LIVERPOOL is to enjoy yet another full week of cultural gems over the next seven days.

Music, art, sport and theatre are coming together in the city to offer what organisers say will be a highlight in Culture year.

Conductor Sir Simon Rattle returns to his home city on Thursday with the world?s best orchestra, for one of the major musical highlights of ?08 ? the Berliner Philarmoniker at Liverpool Philharmonic.

Last night a spokesperson for the Phil said: ?It is fantastic to have Sir Simon Rattle back in the concert hall he began his career in, we are all thrilled.

?It is great for the Phil and great for Liverpool. He is back in October also to conduct our own orchestra so it is double delight for us.?

A much anticipated mystery creature will be unveiled to Liverpool on Friday, as well as one of the world?s most prestigious chess championships taking place.

La Machine ? the biggest and most spectacular piece of free theatre ever seen in the UK ? has been commissioned for European Capital of Culture and the public will finally learn the form the engineering feat will take.

And grandmasters from every European nation will be coming to the World Museum Liverpool for the European Individual Open Chess Championships.

The week ends with Southport Airshow on Saturday and Sunday and the BA Festival of Science, which will bring over 350 of the UK?s top scientists and engineers to Liverpool.

Yesterday Tate Liverpool?s most successful exhibition: Gustav Klimt: Painting, Design and Modern Life in Vienna 1900, came to a close.

The record-breaking show has welcomed just under 200,000 visitors over the past four months.

Christoph Grunenberg, director of Tate Liverpool, said: ?The response has been fantastic and the figures have been incredible.

?People have really embraced the show and have been talking about how much they have enjoyed it.



?It has been the most successful show we have ever had in Liverpool, and even ever staged by Tate.?

Thursday also sees the launch of the International Da Da Fest, now in its eighth year.

The festival is offering everything from aerial dance, irreverent comedy, racy burlesque, a learning disabled punk rock band and a real live mermaid.

The city will see more events from the World Firefighter games today and tomorrow, including karate, judo and paintballing.

On Wednesday Around the City in 80 Pubs begins with a celebration of pub culture across 40 different events, including a pub passport scheme, five beer festivals, walks, talks, treasure hunts and pub related entertainment.

FIFTY pairs of tickets to be won for a special concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic, see Page 18.

lizawilliams - Daily Post