IMPROVISATIONS on Stravinsky’s thrilling Firebird, a cello sonata by Vivaldi and scorching tangos from across the world, feature in Fire - the first in the imaginative Four Elements series of performances at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake.

Featuring fascinating animations conjured from sand, Fire combines the refinement of classical with the excitement of Latin, from artists equally at home at the Wigmore Hall or Ronnie Scott’s.

Staged by Splash Classics, former Lake District Summer Music executive Andrew Lucas’ new venture, the line-up includes cellist, Gabriella Swallow (pictured); James Pearson, piano; Lizzie Ball, violin and vocals; accordionist, Martynas Levickis; Pedro Segundo on percussion; sand animator, Lindsey McConnochie and Latin dancers Amir Giles and Tara Pilbrow.

Fire is staged on Sunday, August 10 (7.30pm) followed by Water on August 17, starring pianist Jonathan Scott and his piano-playing brother and animator Tom.

Air is on August 24, and features innovative musical outfit Red Priest and recent Wordsworth Trust poet-in-residence Carola Luther, and Earth, on August 31, includes - among others - highly-respected pianists Martin Roscoe and Peter Donahoe performing Stravinsky’s spectacular four-handed arrangement of his Rite of Spring.

Box office 017687-74411.