SOPRANO Kathleen Battle, five times Grammy winner and Emmy recipient, will make her Yorkshire debut at Harrogate International Centre on November 27.

Returning to the United Kingdom after a four-year absence, she will perform in the festive show Christmas Presence, in the company of the Halle Orchestra, Britain's longest established professional symphony orchestra, Cantamus Girls Choir and the Huddersfield Choral Society.

Produced by Ptarmigan Productions, the Christmas Presence show is in its third year, and as before it will combine traditional Christmas music with Broadway numbers and seasonal classical selections.

Kathleen Battle has appeared on the stages of the world's leading opera houses, including New York, Berlin, Sydney, Tokyo and London. While best known for the opera-singing prowess that has brought her Grammy and Emmy awards, she also performs gospel, world and jazz music.

Tickets for the 7.30pm performance of Christmas Presence cost £37.50, £28.50, £22.50 or £15 on 01423 537230 (Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm).

- IN the absence of any concerts at the stymied York Barbican Centre, Jools Holland fans must travel to the Harrogate International Centre for their annual fix of the boogie-woogie piano man. Jools and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will be playing there on Sunday night, and it comes as no surprise to learn that the 7.30pm show has sold out.

- A few tickets remain available at £23.50 for Lulu's Back On Track tour date at the Harrogate International Centre tomorrow night at 8pm, when the evergreen Scottish singer will be mixing Sixties and Seventies' hits with highlights from her latest album, Back On Track. She played the Barbican in March on her first tour for 15 years.

"I am a rock'n'roller at heart," she said, introducing her back-to-basics policy. "I'm going grungy, playing the image down, because it's about the music."

- BILL Wyman will be saying farewell to touring on his latest tour, waving goodbye at Harrogate International Centre on November 6 on his last travels with the Rhythm Kings.

In a statement on his website, www.billwyman.com, the erstwhile Rolling Stone spoke of the difficulties of juggling a young family with a gruelling touring and recording schedule.

The decision had not been easy, however. "I love playing live, but the four months on the road every year means that I'm missing important milestones in my family's life," he says.

Tickets for his 8pm show are still on sale at £22.50, the same price that is being charged for John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers' concert on November 7. Wyman's fellow former Rolling Stone, guitarist Mick Taylor, will be the special guest on a 7.30pm bill, and Chicken Shack will be there too with Stan Webb out front.

Updated: 15:56 Thursday, October 28, 2004