THE European Union Chamber Orchestra will perform at Great Malvern Priory as the centrepiece of the Autumn in Malvern Festival 2005.

The concert is one of more than 20 events in this year's programme which includes classical music, visual art, film, literature, dance and a home and food festival.

Formed in 1981, the orchestra is a musical ambassador for the European Union and has played all over the world.

Its programme on Friday, October 28, from 7.30pm, includes Handel, Elgar and Haydn.

Violinist Jennifer Pike, a BBC Young Musician of the Year is soloist for Mozart's A Major Violin Concerto. Tickets are £8 to £14.

Composer Sir Michael Tippett, whose centenary is celebrated this year, is the focus of several events.

Allegri String Quartet, the Richard Watkins Horn Quartet and Aldwyn Voices are all performing his works, while conductor Nicholas Cleobury will give a talk entitled Tippett As I Knew Him.

Other musical highlights include American organist Ann Elise Smoot, performing works including Elgar's Organ Sonata in G on the restored Priory Organ.

The festival opens with several events in Ledbury in collaboration with the Friends of the Dymock Poets and Ledbury Poetry Festival (see week one diary below).

Events are then organised throughout October including Passamezzo Early Dance, who perform Music and Dance of the European Renaissance in the Priory on Saturday, October 29.

Talks include The Private Life of Charles Darwin by actor Andrew Bannerman, which will cover Darwin's time in Malvern.

Dr John Harcup will speak on the ancient misericords in Great Malvern Priory.

The Priory also hosts a special exhibition to mark the end of the Second World War, from October 8 to 31.

Anglo-Jewish artist Lalitte Stolper has created Light on our Shadows, an installation inspired by Tippet's oratorio A Child of Our Time.

Other exhibitions include Travels in Italy and Sicily by David Birtwhistle, at Malvern Theatres, and Light on Stone, a display of pictures by Colwall photographer Richard Bennett.

The festival, organised by artistic director Peter Smith, first started in 1989 and is sponsored by local businesses, Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Hills District Council, The Elmley Foundation and Arts Council England.

For a full brochure, visit Malvern or Ledbury tourist information centre or library or go to www.malvernfestival.co.uk

Tickets are available from Malvern Theatres on 01684 892277.