Heath Quartet in town

Buy photos » The Heath Quartet - Leamington date on January 27. (s)

THE HEATH Quartet kick off the monthly International String Quartet Concerts series this year at Leamington's Pump Rooms on January 27 at 7.30pm.

The programme consists of Haydn’s Quartet in B minor Opus 33 No 1, Mendelssohn’s Quartet in E flat Opus 12 and Schumann’s Quartet in A Opus 41 No 3 - and will be recorded by BBC Radio 3.

Festival director Richard Phillips said: “These three quartets to be played by the Heath were written over a period of just 60 years, 1782 to 1841, and clearly show how classical music at its very peak evolved into the equally exciting Romantic period."

The monthly quartet series continues on February 23 with the Martinu Quartet from the Czech Republic and finishes on March 16 with the Barbirolli Quartet.

Tickets are available from the Bridge House Theatre Box Office by visiting www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk.

or calling 01926 776438, and in person from the Visitor Information Centre in the Pump Rooms.

CHAMBER choir Armonico Consort perform their first concert of 2012 at Warwick's St Mary’s Church on January 28.

The programme, entitled Supersize Polyphony, which includes Tallis’ Spem in Alium for 40 voice parts, was created by David Buckley, a former singer and workshop leader with the group who is now writing music for Hollywood Blockbusters such as Shrek 3, and Da Vinci Code.

Artistic Director, Christopher Monks said; "This is one of the most daring programmes any group can undertake, as not only are the singers put on the line with Tallis’s tour de force, but they also have to contest with a 36 part work by Ockeghem - Deo Gratias – which can be performed in around 100 different ways."

Tickets, priced £10 to £29.50 are available from the ticket factory on 0844 5810750 or via www.armonico.org.uk

BEAUCHAMP Sinfonietta perform an Afternoon Tea Concert at Leamington Town Hall on January 29.

The programme will feature Schumann Overture's Scherzo and Finale; Bach's Concerto for oboe and violin in D minor; and Dvorak's Symphony no. 6.

Tickets are £10 (concessions £8, students/children £2), available on the door. The concert starts at 3pm.