Musical highlights at Kilkenny

The 33rd Kilkenny Arts Festival takes place from August 11th-20th. The festival has always prided itself on its classical music elements, and among the highlights of this year's classical programme are three performances by the dynamic young New York-based Argento Chamber Ensemble, showcasing the diversity and wide range of musical interests for which the group has been highly praised.

The first concert, Beckett in Words and Music (Parade Tower, Wed 16th, 6pm), includes Philip Glass's Prelude to Endgame and John Corigliano's Irish Folk Songs; the second, Sounds Impressionistic (St Canice's Cathedral, Fri 18th, 1.10pm), traces the group's interest in the music of the French spectralists; and the third features Mahler's Fourth Symphony, with guest soloist Alish Tynan (St Canice's Cathedral, Sat 19th, 8pm).

Meanwhile a quartet formed specially for the festival, featuring Finghin Collins, Guy Johnston (cello), Catherine Leonard (violin) and Carol McGonnell (clarinet, right) will play Beethoven's Gassenhauer Trio and the Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time (St Canice's, Tues 15th, 8pm).

The classical programme kicks off with a concert of Venetian music by the choir Ex Cathedra, led by music director Jeffrey Skidmore (St Canice's Cathedral, Fri 11th, 8 pm).

Other genres of music are also strongly represented at Kilkenny this year, with a varied programme of world, trad and jazz on offer during the nine-day festival. The Nigerian alto sax player Femi Kuti brings his 14-piece band The Positive Force to Kilkenny (Ormonde Hotel, Fri 11th, 10.30pm) for a night of afrobeat sounds, while Masala! (Ormonde Hotel, Sat 19th, 8 pm) promises a carnival of Indian percussion, with bhangra a-plenty.

And more . . . The centrepiece of the visual arts programme, meanwhile, is an exhibition called - bravely - Failure, a kind of meditation on creativity which features an international group of artists.

Success is the name of the game when it comes to the festival's literary strand, which explores the diversity within the crime and thriller genre, and features best-selling authors Darren Shan and Alex Barclay. Eoin McNamee will also preview his forthcoming book about the death of Princess Diana, entitled 12:23. There's theatre from the French company Fiat Lux, comedy from The Ornate Johnsons and a full programme of events for children - we haven't even mentioned the half of it.

Further details from www.kilkennyarts.ie, booking on 056-7752175