Programme announced for this year's Eisteddfod

    

* Patchwork panels of ‘Bridges, Not Walls’ on Llangollen Bridge.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is returning this year with a diverse new cultural programme specially commissioned to celebrate the message of international peace and friendship on which it was founded over 70 years ago.

Due to the Covid pandemic, the Eisteddfod will be largely held online, with the main programme presented free of charge over the weekend of the July 9-11.

Organisers say that, with funding support from Welsh Government, this year’s festival will celebrate the broadest possible range of genres from classical, choral, hip hop, dance and world music, as well as Luke Jerram’s Llangollen bridge artwork, to connect with existing and new audiences in preparation for its physical return in 2022.

The 2021 programme comprises:

·       Bridges, Not Walls, Luke Jerram

A brand-new art installation by the world-renowned artistLuke Jerram, who is covering the grade 1 listed Llangollen bridge with a patchwork of fabrics representing Wales and countries that usually attend the Eisteddfod.Known for public art installations around the world including Museum of the Moon,Play Me, I'm Yours street pianos and Glass Microbiology sculptures depicting the coronavirus and its vaccine, this is his first commission in Wales. The artwork will remain in place until 5 August. 

·       Tangnefedd by Paul Mealorand Mererid Hopwood

World-premiere of a new choral piece by Paul Mealor, one of the world’s most performed living composers and Mererid Hopwood, renowned Welsh poet and the first woman to win the National Eisteddfod Chair. The performance will feature choirs from around the world that have successfully competed at the Eisteddfod, from the UK, US and Africa. In the Welsh language, Tangnefeddmeans the result of bringing together two elements in peace and harmony. 

·       Curiad Calon/Heartbeat with Horizons (BBC/ACW), Rachel K Collier, Magugu and Lily Beau

A new dance track commissioned for Llangollen Eisteddfod by up-and-coming electronic producer and performer Rachel K Collier, Nigerian-born, avant-garde rapper Magugu and talented young Welsh singer-songwriter and actress Lily Beau. The track is designed to inspire the Eisteddfod international music and dance community and wider public to respond with their own moves on social media. It’s also a world first of combining the English, Welsh and Nigerian Pidgin Rap languages! 

·       Catrin Finch and Guests

A new musical composition exploring the peace message with internationally renowned harpist and composer Catrin Finch, pioneering beatboxer andrapperMr Phormula (Ed Holden), British Asian musician and tabla player KuljitBhamra, Eliza Marshall and Nick Ellis on Bansuri, Lee House, electronics and RAV drum and the refugee and asylum seeker Oasis One World Choir, from Cardiff. 

·       Beth YwHeddwch?/What is Peace? schools project

Project exploring children’s thoughts about peace through the written word, dance, movement and drama sessions involving 1,000 pupils from three schools from Rhyl, Llanberis and Llangollen. A creative video will be produced and an exhibition of postcards expressing children’s views about peace will be displayed throughout the town. 

·       Peace Pavilion Programme

A thought-provoking programme of talks and activities with AcademiHeddwch Cymru exploring peace and peacebuilding. The programme includes ‘The Peace Lecture’ given by BegoñaLasagabaster,UN Women Chief of Leadership and Governance Section; ‘The Art of Peacebuilding’; ‘Peace Poems’ and much more. For young people, this series includes virtual cultural exchange and the Young Peacemakers Awards ceremony. [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/academi-heddwch-cymru-33667861775] 

This year’s digital Llangollen Eisteddfod will feature videos of the world premiere performances, many filmed in the town itself. 

On Saturday night, there will be a performance of Tangnefeddby a mass choir, some appearing digitally from across the world and others on stage in the pavilion where the Eisteddfod is usually staged, just outside the town. People living locally, in Wales and around the world are invited to explore the programme, free of charge, at https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/.

Betsan Moses, interim chief executive of the Eisteddfod for 2021, says she is leading the creation of a fresh, diverse, world-class cultural programme to connect with both new and existing audiences, after last year’s event was postponed due to the pandemic.

She says: “The Llangollen Eisteddfod was founded on the idea of bringing peace and this year’s cultural programme expresses what it stands for - peace, creativity and togetherness. 

"We’re looking forward to sharing a varied and inspiring programme of events online this year, with an array of world-class performers across musical and artistic genres and exciting new commissions to delight both existing and new audiences across the globe.

“The beautiful town of Llangollen, which normally sees up to 35,000 visitors during the Eisteddfod, will also play host to the visitors that come to see the transformation of Llangollen Bridge into a giant artwork by Luke Jerram, clothed in a patchwork of fabrics from around the world.”

* For more information, visit https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/