THE summer season of concerts and festivals in the North-East and North Yorkshire is about to start, taking over from the music societies which are enjoying a break for a few months, writes Dave Robson.

The exception to this is Bishop Auckland Music Society, whose Friday evening summer season at Auckland Castle is under way.

May 14 brings Laura Lucas (flute) and Daniel Swain (piano); June 11 sees the husband- and-wife Oskemen Piano Duo of Evegenia Startseva and Yuri Paterson- Olenich performing a world premiere of a new work by Durham composer Stephanie Cant and pieces by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms; July 2 brings the Badke String Quartet (Haydn, Janacek and Ravel) with the Anton Stadler Trio (Janet Hilton, Robin Oreland and Sarah Beth Briggs) featuring Mozart’s Kegelstatt Trio and Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in a varied programme.

First of the festivals, as usual, is Swaledale Festival (May 29- June 16) with 51 concerts, talk, walks and other events.

Musically, these include the brilliant Red Priest with their renaissance programme under the heading Johann I’m only dancing, popular international pianist Peter Donohoe, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Emma Kirkby, the Northern Sinfonia and cellist Natalie Clein, chiefly at Grinton Church, but many other venues hold events, from Arkengarthdale to Askrigg, Richmond to Barnard Castle.

The programme and tickets are available from Hudson House, Reeth, tel 01748- 880019, email enquiries@swaledale.festi val.org.uk or visit swaledalefestival.

org.uk/programme.

Northern Aldborough Festival (June 17-26) follows with what is probably its most adventurous programme to date.

The discerning music lover will find a range of events, from opera to a violin masterclass, the Halle Orchestra to solo piano, a saxophone quartet and a final “let your hair down” evening in the grounds of Aldborough Manor.

Classical highlights will be the opening Halle Orchestra opera gala, conducted by Justin Doyle, with soprano Mary Plazas, in the Radcliffe Room at Rudding Park; violinist Madeleine Mitchell and pianist Noriko Ogawa in a recital on June 18 – both have separately given impressive concerts in Darlington and Harrogate in recent weeks; the Kathleen Ferrier Prize winning soprano Elizabeth Watts and pianist Simon Lepper (June 21); and Alessandro Taverna, who came second in last year’s Leeds International Competition, playing Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Bellini and Stravinsky (June 22).

The Northern Sinfonia, directed by Joseph Cullen, rounds off the festival in fine style with a concert celebrating Samuel Barber’s 100th anniversary with his famous Adagio for Strings plus works by Elgar, Finzi and Scarlatti.

All evening concerts are in Aldborough Church at 7.30pm.

There is also a series of concerts starting at 11am in various venues: June 21, Latvian accordionist, Ksenija Siderova in Stockfield Park; June 23, American lutenist Andrew Maginley at Old Sleningford, North Stainley; and June 15, Juliette Bausor and Tim Horton (flute and piano) at Bramham Park, Wetherby.

For details, contact the Festival Office, Aldborough Manor, Arts News edited by Pru Farrier Natalie Clein: will perform in Barnard Castle YO51 7EP, email: festival@ald borough.com or call 01423- 322586.

July brings York Early Music Festival, which this year has the title Musical Marriages.

It runs from July 9-17. It opens, as usual, with a major event in York Minster, when the Yorkshire Bach Choir will be joined by the Monastic Cantors of Ampleforth Abbey to sing Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine at 6pm and 10pm.

On July 10,the concert in the Jack Lyons Concert Hall at York University will feature a madrigal comedy, L’Amfiparnasso by Orazio Vecchi, performed by the internationally acclaimed ensemble I Fagiolini.

There’s London Baroque (violin, bass viol and harpsichord) at the NCEM, St Margaret’s (July 11), and more Monteverdi Vespers by the University of York Chamber Choir in a late evening concert in a candlelit concert at St George’s, Peel Street (July 12).

Harewood House, Leeds, hosts Fretwork, a consort of viols, in the annual out-oftown concert on July 13.

La Capella Ducale and Musica Fiata, Cologne, are in the chapter house at the minster (July 14), and Harry Christopher’s famous choral group The Sixteen is guaranteed to fill the nave (July 16) with Music for the Tudors by Byrd, Tallis and John Sheppard.

Theatre of the Ayre, at St Michael le Belfrey, featuring John Blow’s Venus and Adonis will bring the curtain down on what should be a fascinating festival; details/tickets from NCEM, St Margaret’s Walmgate, York YO1 9TL, visit ncem.co.uk or tel 01904- 658330 Details of Brinkburn, Ryedale and Harrogate music festivals will appear in a later edition.