After the success of its inaugural outing in 2016, Newcastle Music Festival returns in August with acclaimed Novocastrian cellist Anthony Albrecht headlining the series. Presenting a selection of solo Bach Suites that he is first touring across the country, Albrecht also performs with the Orava Quartet in Schubert’s final chamber work, his String Quintet in C Major. Audiences will also be treated to a rendition of Haydn’s technically demanding Cello Concerto in D Major with the Christ Church Camerata, and Vivaldi’s only double cello concerto with local cellist Gavin Clark.

Other guest artists in this year’s Festival include soprano Hyeseoung Kwon, who has appeared to great acclaim as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Liù in Turandot for Opera Australia. She will join the Festival Choir and the Newcastle Youth Orchestra for performances of John Rutter’s Requiem and Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer, as well as a concert of music by Puccini, Verdi, and Strauss. She will also sing Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs, accompanied by violinist Peta Dries.

Australian-born Britsh-based contralto Sylvia Clarke will be joined by pianist Ross Fiddes in a programme that includes Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, French cabaret songs, and songs by Dorian le Gallienne...