THE Little Missenden Festival returns for its 46th year this month.

Once again, residents of South Bucks have the opportunity to hear some of the highest quality performances, from both established artists and young talent, in the beautiful surroundings of Little Missenden Church.

Described by composer David Matthews as "England's best-kept secret festival" this event is a local treasure which this year welcomes soprano Patricia Rozario, who will be performing a Tribute to John Tavener in the festival's first event next Friday.

Rozario was born in Bombay, and studied in London at The Guildhall School of Music, before embarking on a very successful career. She has sung in recent seasons with Solti, Ashkenazy and Gardiner, given performances at Wexford, Aix, with Glyndebourne Touring and Opera North and sung recitals in France, Germany and London's Wigmore Hall. She will sing Tavener's Schuon Lieder, and performs with The Schubert Ensemble, which has numerous critically acclaimed CDs and over 30 commissions to its credit.

Other highlights include The Clark Tracey Quintet playing jazz originals on the evening of October 8. Tracey began his career playing in the jazz band of his famous father, Stan. He's now forged a successful career in his own right and is critically acclaimed as one of the best jazz drummers in the land. He formed his quintet in 2001, and it includes Zoe Rahman on piano, who was awarded Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year, and was nominated BBC "Rising Star" in 2000. With his band, Tracey performs original compositions, some of which will be material for a new CD.

The festival is not just about music. Amanda Bradley gives an illustrated lecture entitled Rubens in Italy on the afternoon of Saturday, October 15. She will discuss Ruben's sojourn in Italy (1600 - 1608) and how it exposed him to ancient and Renaissance masters, transforming both his artistic and social outlook.

Bradley has been a supervisor and guest lecturer for the Department of Art History at the University of Cambridge, and has curated exhibitions on Titian and Rubens at the National Gallery. She currently works for the National Trust, curating paintings and sculpture.

One of the final concerts of the festival celebrates the centenary of the birth of Sir Michael Tippett. Exaudi is a choir made up of young British vocal talent, and on the evening of October 18 they will perform a selection of works by Tippett, the Elizabethan madrigals that inspired him and four new works commissioned in homage to him.

The Little Missenden Festival, from October 7 to 16. Tickets: 01494 862426