A QUARTET of concerts will be performed at this year’s Purbeck Chamber Music Festival, which has celebrated cellist Natalie Clein as artistic director.

The festival, now in its second year, grew from concerts given by Poole-born Natalie, left, and friends as part of the Purbeck Art Weeks Festival.

Perfmoring will be pianist Ashley Wass; Swedish violinist Fredrik Paulsson; Swiss string player Barbara Doll; Russian cellist Nina Dolginsteva; Ellen Nisbeth and Natalie herself.

“Natalie is a Dorset girl born and brought up in Poole,” explained a festival spokesman.

“As a child, before she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 1994, she played some of her earliest concerts here in the Isle of Purbeck – in local churches such as St George’s, Langton Matravers and St James’, Kingston. These are both venues in which she still loves to perform – and the festival weekend offers an exciting opportunity to come and hear some very special music-making by Natalie and friends, in these and other intimate and beautiful Purbeck locations.”

Among the highlights will be performances of Bach’s Cello Suite No 1 in G Major and the Violin Partita in D Minor, against a backdrop of sea and sky at Swanage’s Durlston Castle.

For further information about the festival, set for August 29 until August 31, visit the website at Purbeck-chambermusic.org. uk.

Tickets for the event are available from purbeckartweeks .co.uk and Swanage and Wareham Tourist Information Centre.