THE Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival offers visitors the perfect opportunity to enjoy a day out with a difference.

The festival kicked off on Wednesday and runs until the end of the month. Played by combinations of strings, wind, brass and piano, the programmes will include works by Dvorak, Smetana, Janacek and Suk interwoven with celebrations of Mozart's 250th birthday.

Three magnificent concert grand pianos, the Steinways at Monmouth's Wyastone and Blake Halls and the new seven foot Yamaha at St Briavels will enable Mozart concertos, scored as piano quintets, to join regular chamber music repertoire.

The second concert on January 21 will be held at Rees' Baptist Church, a concert at Wyastone on January 22, Hereford Bishop's Palace on the 25th, the Blake on the 26th while the closing concert on January 27 returns to home territory at St Briavels, Monmouth.

Leading musicians taking part include Dan Tong, director, members of the Kungsbaka Piano Trio, Quince Quartet and Nash Ensemble as well as the pianists Richard Ormrod and Tim Horton. Ivan Ludlow will sing Voyages.

Tickets for the full series or individual concerts can be purchased from the Monmouth Music Box, 18 Church Street, Monmouth 01600 772040, Hereford Tourist Information Centre, 1 King Street, Hereford 01432 268430 or Ross-on-Wye Tourist Information Centre, Edde Cros Street, Ross-on-Wye 01432 260666.