THE Hall believe in starting young with the next generation of concertgoers.

Their latest family concert was a cracker for all the family, joining the orchestra with the thrills and spills of the circus.

Conductor Stephen Bell's warm personality carried the show along and the circus skills of the Weathermen had the audience laughing.

They particularly loved the chap playing the sousaphone from the top of a very high unicycle, and the William Tell re-enactment, complete with plastic crossbow and apple.

Combining foot stomping, hand-clappy tunes and a dancing Hall-fant (elephant), the Hall give youngsters enough of the classics to keep them entertained and possibly excite their interest to hear more.

There is always an audience participation slot, and this time it was singing one of the Disney tunes from Aladdin.

The stirring finale of Rossini's 'William Tell Overture', must for many parents have brought back memories of the old Conrad Philips series on TV, when they first became classical music fans without realizing it.

Halle Goes to the Circus, Bridgewater Hall

Brenda Kean