On Song . . . with Robert Lloyd
THERE are two prestigious St David’s Day concerts lined up for theatres in Carmarthenshire.
Theatrau Sir Gâr (Carmarthenshire Theatres) has joined forces with Loud Applause Productions to once again produce St David’s concerts at its theatres in Llanelli and Ammanford.
Over the eight years of this partnership, they have brought together some of the very best of Welsh choirs, singers and musicians – and this year is no exception.
At Ffwrnes Theatre, on February 28, the concert features Côr Meibion Pontarddulais, one of Wales’s premier choirs, the international harpist Dylan Cernyw, Côr Ysgol Gymraeg Llangennech and two talented young singers, soprano Lauren Elizabeth Williams and tenor James Oakley, both studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and members of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS).
The compère will be the very popular journalist and broadcaster Garry Owen.
Later in the week, on March 3, at the Glowyr (Miners Theatre) in Ammanford the St David’s concert features musical performances from Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm under the baton of Catrin Hughes, Ensemble Lleisiol Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, talented young tenor Osian Clarke, who studies at the Royal Academy in London, and compère Heddyr Gregory.
Tickets for both will be in demand.
Later in the year, on April 1, at the Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen there will be another gala concert featuring Pendyrus Male Choir with guest singers from Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS).
Founded in Tylorstown, Rhondda Fach, in 1924, Pendyrus Choir have been entertaining audiences around the world to great acclaim for almost 100 years, earning the reputation of being one of Wales’s leading male voice choirs.
Boasting more than 80 members and multiple Eisteddfod wins, Pendyrus Choir are always in demand, whether it’s performing to thousands of rugby fans at the Principality Stadium or on some of Wales’s biggest stages.
The choir’s performance at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, this spring will be under the baton of guest conductor Dr Alwyn Humphreys MBE.
Alwyn Humphreys combines two busy careers as a television presenter and choral/orchestral conductor.
He is principal guest conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of Wales and conductor emeritus of the Morriston Orpheus Choir.
Finally, St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire will host a New Year concert by the acclaimed Welsh National Opera Orchestra (WNO) on Saturday, January 21, at 2.30pm.
The concert marks a welcome return by the orchestra to start the 2023 season of the Fishguard and West Wales Music Festival.
In a programme which celebrates the very best of Viennese music, the concert will feature the famous Blue Danube by Strauss II, Strauss I’s rollicking Radetzky March, Korngold’s nostalgic Straussiana Polka, and more. Under the direction of leader and concertmaster David Adams and joined by WNO associate artist, Welsh baritone Dafydd Allen, this lively and heart-warming concert will have people waltzing into the new year in style.
Gillian Green MBE, artistic director, Fishguard and West Wales International Music Festival, said: “Following previous notable visits, we are delighted to be welcoming back the WNO Orchestra to the Festival. With this orchestra we can be sure of having a world-class performance and their New Year concert will be a feast of classical music, so join us for an afternoon of toe-tapping to Strauss, Lehár and Korngold.”
In addition to a substantial operatic remit, the WNO Orchestra has a stature and reputation as a world-class ensemble in its own right. It takes part in the St David’s Hall International Concert Series and Welsh Proms in Cardiff each year and has a well-established concert touring programme to regional venues throughout Wales, including an annual Viennese New Year tour, as well a regular summer series of popular operatic concerts across all four corners of the country.
A festival bus will operate to transport concert-goers from Cardigan, Newport, Dinas, Fishguard and Goodwick.
Tickets for the concert and bus are available at: www. fishguardmusicfestival.com
Get in touch if your choir has resumed rehearsals or if you have news you would like to share about your choir or events. Email: robert. lloyd01@walesonline.co.uk