THE Three Choirs Festival gets under way at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday, August 17, with the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble at 11.30am.

At 7.45pm, the Philharmonia Orchestra Festival Chorus will perform music by Walton and Elgar, while organist Jennifer Bate plays Messiaen and Durufl in the Chapter House at 10.15pm.

On Sunday, August 18, a festival eucharist with Worcester Cathedral Choir will fill the cathedral at 11am, followed by choral evensong at 5.30pm, Philharmonia Orchestra at 7.45pm and Sydney Philharmonic Choir at 10.30pm. An organ recital of works by Whitlock and Stanford takes place in St Michael's Church, Tenbury, at 2.30pm.

Choral evensong at 7.45pm and late-night recitals continue in the cathedral over the next few days.

Great Witley Church will be home to two concerts on Monday, August 19, one of coffee house music at 11am and another of L'lle Enchante at 2.30pm.

In Tewkesbury Abbey, at 2.30pm, on the Monday, students of the Eton Choral Course will present a diverse programme, while Peter Medhurst will give a lecture on Handle's Coronation Anthems for George II at 2.30pm on Tuesday, August in the King's School Theatre.

Bringing the festival to close on Friday will be renditions of Elgar and Walton by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at 7.30pm.

For tickets and information, call 01905 729184.