Making its Festival debut, Les Vents Français gathers together five of the world’s top wind players, each one a virtuoso soloist – flautist Emmanuel Pahud, oboist François Leleux, clarinettist Paul Meyer, bassoonist Gilbert Audin and horn player Radovan Vlatkovic´ . They celebrate French wind music at its elegant, witty best.

Succinct and delicious pieces by Ibert and Milhaud frame Ravel’s glittering Le tombeau de Couperin. Barber’s bluesy Summer Music contrasts languid charm with lively activity, and the richly Romantic Quintet in G minor by Paul Taffanel is full of lyricism and opulent harmonies.