Schubertiade with Clare Toomer and Paul Turner kicks off a new season of classical concerts.

On Wednesday, January 23 at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre, the highlight will be Franz Schubert’s piano duet Fantasy in F minor.

Julia Singleton, secretary of the Swindon Recital Series, said: “Schubert was a pupil of Antonio Salieri, who was also a contemporary of Beethoven.’’ The idea of the concerts came from the informal, often small, gatherings of friends in Vienna, who met to celebrate the music of Franz Schubert in the early 19th century. Tickets for Swindon Recital Series are £6, accompanied children 14 and under free from www.swindonrecitalseries.org

01793 524481. , whom he admired so much that, apparently, he was too timid to introduce himself when they passed in the streets of Vienna.’’

She says

The second Schubert concert features Miranda and Caroline Day , two sisters playing violin and cello performing together. Paul will accompany htem on piano performing Schubert’s Trio in Eb as the centre piece on Friday February 1 at 1.05pm in Swindon’s Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town.

Julia said: “The sisters bring their extensive experience with the Britten Sinfonia and English Chamber Orchestra to the concert as The Dale Trio.’’

The Villiers Quartet take centre stage for the third concert presenting the Ocetet and Trout Quintet at the Swindon Arts Centre on Saturday February 2.

Nicholas Ward on violin, Wendy Gudgin on viola Kathryn Parry on violin and Harriet Bennett cello, together make up the Ward Quartet who will present the romantic Death and the Maiden Quartet, Quartettsatz and Quartet in A minor at the Arts Centre in Swndon on Sunday February 3 at 3.30pm.

Swindon’s own Matilda Wade is the star of the final concert accompanied by Helen Pysanczyn on clarinet and Paulon piano.

Julia said: “Matilda’s concert showcases some of Schubert’s beautiful and well-known songs, including the ever popular Shepherd on the Rock, sung by the soprano. Young as she is, Matilda has already won awards at the Two Moors Festival and the English Singers and Speakers competition and SRS is delighted to be able to introduce her to a wider Swindon audience.’’

The finale concert is at the Wyvern Theatre on ... at 1.05pm.

Tickets for concerts one and five at the Wyvern Theatre £6, accompanied children 14 and under free. Individual tickets for concert two, three and four at the Arts Centre £15, concessions £12.50, students £2.50, accompanied children 14 and under free. With a discount of 10 per cent for buying all three tickets together the cost becomes £44.50 for adults and £33.75 concessions. Tickets for Arts Centre concerts are subject to an additional booking fee. For more details visit www.swindonrecitalseries.org - Flicky Harrison