91Èȱ¬

The Stoke on Trent festival began at Keele University back in 1969, and featured all different types of music from rock and pop to jazz and classical.

Over the years it has become more classical music orientated, and has gained a reputation for presenting top class British Orchestras in concert at the Victoria Hall, along with many world renowned conductors and soloists.

To celebrate its 40th birthday, director Mike Lloyd has put together what he calls "a bill of music that concert-goers have regularly requested, together with many of the maestros and soloists who are on their ‘must see’ lists."

Orchestras

Between October 2009 and May 2010, five different orchestras will play ten concerts, and there are five first-class piano recitals as well.

We’ve learnt to expect the CBSO, the Hallé, and the 91Èȱ¬ Philharmonic, but this season we’re also hearing the revitalised Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with their new young conductor Vasily Petrenko and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (150 members -- that should bring the ceiling down at the Victoria Hall!)

John Williams

Soloists

Among the soloists on the bill are world-famous names like guitarist John Williams, violinists Janine Jansen and Tasmin Little, cellist Natalie Clein, and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

There's also the Harding Trust Piano Recital series, taking place at the Forum theatre inside the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. The impressive line-up includes Stephen Hough, John Lill, Benjamin Grosvenor and Nikolai Demidenko.

Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart

Musically, there are all the usual suspects -- Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart. But highlights, for me, include Janine Jansen playing the Sibelius violin concerto on November 6.

There's Bartok’s vivid concerto for orchestra from the National Youth Orchestra on January 6, the CBSO with Dvorak’s 8th symphony (hooray, not the ninth!) on January 29, and Elgar’s Enigma Variations from the Royal Liverpool Phil on March 19.

The season opens on Friday October 2nd, with Italian composer Gianandrea Noseda at the controls of the powerful machine that is the 91Èȱ¬ Philharmonic in a concert that includes Wagner’s greatest tunes. Go and have a wallow.

There is a problem with all this, however. So terrific is this season, director Mike Lloyd must be wondering what he’s going to do for the 41st.