SNOOKER legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Hallé Orchestra will all appear at York’s Barbican Centre after it finally reopens in the spring.

SMG, which is taking over the long-empty auditorium from City of York Council, has announced its first confirmed bookings for after a £2 million refurbishment in completed at the beginning of May. Tickets will be available from 10am today.

Snooker will make a welcome return to York, home to the UK Championship for several years, when the Snooker Legends 2011 Champions Tour arrives on Thursday, May 19.

Three times World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and new World Seniors Champion Jimmy White will go head to head in the exhibition match, which will be refereed by Michaela Tabb with commentary and analysis from John Virgo.

The Hallé, one of the country’s top symphony orchestras, will perform on Saturday, June 11. Details of its programme will be confirmed later.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which rose to worldwide fame after appearing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland, will take to the stage on Monday June 13.

An SMG spokesman said they brought the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music.

On Sunday, October 23, Jack Jones, the double Grammy-winning easy listening giant, will bring his Greatest Hits Tour to the Barbican.

Nominated by Frank Sinatra as “one of the major singers of our time”, his world tours are consistently sold-out, said a spokesman.

The ticket line on 0844 854 2757 opens today and runs from 10am to 6pm every day except Sundays.

SMG hopes to set up a public information point providing details of the refurbishment, upcoming concerts and conference and meeting spaces, along with job opportunities, in the Visit York Information Centre in Museum Street from February until the Barbican reopens.