The Bermuda Festival launches the first of this year's musical offerings tonight when the King's Consort, one of Europe's leading instrument orchestras, plays the first of two concerts at City Hall theatre.

Entitled 'The Italian Connection', the group will present a highly original programme of Italian and English chamber music performed by Kati Debretzni (violin), Jonathan Cohen (cello), Matthews Halls (harpsichord and director). Soloists are Chrispian Steele-Perkins (natural trumpets) and Lorna Anderson (soprano). They will be playing works by Finger, Handel, Purcell, Melani and Vivaldi.

Founded in 1980 by Robert King, a chorister of the world-famous Choir of St. John's at Cambridge University, its performances have been hailed by critics as "remarkable feats of musicianship and virtuosity" and its music "sublime".

Mr. King is now widely acclaimed as one of the leading British conductors of his generation. He is particularly acclaimed for his interpretation of baroque music, and widely regarded as a leading expert on the music of Henry Purcell.

Now in its twenty-sixth year, the repertoire of the King's Consort includes an adventurous variety of music from the baroque and classical eras.

As one of the world's most-recorded historical instrument orchestras, the Consort has made 90 highly acclaimed, award-winning recordings on the Hyperion label, which have sold in excess of one million copies.

Trumpet soloist Crispian Steele-Perkins follows the traditional English school of solo performance founded in the late 17th century. Widely respected as one of the world's finest virtuoso trumpeters, he is unique in performing regularly upon genuine antique trumpets as well as making concerto and solo appearances across the globe. His interest in period instrument performance has led him to collect, restore and learn to play more than 100 mechanised and "natural" trumpets dating from before 1900.

Soprano and recording artist Lorna Anderson has appeared in opera, concert and recital with major orchestras and festivals throughout Europe and the US. As a renowned performer of the baroque repertoire, she sings frequently with the King's Concort, among many other specialist groups, as well as the Academy of Ancient Music. She has numerous recordings to her credit, among the most recent releases of which include include an album of Portuguese love songs. Future plans include recordings of Haydn's Scottish folk song arrangements with Haydn Trio Eisenstadt.