Set against a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty that inspired the composer Mendelssohn himself, Mendelssohn on Mull is a week of chamber music concerts in venues throughout Mull, Iona and the mainland in Oban. All concerts are free of charge, take place in a range of venues from castles to village halls and all with a very relaxed atmosphere. The spirit of the festival is for some of the finest young musicians early in their careers to benefit from playing with more experienced professionals, who this year includes a special guest of pianist and BBC presenter Iain Burnside. Artistic Director Levon Chilingirian takes the theme of Schumann to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth and has programmed his three string quartets alongside chamber works by Mozart, Schubert and Brahms. The eponymous Festival of course features Mendelssohn and his 8th String Symphony will be performed throughout the week.