BOOKING for the 2013 Three Choirs Festival, which this year is based in Gloucester, is now open.

From Saturday, July 27 to Sunday, August 4, an outstanding series of evening concerts will take place in Gloucester Cathedral performed by the Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra and artists of international renown, supported by a daytime programme of recitals, chamber music, lectures, theatre, jazz and masterclasses.

The programme will include Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Four Sacred Pieces, Rachmaninov’s The Bells, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, The Planets by Gustav Holst, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.

Guest conductors for the festival are Vladimir Ashkenazy, Edward Gardner, Stephen Layton and John Butt, while guest artists include Helena Juntunen, Sarah Connolly, Philip Higham, Rosemary Joshua, Toby Spence, Polyphony and Florilegium To view the full programme and to book online, go to 3choirs.org.

You can also book by phone on 0845 6521823 or by email to booking@3choirs.org