RYEDALE Festival will host its biggest line-up of musicians this summer.

The prestigious two-week event, which is said to be worth up to £1 million to Ryedale’s economy, will run from July 17 to August 2.

It is regarded as one of the leading cultural festivals in the country, attracting large numbers of people from all parts of Britain and overseas.

The line-up will include international baritone Sir Thomas Allen, former BBC news journalist and MP Martin Bell, Dame Fanny Waterman, the 96-year-old who founded the Leeds Piano Competition and the BBC newsreader Charlotte Green.

Performances will be held in 34 venues across Ryedale, including four stately homes – Duncombe Park, Castle Howard, Sledmere House and Hovingham Hall – together with 20 churches, headed by Ampleforth Abbey.

The festival’s artistic director Christopher Glynn said: “These will be two weeks of inspiring performances in beautiful and historic venues.

“It promises to be an exciting summer festival.”

The festival will have a strong Hungarian favour with Lehar’s The Merry Widow being this year’s big Ryedale Festival production, and there will be a 100th anniversary performance of Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil at Ampleforth Abbey. There will also be candlelit concerts featuring the works of Mozart, Bartok and Britten, said Mr Glynn.

“Chamber music will be at the heart of the programme,” he said.

There will be concerts by the Orchestra of Opera North Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Dunedin Consort. One of the highlights will be a concert by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra at the Milton Rooms in Malton.

The programme will also feature several groups of top musicians, classical singers and groups.

Ryedale personalities will also be taking part, among them author Lucy Beckett of Rievaulx, who will be talking about the Habsburg Empire, journalist and author Martin Vander Weyer, of Helmsley, who will be reading excerpts from his new book “Any Other Business”, and Kirkbymoorside Brass Band will be performing at a garden party at Hovingham Hall.

For more details of the festival, visit the festival office at Pickering Memorial Hall or go to ryedalefestival.com