THE new Birmingham International Airport Elgar Festival will be launched at the House of Commons later this month.

William Boughton, the festival's artistic director, as well as musical director of the ESO, will be joined by Brian Conway, marketing director of its principal sponsor, Birmingham International Airport, at the event on Tuesday, October 21, which will be hosted by MP Sir Michael Spicer.

The festival, which marks the 70th anniversary of Sir Edward Elgar's death, will be held on June 2-5 next year and is based in Malvern.

It is described as the most complete performance of Elgar's music ever to be staged in Worcestershire and will feature several distinguished international soloists joining the English Symphony Orchestra.

The intention is to make it a biennial event and the Prince of Wales has already agreed to become its patron.