THE 2010 York Early Music Christmas Festival will be the most ambitious Yuletide festival ever presented by the National Centre for Early Music.

“Running from December 2 to 11, the festival offers our audiences a musical retreat from the hassle of commercial activity in the company of some of the world’s finest musicians,” says NCEM director Delma Tomlin.

“If you’ve not tried it, I can wholeheartedly recommend you do!”

She is pleased by the public response already. “In times of such economic uncertainty, we're delighted to report that ticket sales are proving to be exceptionally strong,” she says.

The pure voices of Stile Antico feature in the opening concert by candlelight, Tudor Music At Christmas, in the Chapter House of York Minster on December 2 at 7.30pm, when Thomas Tallis's seven-part mass, Puer Natus Est: A Boy Is Born, will be the centrepiece.

Ashley Solomon’s instrumental ensemble Florilegium will be joined by soprano Emma Kirkby and alto Sally Bruce Payne in a 7.30pm concert to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Pergolesi’s birth on December 3 at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York.

The Rose Consort Of Viols will present Peace On Earth: Good Will Towards Men with mezzo soprano Clare Wilkinson and the University of Huddersfield Chamber Choir on December 4 at 1pm at the NCEM.

Later that day, at 7.30pm, Peter Seymour will direct the Yorkshire Bach Choir and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists in Handel's vividly dramatic oratorio Saul at St Michael le Belfrey Church.

Ensemble Meridiana, winners of the 2009 York Early Music International Young Artists Competition, will perform seasonal works by Telemann, Corelli and Corrette in Tastes Of Europe on December 5 at 1pm at the NCEM.

Lucie Skeaping will lead The Burning Bush in A Night In The Garden Of Eden: Early And Jewish Traditional Jewish Music at the NCEM that evening at 7.30pm.

Robert Hollingworth's vocal specialists I Fagiolini will bring elan and humour to their Christmas Dinner programme of Swiss bell-ringing, Palestrina, Victoria, Byrd and Poulenc at the NCEM on December 6 at 7.30pm.

The following night, at the NCEM, The York Waits and singer Deborah Catterall will tell the story of Christmas in Nowell!! Tydnges Trew at 7.30pm.

On December 6, Eclipse will evoke the atmosphere of a gipsy encampment, complete with flamenco dancers, in their Christmas Fiesta! at 7.30pm at the NCEM, where Belinda Sykes's Joglaresa will combine Anglo and Irish Christmas songs with echoes of pagan festivities on December 10 at 7.30pm.

The European Union Baroque Orchestra, directed by Lars Ulrik Mortensen, will draw the festival to a close on December 11 at the Lyons Concert Hall in a 7.30pm programme entitled Maladies And Melodies.

The festival will present an exhibition at the NCEM specially commissioned from Alfred Hackett, artist in residence at the 2010 York Early Musical Festival this summer. This show, organised in association with Kentmere House Gallery, will be unveiled at a private view on December 2 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

For tickets, phone 01904 658338 or book online at ncem.co.uk