World class line up for a musical reflection
The North Wales International Music Festival, founded in 1972 by Welsh composer William Mathias, is a festival of classical music held annually in September at St Asaph Cathedral. The theme for this year’s festival, taking place from September 15 – 30, is ‘Reflections’.
Artists include Côr Glanaethwy; vocal group VOCES8 with a programme of remembrance to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice - ‘Hymn to the Fallen’; pianist Freddy Kempf, ‘Requiem Reflections’ with Welsh National Opera, the Festival Community Chorus and our orchestra in residence NEW Sinfonia; guitarist Craig Ogden & jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth performing ‘Reflections of Love’; soprano Elin Manahan Thomas & pianist Jocelyn Freemen; Family Affair featuring Brian Hughes; cellist Raphael Wallfisch; Trelawnyd & Bro Glyndŵr Male Voice Choirs; A5 Brass Quintet; Côr Cytgan Clwyd and actor Jonathan Pryce.
The festival also features a lecture entitled ‘Lloyd George and Wales’, piano, vocal and instrumental workshops, children’s and tots concerts, musical steps sessions for babies to 7 year olds, and our annual community tour.
To find out more about the North Wales International Music Festival visit http://www.nwimf.com/. Tickets are available online, from Theatr Clwyd, Mold – 01352 701521 or Cathedral Frames, St Asaph - 01745 582929.
DIARY OF EVENTS
Saturday 15 September: 19.30 Côr Glanaethwy, NEW Sinfonia players & Telynau Clwyd
Programme includes the World Premiere of a New Commission by Paul Mealor along with pieces by Olivier Messiaen, Gustav Mahler, Karl Jenkins, Brian Hughes, Caryl Parry Jones and Leonard Cohen.
Thursday 20 September: 19.30 VOCES8
Hymn to the Fallen
A programme of remembrance to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
Programme includes works by Parry, Gabrieli, Dove, Elgar, Pearsall and Simon & Garfunkel
Friday 21 September: 19.30 Freddy Kempf
Programme includes Chopin: Piano Sonata no 2 in B flat Minor; Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Rachmaninov: Etudes Tableaux
Saturday 22 September: 19.30 Festival Community Chorus, in partnership with Welsh National Opera, Welsh National Opera soloists and NEW Sinfonia
Requiem Reflections
Rebecca Dale: Materna Requiem (World Premiere)
Mozart & Duruflé: Requiem (excerpts) Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel John Cage: 4'33’
Soprano: Katy Thomson
Mezzo: Rebecca Afonwy-Jones
Bass: Julian Close
Thursday 27 September: 19.30 Craig Ogden and Jacqui Dankworth
Reflections of Love
A collaboration between two artists from different musical worlds. Their programme includes a diverse mixture of intimate songs by everyone from Paul Simon and James Taylor to Henry Mancini and Michel Legrand.
Friday 28 September: 19.30 Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano) & Jocelyn Freeman (piano); Family Affair – Brian Hughes (piano), Daniel Brian Hughes (clarinet) & Miriam Hughes (flute)
Reflections
Programme features works by Dilys Elwyn Edwards, Morfydd Llwyn Owen, Brian Hughes, Purcell and Handel.
Saturday 29 September: 19.30 NEW Sinfonia and Raphael Wallfisch
Elgar: Cello Concerto
Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
Williams: Penillion
Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
'Smile, Smile, Smile' arr J Guy featuring project students
Sunday 30 September: 19.30 Jonathan Pryce CBE, Trelawnyd & Bro Glyndŵr Male Voice Choirs, Côr Cytgan Clwyd, A5 Brass Quintet (NEW Sinfonia).
A reflection on the centenary of the end of the Great War
Programme includes wartime songs and poetry, Barber, Kamen and a selection of music from Karl Jenkins.