BOLTON'S Victoria Hall could become a sound investment for a leading local orchestra.

The Salford-based Northern Chamber Orchestra have been at the Methodist mission hall, recording two CDs of music by the 18th century composers, Johann Stamitiz and Leopold Hofmann. The 96-year-old hall in Knowsley Street was chosen by music director Nicholas Ward because of its superb acoustics, and it could become the venue for more recordings for the popular Naxos record label.

The 20-member orchestra gives concerts all over the North-west and recently completed an 11 CD project to record Haydn and Mozart symphonies for Naxos, mainly in Manchester. They heard about the hall from a London record producer, John Taylor, who comes from Bolton, and came in January to record a CD of symphonies by another 18th century composer, Franz Beck.

Apart from the acoustics, the orchestra are also impressed by the lack of intrusive noise - despite the town centre traffic outside!

Mr Ward said: "A lot of research has gone on to try to find a good hall for us to record in.

"A producer came up and looked at seven or eight halls in the North-west and said the Victoria Hall was by far the most suitable.

"Another bonus for us is that the hall is readily available, so we can fit it in with our schedule a lot better." After this recording, Naxos want the Northern Chamber Orchestra to record more Mozart symphonies - and the Victoria Hall will be their preferred venue.

The hall's administrator, Ian Mitson, is delighted. "It's a boost for us and for Bolton," he said.

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