EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND -- Edinburgh International Festival 2012-- which is partnered with the UK's Summer Olympics--recently announced this summer's classical musical attractions.

The opening concert, Friday 10 August at 7.30pm, will feature Frederick Delius' choral work, A MASS OF LIFE, with Sir Andrew Davis conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Christopher Bell will head the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, whose lead singers include soprano Anna Christy, mezzo Pamela Helen Stephen, tenor Robert Murray and bass baritone Hanno Muller-Brachmann.
   

    
Not a mass in a traditional sense, A MASS OF LIFE is instead "a glorious choral celebration of positivity, of man's will to embrace the rich possibilities of life and of our potential for strength, energy, pride and sincerity. Using a text drawn from Nietzsche...it is an exceptionally beautiful score and one of Delius's crowning achievements, with music of huge joy and passion."

For further details about the classical music programs at the Festival, visit eif.co.uk or call 44 (0) 131-473-2000.

LOS ANGELES NEWS

MUSIC GUILD'S SUMMER FESTIVAL

LOS ANGELES -- The Music Guild has scheduled four chamber music events as part of its summer-long festival at University Synagogue (where the free refreshments include coffee, cakes, cookies, cheese, strawberries and whipped cream). All events start at 3pm.

On Sunday June 10, the Lyris String Quartet will offer a program of Brahms and Schubert. On Sunday July 1, the California String Quartet will also play pieces by Schubert (Qurtettsatz in C Minor, D 703) and Brahms (String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1), as well as Liszt-Martelli's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.

The Fiato String Quartet will concentrate on music by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Dvorak (Sunday July 22). This program will be followed on Sunday August 19 by an appearance by the Pantoum Piano Trio (performing works by Schubert, Ravel and Mendelssohn).

University Synangogue is located at 11960 Sunset Blvd. in Brentwood. For tickets and information call 310-553-3500 or visit concerts@themusicguild.org