Saint Paul International Chamber Orchestras Festival

To celebrate its 50th anniversary the Minnesota-based Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra has invited four of the world's finest chamber orchestras - the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the London Sinfonietta - to take part in a month long festival. The concerts take place across the twin cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

The London Sinfonietta will give four concerts including the US premiere of Heiner Goebbels' Songs of Wars I Have Seen and music by composers with whom it is especially associated; Luke Bedford, George Benjamin, Harrison Birtwistle, Pierre Boulez, Oliver Knussen and Igor Stravinsky. During its residency the ensemble will be joined by soprano Claire Booth and conductors Diego Masson and Anu Tali.

For more about the festival read our interview with John Mangum (SPCO's vice-president of artistic planning) and follow the links to the orchestra's own website.