Big hand for gala

So far audiences have been treated to a host of the region's best acts including a world premiere of music by internationally renowned composer Alastair King.

Other acts, which have had packed audiences, are the Ruth Hammond Trio, the Gaulois Brothers and The Helicon Ensemble.

Tim Brown, chairman of the Calne Music Festival, said the festival has gone well and people have even stepped into the breach to make the 30th anniversary successful.

He said: "It's going incredibly well. We have had very high standards of performance and enthusiastic crowds.

"Saturday night was an enormous success with the Calne Choral.

"The soprano soloist Marion Rowlett was due to sing but went down with the flu and Penelope Price Jones stood in at the last moment to sing the soprano part of Haydn's Nelson Mass and Vivaldi's Gloria and it was an excellent performance.

"(Architect) Ken Shuttleworth talked about dozens of projects from all around the world that he has been involved with around the world from the wobbly Millennium Bridge to the Gherkin (in London).

"It's been absolutely full with the exception of Sunday evening, and the staff of St Mary's School also gave a highly entertaining performance."

Monday's big successes were The Gaulois Brothers, two guitarists from Bath who play jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt, and the Silent Movie evening, when pianist James Harpham accompanied the screening of two 1920 classic films.

Festival organiser Dawn Straker Cook said: "We had a wonderful night and we had the room bursting for the silent movie."

She described The Gaulois Brothers as absolutely brilliant adding: "They had us all stunned."

Mrs Straker Cook continued: "It's going very well I must say. I think the Saturday night has sold very well.

"We had the jazz band playing just outside Sainsbury's and we had a marquee and that was really successful and kids were dancing in the street."

Mrs Straker Cook also said she was looking forward to St Edmund's School's play about the Cherhill Gang, a group of highwaymen who once plagued the A4, produced by Jane Murphy, which takes place at Marden House at 12.30pm today.

The Helicon Ensemble, Simon Parker on the clarinet, Simon Trentham on the cello and Gilmour Macleod on the piano, also gave a great performance entrancing the audience with Beethoven and Sound Patterns by American composer Wayne Siegel.

Festival co-president Peter Treloar said he was impressed with internationally acclaimed pianist, Philip Martin.

"The choral society concert on Saturday went very well and Philip Martin gave a wonderful piano recital with variations of the Lambeth Walk in the styles of various composers," he said.

With the 30th anniversary festival coming to an end on Sunday there are still a number of events left to attend, including the Chippenham Male Voice Choir tonight at 7.30pm at the Calne Town Hall, Christina Jackson in concert at Marden House at 9.30pm tomorrow and The Jelly Roll Boys at Marden House at 8pm on Saturday.

Christina Jackson, before coming to Calne, had a successful professional career as a singer in France and will be singing a cocktail of French love songs and jazz.

The Jelly Roll Boys are a jazz and blues band who have performed all over the South West and the Rattlers, a Bristol-based group who perform a blend of country, bluegrass and Irish music, will also be on the bill.

On Sunday, following a thanksgiving service at 7.30pm, the festival will come to an end at Marden House with wine, canapes and fireworks served up while Calne Baroque Players provide the background music.

Mr Treloar said: "The final evening will be great fun with the fireworks."

Launched in 1974, the festival has seen hundreds of performers and artists over the last 30 years.

The programme and tickets are still available from the box office, which opens 9am to 4pm weekdays and 9.30am to noon on Saturday at Bank House, The Strand, or telephone (01249) 814000. The festival website is www.calnemusicandartsfestival.co.uk.