IT'S not often you can say that a soloist and orchestra pop into The Anvil in Basingstoke after they have played both the Last Night of the Proms and the Royal Festival Hall.

But that will be the situation on Friday, September 24 at 7.45pm - the start of The Anvil's 10th anniversary International Concert Series.

The Anvil's orchestra in partnership, the Philharmonia, will bring one of the most accomplished pianists in the world, Alfred Brendel, to the venue.

And it's something of which the Philharmonia's managing director, David Whelton, is very proud.

"It's a huge accolade for The Anvil," he explained recently in a few moments' break from his hectic schedule.

"Before the Basingstoke date, the concert will have just been playing in Athens, so it's a great opportunity for everyone in the area to hear some of the best music.

"Alfred is so absolutely charismatic, his music-making is very intense and very powerful and will make a major impact on an audience.

He's actually a pianist I have admired my entire life so I consider it a great privilege for me personally to now be organising his appearances with our orchestra."

Alfred Brendel is renowned for his interpretations of the works of the great composers including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Liszt.

During the 1960s, he became the first pianist ever to record the entire piano works of Beethoven and, in the 1982-83 season, presented the cycles of all 32 of his Sonatas in the course of 77 recitals in 11 cities throughout Europe and America.

No pianist since the legendary Artur Schnabel 40 years earlier had played the complete Beethoven Sonatas at Carnegie Hall.

And he will be performing Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto at The Anvil, in addition to Kurtag's short but impressive piece, Stele, and Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben.

Even though the Philharmonia is a vastly popular and successful orchestra, how did they end up snaring such a prestigious talent for such a number of appearances?

"It's an unusual situation as artists are so selective about what they do. We are very privileged to have a soloist who actually asks for us - it's tremendous.

"But Alfred (above) has a long relationship with our conductor Christoph (von Dohnanyi, who became principal conductor of the Philharmonia in 1997, having been its principal guest conductor since 1994).

"They have worked together on a number of previous occasions, most recently doing the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and that's why we have been so fortunate."

So how long in advance does David start planning these prestigious events, given how much travelling around the world the orchestra does?

"I start planning about 36 months in advance. I start talking to all the greatest soloists and gradually refine a list of the opportunities and finally fix on a period. We're really versatile, and, thankfully, the orchestra is absolutely thriving."

Indeed, when I was speaking to David last year, the orchestra was just about to go to Vienna, and now it has just received an invitation to be a resident orchestra there in 2007.

"The orchestra constantly refreshes itself because the young players are looking for ideas and for new halls to play in, new horizons to move towards. It's important that the orchestra is constantly challenged and excited. We encourage the players to do concerts around the world to teach them more and more. It's very important to refresh themselves constantly."

But back to the concert at The Anvil - not to be missed then?

"Brendel working at the highest level gives an added frisson to the event - it's going to be tremendously exciting. For the untrained ear, unfamiliar with the music or the piano, his performance will still be captivating.

"Once you have heard him, you'll be hooked."

Tickets for the Philharmonia Orchestra's performance on September 24 are priced from £13.50 to £29.50.

To book, call The Anvil box office on 01256 844244, log on to www.theanvil.org.uk or use the ticket fax on 01256 366900.