PALMA
THE former frontman of British band Supertramp, Roger Hodgson, is among the diverse line-up for this year's 47th Pollensa Festival.
Hodgson, who'll play the Claustre de Sant Domingo in Pollensa on July 12, replaces the English pianist Paul Carrack who has dropped out of the festival after suspending his tour.
It's the first time a rock act has been included in the festival's line-up.
The festival gets underway on July 4 with Verdi's Requiem Mass performed by the Balearic Symphony Orchestra, the Choir of the University of the Balearic Islands and the Capella Davidica of Minorca.
On July 19, the Michel Camilo Trio from Santo Domingo will perform their mixture of Caribbean rhythms, jazz and Michel Camilo's virtuoso piano playing.
On August 6, it's the turn of the visually-stunning Ensemble Sarband, who mix Turkish folk music with classical.
Three days later, the Berlin Chamber Orchestra play with trumpetist Gàbor Boldoczki.
On August 13, the soprano, Maria Guleghina, is in Pollensa, followed three days later by the Russian pianist Alexei Volodin.
On August 20, the first performance together of the Cambra Illa Orchestra of Minorca and guitarist David Russell outside of Minorca takes place.
The Saint Martin in the Fields Academy perform on August 23, while German Brass, perform on August 26.
How better to say goodbye than with a rousing gospel performance?
On August 30, the festival comes to a close with Craig Adams and the New Orleans Singers' only concert in Spain.
Despite this year's strong line-up - put together by baritone Joan Pons in his first year as artistic director - featuring many musical styles, the festival organizers are already promising that the 2009 edition will be more spectacular