Ripon International Festival offers a varied line-up of top artists for the autumn performing at a variety of venues in the region

Highlights of the festival, from September 1 to October 6, include the Welsh harpist, Catrin Finch, and Senegalese kora maestro, Seckou Keita, playing a selection of music from their award-winning album Soar, and opera star, Sky Ingram, soprano, who is earning rave reviews for lead roles at Garsington.

Opera and Opera North, with baritone Nicholas Lester (English National Opera) presents A Night at the Opera – favourite arias and duos by Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Tchaikovsky (Eugene Onégin), Léhar (Merry Widow) and Gilbert and Sullivan on September 7.

The baroque quartet Red Priest present their new show Truly, Madly, Baroque on September 21; and a new generation of distinguished, award-winning musicians, including guitarist Sean Shibe, cellist Jamal Aliyev, and Prince of Wales' official harpist, Anne Denholm, give concerts in historic village churches at Felixkirk, Fewston, Kirkby Malzeard and Sharow.

Additional entertainment comes from folk groups, The Outside Track, and Ninebarrow, celebrity authors, a film with folk music narrative, The Black Snow Road Show, and a family show on September 1, Music, Masks and Mayhem, with Reynard The Fox performed by Trouvère Medieval Minstrels.

The grande finale is on Sunday, October 6, when the London Mozart Players play Mendelssohn’s evocative Scottish symphony, with its contrasting moods of dark foreboding, soaring melodies, dance rhythms and an ending of unrivalled beauty, followed by Dvorak’s magnificent and much-loved New World symphony.

The concert is conducted by Janusz Piotrowicz whose insight and passion produce revelatory performances.

For a full programme, visit the festival’s new website at www.riponinternationalfestival.org.

Tickets are from the festival office on 01765 605508, Harrogate Theatre on 01423 502116 and online at www.riponinternationalfestival.org.