INTERNATIONALLY renowned musician, Richard Lester, who lives in Cirencester, has been associated with Nimbus Records for the last eight years, during which time he has recorded around 60 CDs of keyboard music including works by Frescobaldi, Scarlatti, Haydn and Mozart on period instruments.

The Frescobaldi series recently gained a prominent position in the Penguin Guide to the 1000 Finest Classical Recordings, and won the 'outstanding' accolade in International Record Review. Richard is now working on a premiere recording of organ masses by the 16th century composers, Girolamo Cavazzoni, Andrea Gabrieli and Claudio Merulo; all had connections with St Mark's Basilica in Venice where Richard will be playing later this year and at the Chiesa di San Salvador. The three year project of recordings, with the Schola Gregoriana choir of Bergamo Cathedral begins this July in Bergamo, Italy. This will be the first ever complete recording of these works.

Richard is also giving a concert on Friday, July 12, at 7.30pm in Bingham House Gallery, Dyer Street in Cirencester which will include some of this music, plus a few classical favourites by Purcell and Handel sung by the Brazilian/French soprano Londa Ntotila, and Nicholas Morrow Brown will play Scarlatti and Albeniz on the guitar. Tickets £10 (plus a complimentary glass of wine) are available from Cirencester Visitor Information Centre or at the door on the night of the concert.