Titanic works in ntimate venues.

opportunity to hear Mahler's Symphony No. 1 performed live the North East doesn't come around too often.

Nicknamed Titan, it is a huge piece requiring a huge orchestra.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed the work at The Sage Gateshead in its 60th anniversary 2007, under Italian conductor Daniele Gatti.

This weekend there are two other opportunities to hear it in rather more intimate surroundings, courtesy of the recently renamed Orchestra NorthEast (formerly Durham Sinfonia).

The ambitious regional symphony orchestra will perform the work in St George's Church, Jesmond, on Saturday in a programme which also includes the Tchaikovsky Violin ncerto. The programme will be repeated Sunday at the Gala Theatre, Durham. Both concerts start at 7.30pm.

Joining the orchestra will be Swiss conductor Philippe Bach and violin soloist Andrew Watkinson.

Bach, who has conducted many of Europe's professional orchestras, is currently music director at Theatre Lbeck in Germany. He last conducted this orchestra in 2006.

Watkinson was born in Glasgow studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School. Now leader of the Endellion String Quartet, he travels widely as a soloist and returns to the North East where he has performed before.

Although members of Orchestra In a recent poll of the orchestra's players of which composers they most liked to play, Mahler came out top, largely because his work offers demanding roles for all.

Orchestra NorthEast, which has been sponsored since 2007 by Fentiman's Ltd, the Hexham-based brewer of adult soft drinks, has big plans for the future.

help it realise its plans, which include a first concert at The Sage Gateshead in 2010.

Tickets for this weekend's concerts can be bought at St George's church office on 0191 218 1659 or the Gala Theatre box office on 0191 332 4041. For more orchestra details, visit www.durhamsinfonia.org.uk. To contact the orchestra email THE MUSIC SAYS IT ALL WHO needs words when music can say it all? Inventive band The Ex - now vocal-less since G W Sok left - are joined by Brass Unbound at The Sage Gateshead on Sunday for a night of musical mischief.

Adding to the mix of punk rock and improvised brass is support Zun Zun Egui who, with Japanese synth and East African guitar, can cross musical boundaries with the best. Call 0191 443 4661 or see SPIKE'S WAR TAKES CENTRE STAGE A LATE comedian's war memoirs are brought to madcap life in a world premiere at Darlington Civic Theatre from February 15-20.

Spike Milligan's Adolf Hitler: My Part In His Downfall charts war experiences through comedy, song and dance. Call 01325 486555 or [e-mail] SEAN HOSTS BOOK CLUB POET Sean O'Brien is at Tyneside Cinema on Saturday to host the latest edition of its Book Club.

The award-winning writer and Newcastle University lecturer will introduce 1961 film The Innocents based on Henry James 1898 ghost story The Turn of the Screw, with a discussion afterwards.

The Tyneside Book Club, which involves a film adaptation and an expert guest, is run with the university. Call 08452 179 909 or see www.tynesidecinema.co.uk BALLET STUDENTS AT QUEEN''S HALL YOUNG dance talents hot-foot it to Northumberland on June 25-26 as part of Ballet Central's 25th Anniversary Tour of 25 UK venues.

The student company - finalyear students from London's Central School of Ballet - will perform contemporary dance, classical ballet, jazz and narrative