MUSIC lovers in Stratford will be settling in ready for a nine-day feast of world-class delights.

The Stratford-on-Avon Music Festival begins tomorrow night, beginning an exciting programme of orchestral, choral, jazz, chamber music and dance performances running until October 23.

It begins at Holy Trinity Church tomorrow at 7.30pm, when the Armonico Consort and Orchestra of the Baroque perform Handel's Messiah.

Meanwhile, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in the Shakespeare Centre in Henley Street, the author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres, will be joining the Antonius Players Flute Trio for an evening of renaissance and medieval poetry and music. The writer will also be playing guitar and mandolin for the concert staged in aid of the Birthplace Trust, and he will be signing books afterwards.

Shipston Music Society is also joining in the festival, staging an evening with harpist Margaret Knight.

On Saturday evening, see the Aashiyana Dance Company in the Civic Hall or a violin and harp recital in Alveston Church.

On Sunday, pianist Philip Dyson is marking the Fats Waller Centenary in style at the Shakespeare Institute, the Luis D'Agostino trio is supplying Jazz At The White Swan in Rother Street and Stratford's own Orchestra of the Swan's special performance of Peter and The Wolf at the Civic Hall will be the result of a month-long collaboration with local schools.

Enjoy a meal at Ingon Manor Golf Club and be entertained by Opera Souffl on Monday, and on Tuesday, be wowed by the dynamic a cappella singing and rhythmic dances of Black Umfolosi at the Civic Hall or enjoy a rare visit from London Baroque at the Guild Chapel. Tubalat is at The Croft School while The Orchestra of the Swan is at the Civic Hall on Wednesday. The 18th Century Concert Orchestra is at the Town Hall on Thursday evening.

On Friday, go to Shipston for the Katona Twins Guitar Duo, on at the Townsend Hall, see Phoenix Rising at Alcester Town Hall or head to the Grange Hall, Southam, for the Jaguar (Coventry) Band.

The last night, Saturday, October 23, gives concert-goers the choice of Expresion Cubana, an 11-piece Cuban band in the Civic Hall, or The Academy of Ancient Music at Holy Trinity. The latter is presenting a special all-Bach programme headed by Masaaki Suzuki, one of the world's leading Bach interpreters, and with rising young French countertenor Pascal Bertin.

Throughout the week, there will also be a lunchtime series of chamber music in the Town Hall, Sheep Street, which begins on Saturday with a performance from pianist Diana Ionescu.

Among the others lined up are Warwickshire cellist Naomi Boole-Masterson, who is performing a couple of world premieres of works by RSC musician Edward Watson with her pianist husband Fali Pavri on Monday.

Soprano Harriet Fraser and pianist William Hancox take the stage on Tuesday, Stratford Flute Festival prize-winner Yamani Fuentes Anaya is on Wednesday, violinist Ruth Palmer on Thursday, pianist Nicola Eimer on Friday and the Angell Piano Trio come fresh from their Carnegie Hall appearance to finish the series with a flourish.

For details and ticket information, contact the festival box office on 01926 496227.