Festival promises crafts, talks and a twist on classics
THERE will be a week of cultural events in late May as the Beaumaris Festival brings a programme packed with music, poetry, talks and exhibitions.
The festival, which takes place this year from May 23-30, was first held in 1986 and promises a variety of concerts, mostly of a classical nature.
Proceedings start at 7.30pm on Tuesday, April 23, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, as organists Rosalind Henderson and Michael Davies play works by Bach, Handel, Boyce, Wesley and John Stanley.
The following day has two showcases of young musicians at the Iorwerth Rowlands Centre, while at 7.30pm at the same venue, Wendy French and Jane Kirwan give a talk about growing up in the early days of the NHS, with music by Bronwen Naish.
If you are interested in Russian literature and music, then two talks by Professor A D P Briggs will be a must.
The first of these is Music To Die For: Russian Writers And Macabre Preoccupations, discussing works by Pushkin, Turgenev and Tolstoy, with musical examples from Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.
This takes place at the Beaumaris Leisure Centre on Thursday, May 25, at 10.30-11.30am.
The following day, at the same time and venue, Professor Briggs discusses Tchaikovsky and Pushkin, Men of Russian Letters. He considers Tchaikovsky’s three Pushkin operas: Eugene Onegin, Mazeppa and Queen of Hearts, with musical illustrations sung by mezzo-soprano Erika Sassmann.
The talks cost £6 each, but on the Sunday there is a free showing of a film of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.
This takes place at 4.15pm at Theatre Corelli, Britain’s smallest opera house, at 10 Bryntirion, but there is seating for only 12.
Other acts include the Jubilee String Quartet, pianist Luka Okros, the Kosmos Ensemble (who redefine the relationship between classical and world music), the London Welsh Male Voice Choir, Jacqui Dankworth and Butterfly’s Wing Quartet, The Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Hose and pianist Clare Hammond. The Festival’s Service, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, led by the Rev Neil Fairlamb, with the Monteverdi Sing- ers, the Parish Choir, and Rosalind Henderson, features works by Rachmaninov.
There is also a convention-challenging exhibition by sculptural artist Andrew Logan at the Leisure Centre on May 24, a craft fair on the Green from May 27-30, and a Woodturners exhibition in the Town Hall on May 27-June 3.
For full details of the Festival’s programme, and to order tickets online, log on to www.beaumarisfestival.org. You can also order by phone or in person at Beaumaris Leisure Centre (phone 01248 811200), Monday-Saturday, 11am to 3.30pm. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. Liverpool Arms, Menai Bridge: Weds: Quiz 9pm. Sun: Music Quiz 9.30pm. T: 01248 712453. Mountain Rangers Club, Rhosgadfan: Sat, May 6, Charity event, Phil Gas & Band. The Valley Anglesey: Last Friday of month: 9pm, free live music. Sunday Carvery 12pm-4pm. New for 2017: Garden Bar. T: 01407 740203 Breeze Hill Hotel, Benllech: Thurs’s 9pm: Quiz night for local charities. T: 01248 852308. The Owain Glyndŵr, Llanddona: Tues, Fish chips & peas. Fri, Curry night. £5 each from 5-8pm. T: 01248 810710. Tap & Spile, Bangor: Tuesdays, free entry prize quiz 9.30pm. T: 01248 370835. French Conversation on Thurs 7pm-9pm, (intermediates and above). For more details please email E: jannieu@tiscali.co.uk The Bull Inn, Bethesda: Weds 9pm, Jam Session. T: 01248 600438. Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon: Thurs, quiz night, Fri, live music. T: 01286 672158. Anglesey Arms, Menai Bridge: Thurs: Fun quiz 9pm. T: 01248 712305. The North Wales Guitar Circle meet here at 7.45pm on the second Tues of each month. For more details please visit northwalesguitarcircle.co.uk