Classical Preview: City shows its pride in Victorian concert hall

But the city has every right to be proud of its resplendent Victorian building, which this year will host the 146th International Orchestral Season in England’s oldest operating concert hall.

Great minds think alike, many of the touring orchestras will also visit Leeds and Sheffield, including the Warsaw Philharmonic (November 25); Russian State Philharmonic (February 12); European Union Chamber (April 21), and Berlin Symphony (May 18), all bringing their star conductors and soloists.

The Hallé makes three appearances, including a special New Year Viennese Concert with the soprano, Leslie Garrett, and a familiar face from Opera North, the ebullient conductor, Wyn Davies.

To make the season doubly interesting the concert season is interspersed with a series of chamber music concerts in the cathedral, opening with the keyboard virtuoso, Melvyn Tan, in a programme to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Liszt (September 30); the internationally famous Badke Quartet offer Haydn, Mozart and Ravel (December 2), and one of the most highly regarded names in the music world, the Smetana Piano Trio, playing Beethoven and Smetana (February 17).

An incentive to book for the whole season comes with free recital by the Leeds-born principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra, Tim Hugh, who plays works by Britten, Tavener and Bach.

Bradford International Season, September 30-May 18.