TURNER Sims has unveiled its spring season programme which completes the venue’s celebratory 40th anniversary milestone in spectacular style.

Many of the exciting events, which run from February to June, have been created exclusively for Turner Sims.

Associate Artists the Elias Quartet and London Sinfonietta reach the end of their formal three-year partnerships with two fascinating takes on music history.

Schumann’s three quartets are comparative rarities in chamber music programmes and the Elias’ three-concert series plus associated talks, specially created for Turner Sims, will be an opportunity to re-evaluate these important works in the composer’s canon.

Meanwhile The London Sinfonietta prepares to enthrall audiences as composer Fraser Trainer guides us through the music of the last 100 years.

For jazz enthusiasts the line-up includes a special weekend focus on saxophonist John Surman. John’s music has been a regular part of the Turner Sims programme over the past two decades and in his 70th birthday year it is fitting to celebrate the work of this master instrumentalist and composer.

Reaching 70 in a different way is the Borodin Quartet, who stop off on a worldwide tour to perform works from two composers with whom they are synonymous: Beethoven and Shostakovich.

And with Pascal Rogé, joined by his wife Ami, presenting French repertoire; Chopin competition winner Yundi performing an all-Chopin programme and Emma Kirkby exploring the Golden Age of early music, there are opportunities galore to see artists in repertoire for which their interpretations are justifiably celebrated.

Meanwhile in the Piano Series the music of Chopin and some of the defining works written for the piano are performed by some of the instrument’s greatest exponents, many of them competition winners.

Two prize winners from the Chopin Competition – Ingolf Wunder from 2010 and Yundi, outright winner in 2000 – make their debuts with Chopin and, in Wunder’s case Liszt, too.

Another winner – of the 2012 Leeds Competition – is Federico Colli and his debut showcases his approach to a range of repertoire, from Mozart’s glorious variations to Scriabin’s technically challenging last sonata.

A different challenge is faced by Christian Blackshaw, who closes the series with Schubert’s monumental last three sonatas.

Lastly Pascal Rogé, known for his solo and chamber recitals here, visits with wife Ami Rogé for what promises to be a magical evening of music for four hands on one piano. French repertoire, of course, is to the fore.

Put together a list of legendary British jazz saxophonists and composers and it is more than likely that Courtney Pine, Andy Sheppard and John Surman would appear on it.

All three present new projects at Turner Sims this season – a celebratory weekend for John Surman, the world premiere of a new project for Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman and Andy Sheppard showcasing music from his new quartet album.

New material also comes from Norwegian Marius Neset whilst American Ravi Coltrane completes an extraordinary quintet of saxophonists.

Legendary Brazilian group Azymuth revisit their 1975 debut album Azimuth and we journey from Brazil to Manchester to welcome GoGo Penguin, whose debut comes hot on the heels of earning a 2014 Mercury nomination for their acclaimed album v2.0.

Finally no celebration past and present would be complete without a vocal element.

Ian Shaw and swing ing New York band Hot Sardines both guarantee celebratory occasions whatever repertoire they are presenting.

The spring season is full of family connections.

Master performer Amjad Ali Khan (above) appears with his two virtuoso sons whilst two aspects of British folk are represented by The Unthanks featuring Tyneside sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank and the rising star family members of the Sussex-based Young Coppers.

European rising stars come in the shape of Finnish band Frigg, who showcase their energetic Nordic fiddle sounds for the first time, and Portuguese singer Gisela João (below), whose exciting new take on fado is making waves in her Portuguese homeland.

Daily Echo:

At a global level Iain Stewart and Callum Roberts offer views on oil and the oceans respectively and Catapluf’s Musical Journey comprises many musical elements from around the world.

Finally Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham may not be directly related but their 25 years touring together has made them a regular fixture and part of the family for audiences at Turner Sims.

Further information and tickets available online at turnersims.co.uk or via the Box Office 023 8059 5151