Ulster Hall Various dates from Tues Aug 4, various times Adm free 00-44-370-9011227

It’s August, so it’s time for the BBC’s annual series of free invitation concerts with the Ulster Orchestra. This year the series returns to the refurbished Ulster Hall and celebrates by adding in an extra, lunchtime strand of programmes. The new concerts are on Tuesdays, and the opening concert introduces this year’s French theme with an all-French programme conducted by Jean-Luc Tingaud.

Claire Ormshaw (soprano), Robin Tritschler (tenor), and Thorbjørn Gulgrandsøy (baritone), are the soloists in Debussy’s rarely heard, early Prix de Rome cantata Le Gladiateur. The series will run on Tuesdays (at 1.05pm) until August 25th, and on Fridays (at 7.45pm) from August 7th until September 4th. Other strands in this year’s programme include works by Northern Irish composers (Bill Campbell, Stephen Gardner, Deirdre McKay, Elaine Agnew and Ian White), and appearances by five Irish pianists (Philip Martin, Finghin Collins, John O’Conor, Hugh Tinney and Michael McHale).