A world of chamber music

ONCE again, Francis Humphrys has succeeded in attracting a host of wonderful performers to Bantry for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, which begins on Friday.

While some are Irish, the majority are visitors, coming from as near as Wales and as far away as New Zealand. In all, 15 different nationalities will be represented at this year’s event. Of the 26 soloists, 14 are returning artists, performers who made such an impression in previous visits that Humphrys was determined to have them back again.

Cristina Zavalloni, whose versatility amazed all who heard her singing Monteverdi and Schoenberg in 2008, is one such artist. An Italian mezzo soprano, she is equally at home in early music, contemporary music, and jazz. This year she will sing Monteverdi on Sunday morning (Jul 1) and Britten on the following Tuesday.