ALL the passion and drama of music from Russia is the focus of this year's Cheltenham Music Festival running from July 1 to 17.

After last year's successful diamond celebration, the festival is heading for a new phase under its new artistic director, conductor Martyn Brabbins.

Associate Principal Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since 1994, Brabbins succeeds Michael Berkley whose ten years at the helm established the festival's reputation for innovative and ambitious programming.

Brabbins aims to continue and build on the tradition. He said: "What matters is that every performance at the festival should constitute a unique and stimulating event."

The Russian theme will be introduced at the festival's opening concert when Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony will be performed by Brabbins and the CBSO. Brabbins and the Salomon Orchestra will then be tackling a Tchaikovskyathon at the Town Hall on July 3 they will perform all six of his numbered symphonies in one day.

This year will also see the start of a three-year celebration of the Shostakovich string quartets and as well as the first five of them on this year's programme, some of his small scale works will be dotted throughout.

Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Prokoviev and Rachmaninov will also be featured and there is the chance to explore further in an event called What Makes Russian Music Russian?

Staged events include Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, along with 15 world premieres, eight UK premieres and big names like Kiri Te Kanawa, Alfred Brendel, Felicity Lott and Imogen Cooper, the stage is set for another successful festival experience.

For a brochure detailing more than 70 events, call the request line on 01242 237377, call the box office for tickets on 01242 227979 or log on to www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk for all the information.