BASINGSTOKE Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is making a plea to all its followers to make a special effort to support its Smooth Classics for Spring Concert.

The event takes place in The Anvil at 7.45pm on Saturday, February 7. The orchestra has a reputation for high-quality musical performances and has for many years successfully staged three concerts a year at The Anvil.

However since the recession, like many other arts groups, BSO audience numbers have dwindled, grants and sponsorship have dried up and the long-term prospects of being able to continue to perform at this venue are becoming ever more precarious.

The orchestra's concert manager, Clive Evans, said: “We appeal to anyone who has come to one of our concerts in the past to turn out and support us for this concert of superb popular classics.

“A relatively small increase in audience numbers for each concert would actually secure the orchestra's future at the Anvil.

“Audiences who attend the International Concert Series at The Anvil will be pleasantly surprised by the standard achieved by BSO and we urge them to give us a try.”

The programme for February 7 consists of MacCunn's Land of the Mountain & the Flood, Haydn's Trumpet Concerto (soloist Simon Tong), Mahler's Adagietto from his Symphony No.5, Saint Saëns Morceau de Concert (harp soloist Federica Mossone-Evans), Verdi's Overture the Force of Destiny, Strauss's Radetsky March and Sibelius's Karelia Suite op. 11.

The orchestra will be conducted by Stephen Scotchmer and led by Sue Bint.

MacCunn's Overture The Land of the Mountain and the Flood paints a lyrical, romantic picture of the dramatic Scottish landscape and was used as the theme for Sutherland's Law.

Simon Tong performs Haydn's dazzling and innovative Trumpet Concerto, originally written for the first 'keyed' trumpet. The fourth movement of Mahler's 5th, used in the film Death in Venice, is probably one of Mahler's best known works.

Solo Harpist Federica Mossone-Evans joins the orchestra to perform Saint Saëns's exquisite Morceau de Concert.

Verdi's Force of Destiny Overture is now probably best known as the music behind a series of TV ads for Stella Artois beer.

The Karelia Suite is one of Sibelius's earliest yet most popular works, capturing the flavour of the naive folk music of his much-loved Karelia province.

During Strauss's rousing Radetsky March the audience is invited to clap along in true Vienna Philharmonic style!

Tickets priced £21, £17 and £12, over 65s £2 off, under 16s and fulltime students half price, are available from the box office on 01256 844244 or online at anvilarts.org.uk. Group discounts are also available.