Viennese Strauss Christmas gala show

THE British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will put audiences into a festive mood when it performs its acclaimed Viennese Strauss Christmas gala show.In a one-off performance at The Playhouse, Weston, on December 8, it will re-create the nostalgia and romance of the Viennese festive season.The show will introduce the audience to a by-gone age of glamorous soirees and Strauss waltzes, compromising highlights from some of the great operettas of Straus, Kalman and Lehar, including Die Fledermaus, the Merry Widow and The Student Prince.The audience can also join in as the orchestra performs traditional Christmas music and carols such as White Christmas, Jingle Bells and Silent Night.This show, which has received rave reviews all over the country, is performed by soloists from major British opera companies such as Opera North, D'Oyly Carte Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera.The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra was formed from a group of Midland and Northern-based musicians in 1966 by Jeremy Peaker and Russell Swift.Since then, the orchestra has been playing a wide range of concert music all over Britain at venues such as The Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Plymouth Pavilion, The Hall for Cornwall and the Blackpool Grand Theatre. The orchestra's main aim is to bring popular classics to the masses.The performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £16.50, are available from the box office on 01934 645544.* The Weston & Somerset Mercury has teamed up with The Playhouse to offer one lucky reader the chance to each win a pair of tickets to see the show. To enter, please complete the Competition Entry Form below and answer the following question: In which year did the British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra form?* Closes: 9am on November 30. * Usual Archant rules apply and the editor's decision is final.