Top row from left: Angela Hewitt; Steven Isserlis, Ilona Domnich; Marcn Masecki; Sean Shibe and Monteverdi

Hampstead Arts Festival is one of those annual music fixtures you could fairly call boutique, with concerts that are intimate but serious, select and classy. It brings big names from the international circuit into NW London. But it also takes advantage of the stars who live around these parts and like the idea of performing at a venue within walking distance of their own homes – something they don’t often get the chance to do.

Among them this year is the celebrated pianist Angela Hewitt (appear­ing November 13), who lives in Belsize Park when she isn’t in her native Canada. And another is the cellist Steven Isserlis (November 21), who hangs out in St John’s Wood.

Other major artists in the 2019 programme include the fabulous Russian soprano Ilona Domnich singing Rachmaninov songs as only she can (November 12); the dazzling young guitarist Sean Shibe (November 16); and the ultra-chic jazz pianist Marcin Masecki in improvisational mode (November 18).

There’s also a substantial contribution from the professional singers who make up the choir of Hampstead Parish Church, with Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius (November 2), a Monteverdi Vesper (November 10), and a live-accompanied show­ing of the classic 1920s film The Passion of Joan of Arc (November 6).

All of which I’ll explore in more depth on this page in the coming weeks. For the time being, note the HAF dates, which are November 2-21, and the fact that the venues are more spread out than in past years because there are building issues at the usual hub, St John’s Downshire Hill, that make it unavailable.

All details on the website: www.hampsteadartsfestival.com