SALISBURY, UK.- The 2007 Salisbury International Arts Festival is set to be one of the most vibrant ever, with a host of world-class artists taking part in a diverse and entertaining programme of music, performance, literature and visual arts. This year’s artistic focus is on Latin culture and movement and the Festival will be bursting with energy, flamboyant dance events and physical theatre.

Artists confirmed to attend include: Vladimir Ashkenazy, Tasmin Little, Julian Lloyd Webber, Vikram Seth, John Williams, John Etheridge, Paco Peña, George Alagiah, Rosie Boycott, Billy Bragg, Bonnie Langford, Sandi Toksvig, John Major, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Jon Snow, Claire Tomalin, and, at Stonhehenge, and Mayan cultural dancers (Xcaret).

World-renowned violinist Tasmin Little and the European Union Chamber Orchestra open the Festival with a spectacular concert in Salisbury Cathedral on Friday 25 May. This concert offers a rare opportunity to hear Piazzolla's orchestral music in excerpts from his Four Seasons and to contrast it with Vivaldi's ever-popular magical evocation of the changing of the year. Salisbury Cathedral is also the dramatic location for The Philharmonia Orchestra on Wednesday 30 May. Conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy the orchestra will perform Glazunov’sNocturne andTarantella from theChopiniana Suite, Beethoven’s piano concerto no. 4 and Dvorak’s Symphony no. 8.

The World Premiere of a Festival commission with words by Vikram Seth and music by Alec Roth will take place at Wilton Church on Wednesday 6 June. Following the success of last year's Songs in Time of War, this is the second in the series of new works presented over four years in partnership with the Chelsea and Lichfield Festivals. Festival-goers will be able to hear more about the inspiration behind this year’s commission at a talk by Vikram Seth and Alec Roth on Thursday 7 June at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Other highlights in the classical programme include Ex Cathedra Baroque Ensembleon Thursday 7 June (sponsored by Smith and Williamson), the Fitzwilliam String Quartet on Monday 28 May, the Belcea Quartet (sponsored by Friends Provident) on Saturday 2 June and the Armonico Consort, who will perform Purcell’s semi-opera King Arthur on Monday 4 June. Legendary guitar maestro, John Williams and renowned jazz fusion guitarist John Etheridge present a programme featuring solo sets and a series of duets on Saturday 2 June (sponsored by Wilsons) and Julian Lloyd Webber will be talking about his musical career on Wednesday 6 June.

The 2007 Festival sees a glorious mix of music and dance as the Festival celebrates the rich cultures of Latin America. Flamenco legend Paco Peña and his company are performing in City Hall on Friday 1 June (sponsored by FTX) and award-winning Paul Morocco and his ‘amigos’make their long awaited return to the UK with their hilarious new show Olé – a mind-blowing medley of rhythm, comedy and flamenco madness - at the Salisbury Playhouse on Thursday 31 May. In dramatic contrast, Xcaret, a Mayan cultural group from Mexico, will perform their traditional ceremony on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 May against the striking backdrop of Stonehenge and the C4 Trío, winners of a national Venezuelan competition to uncover new cuatro talent (the cuatro is a 4-string guitarrilla) will dazzle audiences with their precision and energy at Salisbury Arts Centre on Saturday 26 May.

The Latin cultural focus also features a tantalising programme of film, photography and visual arts, which includes the UK premiere of a Spanish-Argentinean film El Metodo (The Method) and a stunning exhibition'The Gods of America' by Venezuelan photographer Antonio Briceno has been brought over specifically for the Festival.

With physical theatre and dance high on the agenda this year, the Festival presents the UK premiere of The First French Championship of ‘No Matter What’ performed by 26000 Couverts at the Five Rivers Leisure Centre on Tuesday 29 May and Wednesday 30 May - this hilarious French company will entertain audiences with their absurdist take on sports. In a return visit to Salisbury, award-winning dance company Motionhouse will perform their explosive new show Driven at Salisbury Arts Centre on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 May and Zecora Ura Theatre will perform their internationally-flavoured physical theatre adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest at Salisbury Playhouse on Friday 8 June. There is also another UK Exclusive from Guatemalan dance company, Momentum, who will be performing their breathtaking show You Can't Dance While Crying at Salisbury Playhouse on Monday 28 May.

The literature programme REad, sponsored this year by four independent book shops in Salisbury (Cross Keys Bookshop, Ellwood Books, Sarum College Bookshop and Water Lane Bookshop), is back with an exciting array of authors and speakers. Kicking off the programme is Billy Bragg talking about his latest book The Progressive Patriot. Claire Tomalin will discuss her biography of Thomas Hardy. John Major introduces his new book about the history of cricket, More Than a Game: The Story of Cricket’s Early Years and Horatio Clareand Rosie Boycott discuss the pursuit of a rural dream. Other speakers in the literature programme include: Andrew Smith, author of Moondust; journalist and author Leo Hickman; Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow andBBC news reader George Alagiah.

Children and families will be able to enjoy a host of activities and workshops, many during half term. Puppetcraft, one of the UK’s most acclaimed puppet companies, will present the Pied Piper at the Salisbury Playhouse on Tuesday 29 May and award-winning open-air theatre company Illyria will perform Robin Hood in the magical garden of the Wardrobe Museum Gardens on Saturday 26 May. Following sell-out runs at last year’s Festival Quicksilver Theatre return with their new show Watercolours at Salisbury Arts Centre on Monday 28 May and Freehand Theatre Company will perform Little Red…. You Know Who! on Thursday 31 May. The children’s workshop programme will involve afternoons making masks and pop-up books and on Bank Holiday Monday 28 May the Market Squarein Salisburywill play host to a variety of entertaining and comical street theatre acts for all the family to enjoy.

At the heart of the Festival’s programme is an exciting range of community events. Salisbury will be sizzling to the sounds of salsa as Festival organisers launch their first ever community-wide dance project. Salsa workshops are being held around the region and everyone will have the chance to show off their new dancing skills at the Festival Latin Fiesta which takes place in the stunning setting of the Cathedral Close on Saturday 9 June.

Water is also a major theme for this year’s community programme and in association with the Living River project - which tells the story of the River Avon - the Festival has developed a series of unique events and schemes. These include REverberAVON, a fascinating archive of anecdotes and memories about the river combined with wildlife sounds and poetry and in a unique collaboration with Salisbury-based company QinetiQ, local artist Charlotte Moreton will be working with third year apprentices to create two water inspired sculptures. For more water-themed fun, The Hoodwink Theatre Company are performing their offbeat comedy The River is Revolting! from 8 - 10 June.