RUSSIA’S oldest symphony orchestra will visit the North-East as part of a tour celebrating its 135th anniversary.

The famous St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra will be at Sage Gateshead for a sell-out performance, at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 21.

The programme will feature Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Rachmaninov’s much-loved Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

On stage will be award-winning pianist Nikolai Lugansky and conductor Yuri Temirkanov.

The concert is one of six RNS Presents concerts taking place at Sage Gateshead during the 2016/17 Classical Season - welcoming guest orchestras from far and near to perform in Sage One.

Highlights coming up in the next few months include a performance by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on Saturday March 25, with Thomas Dausgaard conducting Wagner’s revolutionary Prelude and Liebestod from ‘Tristan and Isolde’ alongside Elgar’s Symphony No.1 and Strauss’ posthumous Four Last Songs.

The the SWR Symphonieorchester Stuttgart will appear on Saturday June 24 for the final concert of Sage Gateshead’s Classical Season 2016/17. It will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No.8 and Mahler’s mighty Symphony No.1.

The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra concert is now sold out. To check for returns and restricted view tickets, contact Sage Gateshead on 0191-443 4661. For more information about the RNS Presents series visit www.classicalseason.com.