As the only regional festival in Australia of such international depth and duration, the program continues to include some of the best talent the world has to offer.

That’s becuase it includes a selection of the very best of the Perth Festival alongside events that are exclusive to Albany.

Organisers continue to praise the enthusiasm of regional audiences for the festival’s huge success which has resulted in sold-out seasons for the past three years.

PIAF artistic director Shelagh Magadza said the Great Southern program was a unique fusion of international performers with home-grown artists creating a unique experience.

The 2010 festival runs from February 5 with an opening night performance at Albany Town Hall by the Australian Chamber Orchestra 2.

ACO2 is the “precocious little sister” of Australia’s finest orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and will be on its first tour of Western Australia.

ACO2 connects talented young Australian musicians with the stars of the ACO, creating a combined ensemble with a fresh, energetic performance style. This stirring and nostalgic opening concert stretches from the vigorous Baroque music of Handel to luscious Elgar and includes a work written specially for the ACO: Smalley’s South American-style Footwork.

A full program of events includes the Lotterywest Film Festival, which this year features movies from Germany, Canada, New Zealand and Palestine.

Some of the program’s main features are:

The Portico Quartet, five young British guys who play a cross between jazz and modern classical, and Dancing On Your Grave, a five-piece troupe of deceased and downtrodden yet determined and resolute, singing and dancing music hall artistes on their interminable, purgatorial tour.

Just for something different is Raymond Crowe.

He is described as one of Australia’s leading contemporary magicians, presented in a half-hour cabaret show.