"It has to be one of the most important events of the summer festivals," says festival chairman, Ken Overton, "as we seldom see the UK's only full-time professional choir in this part of the country." The programme contains the first concert performance of Richard Rodney Bennett's Serenades, and the celebrated young cellist, Guy Johnston, joins the singers in the hypnotic beauty of John Tavener's Svyati (Jul 18).

York Minster's Chapter House Choir and the Manchester Chamber Choir line-up with an outstanding young period instrument ensemble, Harmony of Nations, for Haydn's biblical view of The Creation (Jul 13). One of the world's fast rising young groups, the Sacconi String Quartet, open the festival next Friday and bring their recently premiered work, Robin Holloway's Second Quartet. This year's operatic offering is Handel's Orlando, with excellent counter tenor, Robert Ogden (Jul 17 & 19).

Members of the Orchestra of Opera North bring a concert with a twist, their performance of Mahler's familiar Song of the Earth offered in a chamber version constructed by Schoenberg (Jul 23). Castle Howard hosts three contrasting concerts in three different rooms, ending with a mini-feast of the Italian Baroque (Jul 24).

The festival ends on July 27 with an evening of "pop" classics including Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, and Strauss's Thunder and Lightning Polka.

Ryedale Festival, July 11-27, 01751 475777. www.ryedalefestival.co.uk