HELLENSMUSIC returns to the village of Much Marcle for five days of world-class concerts and master classes in the charming setting of Hellens. Quickly establishing its reputation for bringing the finest music to the heart of rural Herefordshire, the festival will feature performances by celebrated pianist and Hellensmusic artistic director Christian Blackshaw and a group of exceptional musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Christian Blackshaw will give the festiva's opening recital at the medieval St Bart’s Church on May 19 with a programme of works by Liszt and Schubert. The following evening Markus Däunert, Maya Iwabuchi, Máté Szücs, Bruno Delepelaire and Waldemar Schwiertz play Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Dvo?ák at the Great Barn in Hellens. Piano quintets by Shostakovich and Schubert complete the festival’s main programme on 21 May, with all the artists coming together at the Great Barn for a concert that will be recorded by BBC Radio 3.

In addition to the evening performances, the musicians will give solo, chamber and improvisation master classes to 11 talented students from the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama during the day as part of Hellensmusic's education programme. Funded by the Pennington Mellor Munthe Charity Trust and entirely free for the students, this week of tutoring will culminate in the festival’s final concert on May 22. In partnership with ABF Music, there will also be music workshops for pupils from local primary and secondary schools on May 18 and 20.

Tickets are available at from The Courtyard's box office on 01432 340555 or visit courtyard.org.uk/hellens-music-festival/

Also available from local shops: Outback (Hereford), Ice Bytes (Ledbury), River Music (Ross on Wye), Premier Stores (Much Marcle).