Harrogate Summer Festival: Variety is the spice of life for Harrogate

Alan Bennett was once described as a 'Mozart of the mundane'.

So it makes perfect sense that this weekend he will appear on stage in Harrogate, not in one of his own plays, but with pianist Alessandro Taverna.

While Bennett will be talking about his own career as a writer and observer of human foibles, he will also be introducing Taverna as he plays works by Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninov.

The concert is set to be one of the highlights of this year's Harrogate Summer Festival, which has been given something of facelift by

chief executive Sharon Canavar.

Running alongside the ever-expanding Theakston's Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival, the event is now in its 45th year and organisers have worked hard to produce a programme which combines the contemporary with the classical in the hope of bringing music to new audiences.

It's an ambition summed up in the choice of artist in residence, Alex Wilson. While the pianist has won commissions from the Royal Opera House, along with his nine-piece band, Salsatak, Wilson has enjoyed more mainstream success.

He's going to be a man much in demand, running a salsa workshop, letting the public into one of his rehearsals and delivering a finale which will see him perform brand new work, specially commissioned for the festival .

"Variety is important to me and salsa music is a great starting point for people to explore rhythm," says Wilson.

"I first discovered salsa about 15 years ago and it's been a bit of a love affair ever since. I can't dance, or at least not very well, but it's the kind of music where most people feel they can get up and have a go. When you play salsa it creates an incredible energy in the room.

"Often when you appear at festivals, you turn up, do your thing and that's it. Being an artist in residence you really feel a part of the entire event and it really is an incredible programme in Harrogate this year."

One of the big draws is certain to be Peter Cincotti. The American singer/songwriter is just 25, but having been mentored by Harry Connick Jr, he already has vast experience under his belt, and his new album, East of Angel Town, is a masterclass in how to mix traditional and contemporary styles.

"Although I've been writing songs since I was nine years old, this is my first album of entirely original material," says the New Yorker, who has been described as one of the most promising musicians of his generation.

"I wanted each song to come alive in the studio with the same freshness they had when they were first written,

"I hope that when people come to a concert they will leave with the feeling of having walked all day on the streets of Manhattan.

"It's is very much about the old and the new. Not only within the songs themselves, but also in the way we recorded them.

"I wanted to combine the classic way of live recording with the many elements of modern production."

When booking the artists for this year's festival, Canavar clearly wanted to bring a breath of fresh air to a much-loved festival with acts like experimental vocal trio Juice, who won rave reviews following a performance at Wigmore Hall, and guitarist Krystle Warren, who learned to play the guitar by listening to The Beatles' Rubber Soul album and whose sound has been likened to everyone from Rufus Wainwright to Willie Nelson.

However, traditionalists should not fret, the festival boasts more than its fair share of musical stalwarts – indeed, the co-founder of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Dame Fanny Waterman, will be giving a lunchtime masterclass, followed by a recital by Benjamin Frith.

Harrogate Festival Highlights

Alex Wilson and his nine-piece Salsa band Salstack, today, 8pm. An open rehearsal of Wilson's work will take place on July 25, 2.30pm, followed by a recital of new work on July 26 at 11am. All events are at the Royal Hall.

A Masterclass with Dame Fanny Waterman, followed by a recital by Benjamin Frith, tomorrow, St Wilfrid's Church, 11.30am.

Alan Bennett with Alessandro Taverna, Royal Hall, Jul 25, 8pm.

Peter Cincotti performing songs from his album, East of Angel Town, Royal Hall, July 27, 8pm.

Juice, and experimental trio who perform a mix of world music, jazz, folk and pop, St James' Church, Birstwith, Jul 28, 11am.

Visit www.harrogate-festival.org.uk or call 0845 130 8840.