A FEAST of music is in store at a festival that has entertained audiences for more than 40 years.

Llanfyllin Music Festival returns to St Myllin’s Church and kicks off on Friday, July 13, where resident musicians the Allegri Quartet will perform music by Wolf, Debussy and Dvorak.

Next up will be a British-themed concert on Sunday, featuring works from Purcell, Britten and Elgar.

The quartet will return on Friday, July 20 for a programme of music by Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven.

To round off the festival on July 22, Norbert Blume, principal viola with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, will play in quintets by Mozart and Brahms.

Llanfyllin Music Festival has held concerts at St Myllin’s for more than 40 years, with the Allegri Quartet as resident musicians.

The festival started in the 1970s, when Bruno Schrecker, then cellist with the Allegri Quartet, bought a holiday home in Llanfyllin, invited fellow musicians to stay, and discovered the acoustics and ambience of the church for chamber music.

A festival spokesman said: “The line-up of the quartet has changed over the decades, but each new member has enjoyed coming to play here.

“Audience members are music lovers from the local area, from north and south Shropshire plus enthusiastic concert-goers from much further afield who specifically plan their holidays here in Mid Wales to come to the festival.

“If you haven’t been before, why not try one concert for a taster – the atmosphere of a live music event of whatever genre can’t be beaten.”

All concerts start at 7.30pm. Seeds restaurant and the Cain Valley Hotel are serving pre-concert meals, but bookings must be made in advance.

Weather permitting, there will be drinks served in the churchyard before the concert and during the interval.

Tickets are £19 full price and or £17 for the over 60s, full-time students and the unemployed.

Admission is free for under 16s.

Tickets are available from the Spar, Llanfyllin, Greatorex Stores in Llanrhaeadr, Rowanthorn in Oswestry, or Welshpool Jewellers.

Book online at www.llanfyllinfestival.org.uk. Some tickets might be available on the door.