BOLTON Sinfonietta will perform a Christmas by Candlelight concert next Sunday at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Heaton, starting at 7.30pm.

The festive programme will include Winter, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, with Gerald Hopkin on solo violin. Gerald studied at the RNCM, and played with the Halle Orchestra for 13 years.

Jane Hyde will sing Scarlatti's Cantata Pastorale and a selection of songs, accompanied on piano by Jacqueline Tinniswood.

The Sinfonietta is a chamber ensemble of players from the Bolton Symphony Orchestra and this is the first of two seasonal concerts involving orchestra players.

The traditional New Year Concert with Opera '74 is on Saturday, January 13, 7.30pm, at the Albert Halls. This ever-popular sell-out event is a gala evening of the world's favourite waltzes and polkas. Tickets for both concerts are available from from Bolton Ticket and Information Centre, tel 01204 334400.