PURBECK International Chamber Music Festival, under its charismatic artistic director, cellist Natalie Clein, returns from 4th to 7th September. With the theme of “Love in all its forms.”

The programme starts with Love of the Cello, with Natalie Clein playing works by Bach and Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Cello: A Journey through Silence to Sound author Kate Kennedy, at the Fine Gallery at Durlston Country Park on Thursday at 3pm.

The evening concert at the Priory Church of Lady St Mary at Wareham is Agape (Love) and More, works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Avensky.

Friday morning sees the musicians at St Peter’s Church at Church Knowle in a programme called Partnerships, with music by Bach, Mozart and Ravel. The evening programme at the Priory of Lady St Mary is Storge (ancient Greek love and affection), with works by Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann, Joachim, Brahms and Dvorak.

On Saturday, the musicians have a morning concert at St Nicholas, Studland, The Joy of Solitude, with music by Bach, Stravinsky, and Improvisations, followed by an afternoon concert, Colours of the Romantic Soul, at the Priory of Lady St Mary, with two works by Robert Schumann and the world premiere of Deborah Pritchard’s Couleurs d’un Reve, performed by Natalie Clein with pianist Julius Drake.

That evening, dancer Selene Munoz joins the musicians for Eros, Mania, Nostalgia, at the Priory again, with music by Ligeti and Tchaikovsky, and a Tango Extravaganza, featuring music by Piazzolo and a starring line-up of musicians including the virtuoso accordionist Milos Milivojevic.

There is also a late evening pub session at the Square & Compass – recently named by the Telegraph as one of the best pubs in the country – with musicians Natalie Clein, Gareth Lubbe, Joe Browne and Milivojevic.

The festival ends at Harman’s Cross village hall on Sunday at 2pm with a family concert with all the musicians and a programme designed to appeal to all ages.