The autumn symphony season of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra starts on Thursday 8 May at 8pm in the City Hall and includes a wide range of works performed by excellent local and international artists.

The first of the four concerts is presented in collaboration with the Total Miagi Festival 2008 and features the Finnish conductor and pianist Ralf Gothoni, who is also one of the soloists during that concert. The other conductors during the season are the Turkish-born Cem Mansur and South African-born Conrad van Alphen.

The soloists for the season include two outstanding cellists, a star clarinettist, a sought-after violist and three excellent pianists. They are the virtuoso American clarinettist Bryan Crumpler, the well-known Finnish cellist Arto Noras, the rising star Finnish violinist Elina Vahala, the inspirational German cellist Alexander Suleiman, Ralf Gothoni in his dual role as conductor and pianist, and two leading South African-born pianists ? Francois du Toit and Anton Nel.

Works performed during the four concerts include among others Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'An American in Paris', Mendelssohn's Double Concerto for Piano Violin and Strings, Copland's Concerto for Clarinet, Offenbach's 'Grand Concerto Militaire for Cello and Orchestra', Brahms' first Piano Concerto, Bernstein's second Symphony, Mendelssohn's 4th Symphony and Beethoven's 6th Symphony.

In addition to this, there are interesting, newer works such as Aulis Sallinen's 'Chamber Music III', 'Nocturnal dances of Don Juan Quixote' and Hans Huyssen's 'Ciacona and Tshikona, Dance from North and South'.

The first concert presented features world-renowned Finnish musicians Ralf Gothoni (conductor and pianist), Arto Noras (cellist) and Elina Vahala (violinist). The music offering is unusual: it includes the very interesting work by Hans Huyssen called 'Ciacona and Tshikona, Dance from North and South' a cultural mix of six kudu horn players, 25 Venda musicians and symphony orchestra. The programme also includes Aulis Sallinen's 'Chamber Music III: Nocturnal dances of Don Juan Quixote' and Mendelssohn's Double Concerto for Piano and Violin.

On 15 May the music is by American composers and the conductor is Cem Mansur. Bryan Crumpler, one of America?s finest clarinettists, performs Copland's Concerto for Clarinet. The other works are Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' and Bernstein's second symphony (for orchestra and piano) known as 'The Age of Anxiety' (both with Francois du Toit, one of South Africa's leading concert pianists as soloist) as well as Gershwin's 'An American in Paris'.

On 22 May another leading South African-born pianist, Anton Nel, plays Brahms? Piano Concerto No. 1 in a programme conducted by Conrad van Alphen. Also included is Mozart's 'Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail' Overture and Mendelssohn's Symphony No.4.

During the last concert of the season on 29 May the German cellist Alexander Suleiman plays Offenbach's 'Grand Concerto Militaire' for Cello and Orchestra. The conductor is again Conrad van Alphen and the other works are Rossini's Tancredi Overture and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 (the Pastoral).

Booking is at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695. Some tickets may also be available at the door.