A CLASSICAL music festival is returning to Malvern after two successive Covid cancellations.

The Autumn in Malvern Festival presents professional concerts, talks and exhibitions and has been present in the town for more than 30 years.

Classical-based with literary and visual art elements, the festival has been cancelled twice due to Covid, but returns in 2022 with 16 different events.

Kicking off on October 23, the festival this year begins in the Great Hall at Malvern College, with the European Union Chamber Orchestra performing the rarely-heard Concerto Grosso by Vaughan Williams to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth.

The following Sunday sees Aldwyn Voices joined by the Coull String Quartet also in the Great Hall.

The quartet is performing Schubert’s Quartettsatz and Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue.

Aldwyn Voices sing Bach’s Lobet den hernn and three motets by Anton Bruckner.

Along with these highlights, the Jenny Lind Society is visiting Malvern from Stockholm to attend the unveiling of a statue to the famous Soprano, who lived in the town in the 19th Century.

Along with these, there are six exhibitions with free entry, in Malvern Library, Malvern Priory, Elmslie House, The Original Artwork Store and along Waitrose Walk, Great Malvern, together with an Arts and Farmers Market in the Priory Churchyard.

Tickets are on sale from Malvern Theatres on 01684 892277 and full details are on the festival website www.malvernfestival.co.uk