Crickhowell is about to host a music festival on a truly biblical scale.

The Choral Society's bank holiday weekend of music-making (May 2 - 6) will this year focus on two of the greatest works from the baroque age - Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt (Saturday May 4, 7.30pm) and JS Bach's St Matthew Passion (Sunday May 5, 7pm). Both embrace some of the greatest stories ever told and speak of events that gave birth to two world faiths at the time of Passover.

The choir is delighted that so many high-calibre soloists are able to join them for this, their 19th festival.

These soloists will include tenors Charles Daniels and Julian Podger, as well as contralto Clare Wilkinson, all of whom will offer audiences fresh insights into these compelling masterpieces.

"I am very excited about this year's performances", said Steve Marshall, the Festival's director. "Our performance of the St Matthew will be semi-dramatised by operatic director Thomas Guthrie, who worked on the innovative Jonathan Miller adaptation in 1994.

"He has some marvellous ideas that will enable us to experience first hand the evangelist Matthew recalling the events of the Passion story, whilst other soloists give their emotional response on our behalf.

"Handel's oratorio, tracing the events of the exodus from Egypt is also epic stuff! There are no less than 25 choruses which depict the plagues of Egypt and crossing of the Red Sea in glorious technicolour.

"Handel's music is spine-tingling, with representations in sound of hail and brimstone, fire and flood, and even flies and frogs!"

Framing the weekend are other contrasting events, including the welcome return of Welsh Folk Trio ALAW, who play at the Festival's opening in the Manor Hotel (Thursday May 2, 7.30pm).

In contrast, the Bank Holiday Monday 3pm recital in St Edmund's Church welcomes the Abbey String Quartet for an entertaining programme of classical favourites such as Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik and Scott Joplin rags.

Last year's festival was a sell-out, so it is best to book early. Tickets are available from Webbs, Crickhowell and Abergavenny Music.

Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday choral concerts at St Edmund's Church cost £15, ALAW folk night, £8 and Abbey String Quartet, £6.