THE 44th Guiting Festival in Guiting Power takes place from Friday, July 25 until Sunday, August 3 and promises to deliver ten outstanding concerts, featuring world-renowned musicians, to bring an exceptional programme to the heart of the Cotswolds.

This year’s opening concert is pianist Ivan Yanakov conducting The London Chamber Players, an eleven piece string ensemble. This is followed on July 26 by four-hands piano with Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva. The first open air concert, on Sunday, July 27, heralds the return of the Jason Rebello Quintet, supported by gypsy jazz band, Swing from Paris.

Classical guitarist Morgan Szymanski entertains on Monday, July 28 with percussionists O Duo, followed by a piano recital by Sophia Lisovskaya on Tuesday, July 29. Gwilym Simcock and his Jazz Quintet play on Wednesday, July 30 and on Thursday, July 31 it’s violinist Jennifer Pike, the youngest ever winner, 12 years ago, of the BBC Young Musician of the Year. On Friday, pianist Elisabeth Streichert plays Concertos in Miniature, with the five piece Pythagoras Ensemble.

The last indoor concert on Saturday, August 2, features the celebrated pianist, Imogen Cooper, performing a selection of Schumann, Brahms and Schubert. Bringing the festival to a close, on Sunday, August 3 with an open-air folk concert, is former Steeleye Span fiddler and vocalist Peter Knight with his band Gigspanner, supported by singer/songwriter, Megan Henwood.

For full details www.guitingfestival.org/