MAY 21 - JUNE 7, BATH: WITH a year behind them which was as as notable for controversy as it was for music, Bath Festival this week launches this year's 17-day celebration, from May 21 to June 7, determined to demonstrate the amazing diversity of great music - from all genres.

The festival, a child of post-World War II austerity, finds itself once again with severe financial restraints; but able, happily, to list many new sources of revenue.

As any festival should, it is still able to encourage innovation, take a few calculated risks and extend the boundaries of its audiences and artists. Mercifully, there's a new-look brochure, at first glance much more user-friendly through being less "trendy" and, for the first time, tiered seating in the

Assembly Rooms, which will be the

festival home venue.

The classical programme has four distinct strands: the evening international series, morning coffee concerts, lunchtime events for rising stars and music in various West Country churches.

There is a new week of opera and concerts at the Theatre Royal, specialist weekends for world, jazz and contemporary music, a celebration of the Netherlands running through (Bath is twinned with Alkmaar in Holland); a Faure feature and the usual "freebies" - the opening night in front of Royal Crescent, traditionally cold and wet, exhibitions, walks and talks.

The glorious Baroque music of Albinoni, Bach, Handel and Purcell in the Abbey; Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and orchestra offerings from Bath Philharmonia (under Jason Thornton) in the Theatre Royal all counter balance the food for jazz devotees in the shape of Stacey Kent and Courtney Pine.

Ten specially commissioned works, including one by Giles Swayne, and partnerships with Buxton and Norwich festivals which bring the first UK production of the only opera by Astor Piazolla, Maria de Buenos Aires, satisfy the commitment to the new, while Les Dangereuses, a new collaboration with the Asian Music Circuit, brings together three extraordinary female voices from India, Mali and the UK.

Among West Country churches, St Cyriac's Church at Lacock is used for the first time with Tim Hugh, cello, playing two Bach pieces, Cello Suite No 2 in D minor and No 4 in E flat, as well as John Tavener's Threnos. The Clerks' Group perform at Downside Abbey, Bath Camerata at Prior Park Chapel and the Karol Szymanowski Quartet at the beautiful, yet almost unbearably uncomfortable, Mells Church of St Andrew.

International artists in residence this year are The Netherlands Wind Ensemble and, underlining still further the link, the early music group, Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, make their UK debut and, across into the jazz divide, the Amsterdam String Trio and Ernst Reijseger + Systeme D carry the jazz torch from across the North Sea.

Bath Festival

May 21 to June 7