NINETEEN houses and a beautiful small church is all that you’ll find in Lower Machen. Not even a pub.

Yet this tiny rural idyll each year plays host to some of the world’s great musicians in a festival of music that is one of Wales’ musical highlights and is now in its 48th year.

Based mainly at the church of St Michaels and All Angels, it now also includes concerts at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre.

In recent years, it has attracted performers of the calibre of Peter Donohoe, Joanna MacGregor, Michael Collins and Crispin Steele-Perkins.

Much of this year’s festival from June 23-28 is arranged around themed evenings focussed on different countries. The opening lunchtime concert, given by Annabel Thwaite (piano) and Mathew Jones (violin/viola) will be at the Riverfront Theatre next Tuesday, featuring the music of England, concentrating on Benjamin Britten and his teacher Frank Bridge.

In the evening, the ‘German Night’ at St Michaels will feature the Feinstein ensemble – a group specialising in Baroque repertoire – in a programme including Bach’s 5th Brandenburg Concerto and Handel’s Water Music.

The next day, the French Night will feature the young La Mer trio (flute, viola and harp) in the Impressionism of Debussy and Ravel, and also some new music.

Italy is the focus of the Thursday evening concert in which festival joint organiser Peter Esswood conducts the Welsh Chamber Players with young trumpet star Matilda Lloyd (who also plays a lunchtime recital at the Riverfront)and distinguished vocalists Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano) and Robin Blaze (counter tenor) in works including Pergolesi’s wonderfully moving Stabat Mater.

Friday is all about one work – the extraordinary Rachmaninov Vespers. This is sure to be a highlight of the week as the Armonico Consort perform this massive edifice of 12 part a-cappella singing. As the composer himself said: "I could not have imagined that I could write such a work."

The final weekend sees Sunwook Kim (winner of the Leeds piano competition at just 18) in a programme of Scriabin, Bach and the extraordinary final piano sonata of Schubert with its portrayal of emotions probing the depth of human mortality.

On the final night, Kim joins the Heath quartet, an emerging voice in world chamber music, in an International Night, performing a programme of Tchaikovsky, Haydn and Schumann.

In addition to this there is also a ‘Little Notes’ family concert at The Riverfront (Saturday June 27th at 11 a.m.) in which some outstanding musicians will sing and play for babies, tots and their carers. Teddy bears are welcome!

Details about concerts and tickets at lowermachenfestival.co.uk