WORLD class artistes and ensembles have graced many a Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society series down the years.

Brilliant violinists as Nicola Benedetti, Elena Urioste, and Jennifer Pike, top horn player David Pyatt, well-known soprano, Catherine Bott, and one of the finest cellists performing on the international stage, Raphael Wallfisch, all spring to mind.

Rising stars such as Ulverston sax sensation Jess Gillam have added another exciting dimension to the annual eight-concert offering, Jess having had the Kendal Leisure Centre's Westmorland Hall audience on its feet following her performance in December.

Orchestral giants as the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Halle are welcome staples of the LSCS season, the latter opening the second half of the society's 2016/2017 series at the Westmorland Hall, on Saturday (January 21, 7.30pm).

The Halle celebrates its 159th birthday this month.

The eminent ensemble gave its first concert on January 30, 1858 under the baton of its founder Sir Charles Halle.

Until his death in 1895 Sir Charles conducted almost every concert, and performed as piano soloist at many. His sudden death shocked Manchester and the wider musical world, with his funeral procession bringing the city to a standstill. Apparently, three of his closest friends immediately set about securing the future of the orchestra.

The 1895-96 season had already been planned and so Henry Simon, Gustav Behrens and James Forsyth guaranteed it against loss. They renewed this commitment for a further three years while they set about forming and incorporating the Hallé Concerts Society. Under the guidance of distinguished conductors such as Hans Richter, Sir Hamilton Harty and Sir John Barbirolli the orchestra continued to thrive and develop.

Manchester's Free Trade Hall was the Halle's orchestral home for the majority of its historic years, performing at the legendary venue for the final time in 1996, before moving to its magnificent new home just a stone's throw away at the Bridgewater Hall.

On the podium on Saturday will be Halle favourite Louis Langree, conducting an irresistible all Russian programme.

He's worked with many orchestras around the world, including the London Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Santa Cecilia in Rome, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Budapest Festival, Sao Paulo and NHK Symphony Orchestras.

The first half features two works: Prokofiev’s boisterous Classical Symphony no 1 in D, a warm and humorous tribute to Haydn, and Tchaikovsky’s elegant Rococo Variations.

Joining the Halle as soloist for Tchaikovsky’s concerto for cello and orchestra will be Jian Wang.

Born in Xi'an, China, Jian began to study the cello with his father when he was four. By the age of nine his playing was so advanced he was able enter the school affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. While there, he was featured in the celebrated documentary film From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China. At 11 he was the soloist in the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and three years later performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on tour in China, when conductor Seijii Ozawa apparently declared him a “world class cellist.”

These days, he's established as one of the top cellists on the music scene playing a huge repertoire across the globe.

Based mainly in London and Shanghai, Jian has umpteen recordings to his name, the latest being the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy, as well as Reverie, an album of short pieces for cello and guitar.

The second half of the Halle programme features Tchaikovsky's gripping Fourth Symphony. With its recurring fate motif, it is one of music’s most dramatic and satisfying journeys with a profusion of great melodies along the way.

Tchaikovsky began the symphony in May 1877, completing it on January 19, 1878. The first performance was given in Moscow on March 4, 1878.

The Russian composer was apparently working on the symphony when he received a letter from Antonina Milyukova, claiming to be a former student of his and declaring that she was madly in love with him. Tchaikovsky had

just read Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin, hoping to find an opera subject, and he saw fateful parallels between Antonina and Pushkin’s heroine, Tatiana.

For the record, he actually married Antonina but it didn't last long - a mere two and a half months, before the couple split up.

Tickets for the Halle concert can be booked online www.lakelandsinfonia.org.uk or by telephone on 0333-666-3366.

The LSCS series continues with the European Union Chamber Orchestra on February 11, featuring pianist Nikolai Demidenko and trumpet player Huw Morgan.