THE third Ripon international festival presents another exciting, varied programme of events and concerts in stunning settings from Aske Hall in Richmond to Harrogate's Royal Hall.

The festival gets under way on Friday, September 8 with a Blues and Broadway night, when American artists present songs from Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma and West Side Story, plus a selection of negro spirituals.

There will also be piano solos, including Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Ragtime, played by renowned Gershwin exponent, John Ferguson at this opening concert, to be held at the Ripon Spa hotel ballroom, 8pm.

A must-see concert features the world-famous Chilingirian Quartet, who present a programme of Beethoven, Mozart and Janacek by candlelight at Holy Trinity church in Ripon on Thursday, September 14.

There will also be a masterclass with Levon Chilingrian on Wednesday, September 13.

A second concert by candlelight will be given by Ukranian guitarist Galina Vale, at the medieval church in Kirkby Malzeard on Saturday, September 16.

The climax of the festival comes on Friday, September 15, with the grand gala concert, when the Northern Sinfonia will perform at Harrogate's Royal Hall under the dynamic Polish conductor, Janusz Piotrowicz.

Following on from the success of their grand finale concert at Ripon Cathedral last year, the Northern Sinfonia, enlarged to symphony orchestra strength, will this year perform Dvorak's New World Symphony and Beethoven's Symphony No 8 with arias by Puccini and Strauss.

There will also be a concert by the Celtica Duo on harp and oboe, with supper in the beautiful surroundings of Newby Hall on Saturday,September 9 and Sunday, September 10.

Family events include a fiesta at Ripon racecourse on Saturday, September 9 when Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fat Controller will be on hand to entertain.

The International Purves Puppets, renowned from the Edinburgh Festival to China, will present an ultraviolet spectacular called The Magical Princess at Ripon leisure centre on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday September 17.

Other events include Juliet Barker, author of the best-selling biography The Brontes, who will present her new book on William Wordsworth. And there will also be a showing of the 1954 Italian film, La Strada, one of Fellini's greatest.

Tickets can be booked in advance for all events through Ryedale Travel on 01765 605266 or through the festival office on 01765 605508. A Chopin recital by Janusz, in the drawing room at Aske Hall in Richmond, is already sold out