THE Haffner Orchestra stages its final concert of another successful season with a programme inspired by Shakespeare.

Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor, Walton's Henry V, and Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream all feature in the Saturday, June 18 (7.30pm) concert, at Lancaster’s Town Hall Ashton Hall.

Conductor Justin Doyle says that given the vast amount of music inspired by Shakespeare's plays (and poetry) over the past four centuries, it's very hard to distil all this repertoire into a single concert programme.

"But we'll attempt to by playing representative music written for the historical plays (Henry IV, V), tragedy (Otello) and comedy (A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor)," adds Justin.

"In Shakespeare's day, incidental music was a major part of any production. Sometimes the role of music would be dramatically obvious, as in the songs, whereas at other times it would be more of a practical nature such as 'curtain tunes' between acts, during which scenery could be moved, candles replaced, and the passage of time suggested.

"These curtain tunes might be popular dance forms, a musical language with which the audience would be more familiar then than now; at other times they might be more programmatic, and suggest something of the environment of the following act.”

The Ashton Hall concert is also the last performance of retiring cellist Christine Dittman, who joined the ensemble in 2012 and has led the cello section since February 2013.

Christine was brought up in Ashby-de-la-Zouch when Eric Pinkett was music advisor. His vision was that every child in Leicestershire should have an opportunity to play an instrument.

"Playing and teaching have always been the backdrop of my life, and I have been very fortunate in the life experiences this has given to me," explained Christine.

"Teaching has always been my main source of income, but I have loved the orchestral and chamber music playing that have been such an enrichment of the soul. This last sojourn with the Haffner Orchestra has been a real joy and challenge.”

The programme also includes flute and clarinet solos by Haffner principal players Christine Lorriman and Janet Barlow.

Tickets are available on 01524-582394 or at www.haffnerorchestra.org.

The day after (Sunday, June 19) the Haffner takes part in the last day of Ulverston International Music Festival - Charity Concerts Day, which is dedicated to showcasing the talents of amateur and semi-professional musicians with all donations and proceeds going to St Mary's Hospice. The event includes a piano master class with festival founder and internationally renowned pianist Anthony Hewitt. Haffner pay further homage to the nation's favourite bard in a programme of popular works accompanied by extracts from the relevant plays, read by local schoolchildren. Justin and his ensemble will be joined by rising star of saxophone Jess Gillam to commemorate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary.

Festival box office 01229-587140.