THE life and art of Jenny Lind, the most famous soprano singer of the 19th century, who died in Malvern in 1887, forms one of the themes in this year's Autumn in Malvern festival later this year.

The Jenny Lind Society of Stockholm, in Sweden, is collaborating with this year's festival which will see the launch of a major new biography of the singer by her great-great-granddaughter, Sarah Jenny Dunsmure, who will be hosting a book signing at Little Malvern Court.

And one of the festival's keynote concerts will feature a special appearance from the winner of the Jenny Lind Vocal Scholarship 2015, Sara Swietlicki. She will be flying in from Copenhagen to perform songs and arias from Lind's repertoire at Worcester Cathedral alongside the Aldwyn Voices and the Royal College of Music Wind Quartet.

The festival also features the European Union Chamber Orchestra, making its fourth appearance to play some of the finest works of the Baroque in the impressive setting of the Great Hall at Malvern College.

And another festival collaboration is with the World Dulcimer Congress where performers from over 15 countries around the world are coming to Malvern to take part.

Peter Smith, the festival founder and artistic director, said: "For over a quarter of a century, the festival has presented leading artists from around the world with regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and 4 and features on BBC Television.

"It certainly seems to have established a reputation abroad, since both the Jenny Lind Society and the Wolrd Dulcimer Congress contacted me about taking part."

The festival, now in its 26th year, also includes a study day on the poet William Langland, the Big Draw art event, offering free professional tuition in drawing, and talks on the Dymock poets and artist Laura Knight.

There are also exhibitions, walks, film, drama and a poetry competition to mark National Poetry Day.

Details of all the events at the festival, which take place from mid-September to the end of October, are available from the website malvernfestival.co.uk, and tickets are available from the box office at Malvern Theatres.