Classical music lovers will be in for another treat as the Conwy Classical Music Festival returns once again to the town.
Details of the annual celebration have just been released by the organisers and it will run for a week from Saturday July 18th to Saturday July 25th. The festival, centred round St Mary Church, Conwy has grown into an eagerly awaited annual event.
The event is one of the most important regional dates in the classical music calendar and attracts many local and visitors from the North West of England.
The festival is dedicated to providing opportunities for the local community to enjoy quality music in beautiful surroundings. It is one of the largest music events in Wales to be funded solely by audience donations and sponsorship.
A unique feature is that there are no set admission charges - ensuring that the festival is totally accessible and inclusive.
DRAFT PROGRAMME
There is still the possibility that the programme may change to some degree. All concerts/events at St. Mary’s Church, Conwy, unless otherwise stated.
SATURDAY, JULY 18TH
7.30 pm​ CONWY TOWN ORCHESTRA
​​Nicki Pearce (cello)
Our local amateur community orchestra takes the stage with a programme to include orchestral suites by Sibelius and Elgar, and Bruch’s Kol Nidrei.
SUNDAY, JULY 19th
4 pm ​FESTIVAL EVENSONG
​John Hosking (conductor)
Graham Eccles (organ)
7.30 pm ​ALMEH LUZ
​​Carla Maffioletti (soprano/guitar)
​​Jutta Maria Böhner (guitar)
For over ten years Carla Mafioletti was principal soprano soloist with André Rieu’s world renowned orchestra. Now she has teamed up with fellow classical singer Jutta Maria Böhner, under the name Almeh Luz, to perform a variety of Lied, opera and art songs to the intimate accompaniment of the guitar. Their repertoire ranges from Brazilian classical melodies to Piazolla, Poulenc and Purcell.
MONDAY, JULY 20th
10.30 am ​Nicki Pearce (cello)
Gudula Hufschmidt (flute)
​Christina Mason-Scheuermann (piano)
​The programme will include a performance of Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, D.821.
1 pm ​Anna Jeffers (soprano)
​Richard Davies (tenor)
​​Rhys Thomas (bass baritone)
​​Catherine Barnett (piano)
8.00 pm THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
​Sarah Brandwood Spencer (leader)
​​Ben Powell (piano)
​​Elgan Llyr Thomas (tenor)
This wholly professional orchestra of players from the North West’s premier ensembles bring us a programme including Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, horn and strings, and Mozart’s Symphony No.41 – The Jupiter.
TUESDAY, JULY 21st
10.30 am ​FAMILY CONCERT with percussionist Dewi Ellis Jones ​​in the Church Hall.
1 pm​​ Tim Lowe (cello)
​​Elizabeth Rossiter (piano)​​
7.30 pm ​A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
​​Meinir Wyn (soprano)
​​Erin Gwyn Rossington (mezzo soprano)
​​Tenor – tbc
​​John Ieuan Jones (bass)
​​Catherine Barnett (piano)​
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND
1 pm​​ THE FITZSIMMON ENSEMBLE
​​Elgan Llyr Thomas (tenor)
​​Ben Powell (piano)
​​The programme will include Vaughan Williams’ song cycle ‘On Wenlock Edge’.
3 pm ​​THE FESTIVAL LECTURE (in the Church Hall)
Dr Rhian Davies
Director of the Gregynog Festival
‘Communicating loveliness to others’ – the musical patronage of Gwendoline and Margaret Davies of Gregynog.
7.30 pm​ CHELYS CONSORT OF VIOLS
​​Alison Kinder (Director)
​​Gwendolen Martin (soprano)
​​Guy Cutting (tenor)
Renaissance and traditional folk music celebrating the turn of the seasons for consort, and for voices and consort.
THURSDAY, JULY 23RD
1 pm ​​PROJECT 6
​​Harri Graham (tenor)
​​Sam Knock (tenor)
​​Thomas Ashdown (baritone)
​​Emyr Jones (baritone)
​​Samuel Snowden (bass baritone)
​​Wilcox Leung (bass)
Formed in spring 2018, Project 6 aims to promote the beauty of male-voice ensemble singing. The group, with all members currently studying at the RNCM, enjoys performing music ranging from Medieval to contemporary arrangement of folksongs, R & B & Jazz. They are soon to appear at St. Martin in the Fields in London.
3.00 pm ​VOCAL MASTERCLASS with Brian Hughes (formerly Head of Voice at the RSCM, Manchester)
​​Sian Wyn Gibson (presenter)
​​Sara Davies (soprano)
​​Erin Gwyn Rossington (mezzo soprano)
​​Ryan Vaughan Davies (tenor)
​​John Ieuan Jones (bass)​​
7.30 pm​ THE MANCHESTER ENSEMBLE
​​Raymond Lester (viola)
​​Ben Powell (piano)
​​And friends……
​​Programme to include works by Fauré and Mendelssohn.
FRIDAY, JULY 24TH
1 pm​​ Christina Mason-Scheuermann (piano)
​​Rosie Skelton (violin)
​​Nicki Pearce (cello)
​​Gudula Hufschmidt (flute)
​​The programme will include works by Mendelssohn, Chaminade and Chopin.
3.00 pm ​CONCERT by the winner of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition at this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod with Catherine Barnett (piano)
7.30 pm​ THE MARIAN CONSORT
​​Rory McCleery (Director and countertenor)
​​‘Clemens non Papa, Man of Bruges’
Although one of the most widely published and prolific composers of the 16th century, little is known of the life of Clemens non Papa, but his name lives on in his music.
SATURDAY, JULY 25TH
10 am​​ CHORAL WORKSHOP with the Marian Consort (in the Church Hall)
​​‘Spem in Alium’
​​We are hoping to have enough singers to prepare and perform Tallis’ great 40 part motet
‘Spem in Alium’ as a celebration of 40 years of concerts at St. Mary’s Church. Other smaller works will be studied too.
1 pm​​ THE ENSEMBLE OF THE NORTH WALES CAMERATA
​​Olivia Jago (violin)
​​Carolyn Burton (violin)
​​Patrick Rimes (viola)
​​Elin Taylor (cello)
​​Iwan Wyn Owen (piano)
​​The programme will include Debussy’s Piano Trio and Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2.
3.30 pm​ WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE of Spem in Alium plus other short pieces by Tallis
7.30 pm​ COR MEIBION Y BRYTHONIAID
​​John Eifion (Director and tenor soloist)
​​Sian Wyn Gibson (mezzo soprano)
​​Dylan Cernyw (harp)
Annette Bryn Parri (piano)
For more details visit http://www.conwyclassicalmusic.co.uk