TWO concerts by the English Symphony Orchestra at Malvern Theatres have been cancelled because of disappointing turnout at previous concerts and poor advance ticket sales.

The Remembrance Day concert on Sunday, November 9, and the Leipzig Years concert on Friday, November 28, have both been axed.

We cannot afford to perform to almost empty houses, said Jonathon Slade, ESO trustee responsible for finance.

Anyone who purchased tickets will be notified by letter and offered a refund.

The Side by Side concert in which the ESO play alongside youth orchestras will still go ahead in Malvern tomorrow.

Youth soloist Antti Siirala and Sergey Khachatryan will still perform with the ESO in concerts on Friday, December 12, and Friday, February 27, respectively.