The Windsor Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year

The organisers have brought together the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with the choirs of Eton College Chapel and St George's Chapel for a programme in the chapel, featuring some of the finest English choral music ever written with the young Mezzo-soprano Kate Symonds-Joy bringing her vocal talents to Elgar's evocative Sea Pictures.

The Royal Philharmonic has played a major role in past festivals and will also feature this year in a black tie concert in the Waterloo Chamber of Windsor Castle, performing an elegant programme of Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. It will be conducted by Thomas Carroll and feature cellist Jonathan Swensen, winner of the seventh Windsor Festival International String Competition held in the town earlier this year.

Coming more up to date musically the Bowie tribute band Rebel Heroes will be bring the great David Bowie's music to life.

Literary guests this year will include such famous names as Prue Leith, Robert Harris, Anna Pasternak, A.N. Wilson and Lucy Worsley.

Windsor Festival was founded in 1969 with legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Ian Hunter as Artistic Directors.

Each year the world’s finest musicians, writers, artists and local performers entertain festival audiences. Events include music, talks, walks and tours and exhibitions and open houses.

The festival also welcome the return of award-winning choir Tenebrae this year under the direction of Nigel Short to St. George’s Chapel on September 24 at 7.30pm.

Also making a welcome return this year is John Lill, unanimously described as one of the leading pianists of his generation, whose career spans over 55 years. His recital takes place in the magnificent setting of Eton College’s School Hall on September 27 at 7.30pm.

Finally, this year’s literary series includes such star names as Robert Harris, Simon Heffer, Prue Leith, A. N. Wilson and Lucy Worsley.

The festival runs the last two weeks of September.