Chief Conductor Kirill Karabits will be at the podium as the world-renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra returns next month.

In what is set to be an emotionally charged occasion, the full orchestra will begin a series of 12 socially distanced performances at Lighthouse in Poole.

Audiences will be able to tune in online.

It’s hoped that people will be able to come back to the auditorium as soon as the government’s coronavirus guidelines permit.

A Bournemouth-based specialist company has built stage extensions so that the players can sit apart and spread into the choir stalls. Each musician will have their own stand.

BSO chief executive, Dougie Scarfe, said: “After the longest period away from the stage in our 127-year history, we are pleased to announce the return to live performances. The outpouring of support for our work has further reinforced our belief in the power of music to transform and empower lives - and it is needed more than ever.”

He added that bringing the BSO back to the stage had required meticulous planning, with the safety of players, audiences and staff at the heart of it.

The news of the BSO’s return will be a huge boost for the cultural life of the south west and beyond.

Two major works have been commissioned for the new season to reflect on period of change and evolution in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic.

There’s a symphonic work by Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and a chamber work for BSO Resound by Shirley J Thompson.

Both will be performed later in the 2020/21 season.

Meanwhile two of the UK’s foremost pianists will perform. Benjamin Grosvenor is the Orchestra’s Artist in Residence for 2020/21, and Stephen Hough performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.2. Soprano Anna Devin concludes the series with Baroque Christmas arias.

American conductor Case Scaglione makes his BSO debut and Marta Gardolińska returns following two successful years as Young Conductor. There are also welcome returns for conductors Kees Bakels, James Feddeck, Thierry Fischer and David Hill.

The return to the stage will enable the BSO to not only provide live performances, but also record rehearsal material for its community choir, BSO Voices, create further educational material for schoolchildren throughout the South West for the orchestra’s groundbreaking health and social care community work.

Lighthouse chief executive, Elspeth McBain said: “This is the first stage in our recovery since enforced closure in March and it is fitting that the first artists to be welcomed back are our BSO musicians.

The September 30 opening concert features Bach, Ives, Mahler and Beethoven’s Seventh, in the 250th anniversary of his birth.

For full details of all the programmes see BSO live.com