TAVISTOCK Festival kicks off tomorrow and once again it has many strings to its bow!

The very first day (April 18) sees a concert in St Eustachius’ Church with the excellent Dante Quartet, who are joined by the internationally recognised pianist Mark Bebbington.

As well as works by Schubert and Beethoven there will be a world premiere: festival president Andrew Wilson has written Conversation Pieces for String Quintet.

This is not the only first performance of a new work by the president at the festival. On Saturday, May 6, the North Devon Sinfonia will begin their concert with an overture written especially for the occasion by Andrew Wilson.

On Wednesday, April 19, again in St Eustachius’ Church, ‘Vibrations’ by Col Canto, an a capella choir from the Poitou-Charentes area of South West France, will be performed by invitation of the Plymouth Philharmonic Choir.

The first week will be rounded off by the South West Chamber Choir on Saturday, April 22 accompanied, in St Eustachius’ Church, by the Four Seasons String Quartet with trumpet, recorder and continuo.

The evening will feature works from the Baroque era, in particular Vivaldi’s famous Gloria.

Truly a feast of music is planned!

There are, however, other events linked to the festival throughout May and early June. Go to the website at www.tavistockmusic.co.uk to find out more.

The programme is designed with variety in mind and is suitable for all ages, so in the words of festival chairman Andrew Wilson ‘Live the festival: try something new!’

For a full programme with complete listings of events through to the festival’s conclusion on page 8, see the April 13 edition of the Times.