Sixth successive year for music festival (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Sixth successive year for music festival

NOW in its sixth successive year, the Cirencester Early Music Festival provides a full week of concerts and recitals. Plenty for everyone at affordable prices.

The 2005 Festival will be 'on tour'. Owing to renovation works planned for the parish church, the festival will take place at a number of different venues in and around Cirencester.

Bibury Parish Church, South Cerney Parish Church, Cirencester Baptist Church, Cirencester Corn Hall and the Royal Agricultural College this year play host to a feast of Renaissance and Baroque delights.

Events are as follows:

Monday, July 25, 7.45pm Bibury Parish Church, Harpsichord Lollipops with internationally renowned harpsichord virtuoso Richard Lester.

Tuesday, July 26, 7.30pm for 7.45pm, Royal Agricultural College, an Elizabethan Revel, an evening of Elizabethan style entertainment and fabulous food hosted by Paul Baker. Period dress encouraged.

Wednesday, July 27, 7.45pm Corn Hall, Cirencester The Corelli Orchestra performing on period instruments directed by Warwick Cole.

Thursday, July 28, 7.45pm at South Cerney Parish Church, Academie Baroque, a recently formed group of local musicians playing chamber music.

Followed by, at 9.30pm, two stars of the past Young Musicians series, Peter Liang on violin and Rupert Uzzell on harpsichord.

Friday, July 29, 7.45pm at Bibury Parish Church Dido and Aeneas, Purcell's famous opera performed by the Burford Singers Chamber Choir conducted by Brian Etheridge.

Saturday, July 30, 7.45pm,Cirencester Baptist Church, young musicians' promenade concert, talented youngsters perform 18th century concertos with members of the Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra conducted by Richard Lester.

Admission to all events is by ticket available in advance from Cirencester Tourist Information Centre, Corn Hall, Cirencester market Place, telephone 01285 654180 or at the door 45 minutes prior to individual events. For further information www.cirencester-emf.co.uk