A MAGICAL evening featuring the world famous Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra playing on board Southampton's spectacular new superliner Aurora will be one of the glittering highlights of the ship's naming celebrations.

Tickets for the concert, one of the most glamorous and exclusive occasions during the gala events surrounding the arrival in Southampton of the luxurious, 76,000-ton Aurora, go on sale from tomorrow.

The concert, arranged by Aurora's owners, P&O Cruises in conjunction with the Daily Echo, will be performed in the liner's state-of-the-art theatre with the Royal Philharmonic playing a programme of specially selected popular classics.

A total of 560 concert-goers will not only enjoy the music but also attend a cocktail reception hosted by the master, Captain Steve Burgoine, on board the cruise ship and have the rare opportunity of touring the superliner before the vessel is officially named by the Princess Royal a week later.

During the evening, the audience can view the soaring four-deck atrium lobby with its centrepiece of a 35ft-high, Lalique-style waterfall sculpture of a mythical goddess.

Visitors will be able to stroll around Aurora's many decks and see for themselves the sumptuous public rooms, including the wide variety of on-board bars, show lounges and restaurants, the library, beauty and fitness centre and even take a peek in some of the ship's 934 cabins.

The concert, performed by more than 70 musicians, will take place on the evening of Wednesday, April 19, just a few days after Aurora makes her first dramatic entrance into Southampton Water on Sunday, April 16.

Sister-ship of the highly successful, Oriana, the new superliner, which will be based in Southamp-ton, is already on course for a sell-out maiden season of cruises with thousands of passengers anxious to be among the first to sail on its initial programme of voyages.

Ticket holders will be welcomed on board from 6.30pm with curtain-up on the orchestra due at 7.30pm. The concert is expected to finish at approximately 10pm.

Music-lovers will be able to snap up seats for the concert when a telephone ticket hotline - 023 8042 4768 - opens for credit card bookings between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday only.

Postal applications, using a coupon in tomorrow's Daily Echo, should be made to Aurora Concert Tickets, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, Hants, SO16 9JX.

Personal reservations should be made to Newspaper House only.

Tickets will cost £25 each and be issued on a first-come, first-served basis with concert-goers given their seat number on the evening of the concert.

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