THIS first weekend in February sees the start of an enterprising series of four Sunday evening concerts at the Lion Ballroom in Leominster.

Baritone Alex Poulton will sing Schubert's great song cycle Die Winterreise, which tells of a young man's journey after his rejection by the girl he loves. David Leeson, who once loaned a magnificent Steinway piano to Ludlow Assembly Rooms, heard Poulton's version at a recent concert in Birmingham and decided he wanted to bring it to an audience in the Marches.

One thing led to another and Leeson found himself promoting a concert series called "Live at the Lion."

Poulton won warm reviews after singing Don Jos in a Royal Scottish Ballet version of Carmen. In Leominster on Sunday he will be accompanied by Pat Bennett, who works with singing students at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Like the others in the series, the recital begins at 7.30pm.

On February 19, pianist Roger Nichols plays a programme that ranges from Mozart, whose 250th birthday is celebrated this year, to Ravel, Messiaen and Chopin. Nichols has an alternative career as a writer and broadcaster and recently finished The Harlequin Years about the musical scene in Paris between 1917 and 1929.

The present owner of Leeson's Steinway is Anna Roberts, who will accompany tenor Colin Howard on March 5. The two have worked together, most recently at last year's Corsham and Salisbury Festivals. Their recital includes settings of Thomas Hardy by Ivor Gurney and George Butterworth as well as songs by Gerard Finzi.

The fourth recital in March 19 is by the promising young pianist Katherine Lam, another graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire. As evidence of her wide repertoire, her programme includes Schubert, George Gershwin and the contemporary US composer Frederic Rzewski.

Tickets are available from Gill's Gifts at The Buttercross in Leominster, on 01568 611588, or from David Leeson on 01584 879733.