Preview: Swaledale music festival

That was the very apt description in the guidebook for my first visit to the region almost forty years ago.

I guess the writer never envisaged a festival as extended as this year’s 58 events, 20 of them devoted to classical music.

The first one, tomorrow night, featuring the most sought-after young and versatile vocal group, Voces8, with a programme that takes in Early Music, as represented by Orlando Gibbons, through to today’s music from Simon and Garfunkel, and Kate Rusby.

At the other end of the three weeks, the outlandish period instrument group, Red Priest, with the remarkable recorder virtuoso, Piers Adams, give their version of the Baroque era from Vivaldi to Handel (June 10).

And between the two we have the internationally acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough with a programme of Beethoven, Schumann and Debussy (June 1); the London Mozart Players Chamber Group (May 28); exciting newcomers, the Albion String Quartet with its star-studded line-up, play Ravel and Schubert (May 30); the Fidelio Piano Trio (June 8), and the globe-trotting concert organist, John Scott Whiteley (June 5).

The festival extends to the beautiful churches throughout Swaledale, and for a full listing of venues and dates visit www.Swaledale-festival.org.uk