THE Band of the Scots Guards beat the retreat on Saturday (7th) at 5.45pm on Ripon Market Place to mark the start of the sixth Ripon International Festival.

The festival's artistic director, Janusz, conducts the Orchestra of Opera North in the opening concert of Brahms Symphony No 1 and Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Symphony tomorrow at 7.30pm in Ripon Cathedral.

Further first-week musical events will be Trio Belle Epoque playing Beethoven and Schubert trios in the Ripon Cathedral Library, Tuesday, 2.30pm; guitarist Eleftheria Kotzia and soprano Patricia Rozario's Greek concert and supper, Black Sheep Centre, Masham, Thursday, 7.30pm; Zula musical Africa Africa!, Ripon College, Friday, 8pm; and the Manchester Camerata and Leeds Philharmonic Orchestra, Ripon Cathedral, next Saturday, 7.30pm.

In the second week, the September 18, 7.30pm concert by 20-year-old violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky marks the completion of the Holy Trinity Space Project: Holy Trinity Church has undergone a £1 million refurbishment.

On September 19, Hungarian cellist Miklos Perenyi gives an 8pm concert by candlelight at St Mary's Church, Masham. For doubly good measure, as part of his exclusive British appearance at this festival, he is the soloist for Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B Minor the following night, when the Northern Sinfonia give the Grand Finale concert in Ripon Cathedral at 7.30pm.

Literary and theatrical events include Moray Watson presenting Ancestral Voices, The Diaries of James Lees-Milne, at the Arts Theatre, Ripon Leisure Centre, on Sunday, 7.30pm.

Also, Hugh Massingbird takes a humorous look at historic houses beyond the public gaze in Private Parts, Holy Trinity Church Crypt, Ripon, Monday, 7.30pm. And International Purves Puppets present Nessie The Loch Ness Monster, Ripon Leisure Centre, September 13, 2.30pm.

To book tickets, ring Ryedale Travel, Ripon, 01765 690563; Harrogate International Centre, 01423 537230.

Updated: 14:44 Friday, September 05, 2003