after three sell-out tours, Andy Parsons returns to the theatre with his new show I’ve Got a Shed, March 22.

The zany Lip Service are also back with their new show Inspector Norse, “a Swedish self-assembly crime thriller.”

Vienna Festival Ballet return with Sleeping Beauty March 28.

Back by popular demand Terry Alderton returns with his new show April 6. He’s the star of Michael McIntyre’s Road Show, Dave’s One Night Stand and Sun’s Comedian of the Year.

The Live at LICA 2013 season of events at Lancaster University starts next Thursday with the free public opening of two brand new exhibitions followed by the Chroma Ensemble in concert. Showing in the Peter Scott Gallery, Jumpers is a newly commissioned video installation by British artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard and takes its inspiration from the religious practice of ‘jumping’ as a form of worship. Alongside will run the exhibition In Residence featuring work that has

been undertaken recently as part of the Live at LICA residency programme.

Immediately following the exhibition opening, Chroma return to the Great Hall after last season’s glowing reviews. They have promised another entertaining evening of new music which includes a grumpy hedgehog, fidgety squirrel and a scene from a fairy tale where everyone is arguing. Box office: 01524 594151 or www.liveatlica.org

A critically-acclaimed play coming to Preston next month has also been chosen as part of the Library Theatre re:play festival at the Lowry in Salford.

The Northern tour of My Arms is at the Continental in Preston on February 7 but before that it will be performed in Salford next week. Told in reverse order, My Arms is a one-hour drama about a couple in crisis after a tragic event that changes their lives forever.