* Sir Bryn Terfel.
Opera star Sir Bryn
Terfel and First Minister Mark Drakeford are leading a chorus of congratulation
for an iconic festival that’s celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Also among those
who’ve sent their best wishes to Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is
the popular singer and TV presenter, Aled Jones, who will be performing at this
year’s event.
After a Covid-enforced
absence, competitors are returning to Llangollen just in time to mark the
momentous milestone.
The festival was
established in 1947 under the dark shadow cast by the Second World War as a way
of promoting peace through musical harmony and dance.
Since then hundreds of
thousands of competitors from all over the world have beaten a path to the
picturesque Dee Valley town where Wales meets the world.
The pandemic put a
temporary halt to the festival as a physical event and it took on a virtual
format last year, with performances streamed online.
But preparations are well under way for this year’s
comeback Eisteddfod, which starts on Thursday, July 7 and culminates with
Llanfest on Sunday, July 10, when the eisteddfod will join forces with the
Llangollen Fringe Festival.
Over the years the
festival has helped launch the careers of global stars like Luciano Pavarotti.
After competing on the
famous pavilion stage as an up and coming young base baritone from Pantglas in
Gwynedd, Sir Bryn went on to forge a stellar career as one of the world’s
greatest opera singers.
In a specially
recorded video message, Sir Bryn said: “I send my heartfelt congratulations to
the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as it celebrates its 75th
anniversary.
“I have
great memories of Llangollen as a young emerging artiste competing there
and the returning to perform in the evening concerts – always truly inspired in
the thoughts one was following in the footsteps of truly great artistes.
“I myself
returned to the pavilion for performances of Tosca by Puccini and Sweeney Todd
by Stephen Sondheim.
“A truly
unique event that is lauded as an international treasure – the people, the
stage, the audiences, even all those beautiful flowers at the front of the
stage making such a truly memorable and unique experience.
“Llongyfarchiadau
enfawr i chi i gyd yn Llangollen a chariwch ymlaen (Congratulations to you all
in Llangollen and carry on).
First
Minister Mark Drakeford is also a big fan of the event and what it stands for.
In his video, he said: “The Llangollen
International Eisteddfod is truly an icon of the Welsh cultural landscape, and
it’s particularly exciting to be able to welcome in person attendees back to
the event and back to Wales this year.
“So many of us have memories of attending the
international eisteddfod in its beautiful North Wales location at different
points in our own lives.
“Even those who have yet to visit will be aware of
the wealth of inspiring images that emerge from the event each summer as
Llangollen plays host to cultural guests from right around the globe.
“Many of these overseas performers are visiting
Wales for the first time and we know how struck they are by the warmth of the
welcome with which they are received.
“As relevant today as when it was first established
in the aftermath of the Second World War, the overriding message of the
International Eisteddfod is of international harmony and cooperation and it
gives us that annual opportunity to reflect upon these vital priorities.
“And more than anything Llangollen gives us a
practical demonstration of how effectively a shared cultural experience can
contribute to these goals of international cooperation. Long may that continue.
“Finally let me add my personal thanks and note of
appreciation for all those achievements of the last 75 years.
“I wish everyone involved the very best of luck for
this year’s event and for Llangollen’s very special anniversary
celebration.”
Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates is a
long-standing supporter of the Eisteddfod.
He said: “This is the first time since 2019 that
the event is going to be taking place physically because of the pandemic and my
goodness me the International Eisteddfod is just as relevant today as it ever
was.
“Today with what’s happening around the globe but particularly in Ukraine it makes the International Eisteddfod just so important and just as relevant as back in 1947.
“So the Eisteddfod has been assisted over
the years by many individuals and many organisations including the Welsh
Government who have supported it financially through some difficult and
challenging times.
“And the Llangollen Eisteddfod located in the
magnificent Dee Valley in the beautiful town of Llangollen is always welcoming
to people from around the world and I know this year will be as welcoming as
ever, diolch.”
During the four-day event, there will be a host of
new attractions and activities on the revamped outdoor site, including music,
dance, talks, comedy, food, drink, shopping, workshops and pop-up
entertainment.
In the evenings there will be concerts featuring the singing duo of
Aled Jones and Russell Watson and Anoushka Shankar, the British-Indian-American
sitar player, producer, film composer and activist who is a half-sister to
singer Norah Jones.
In his video message, Aled said: “Just want
to say a huge congratulations to Llangollen on their 75th
anniversary. I am so proud to part of the amazing event this year.
Llongyfarchiadau (Congratulations”.
The competitions climax on Saturday
night with Choir of the World and the contest for the Pendine International
Voice of the Future featuring the finest young singers from around the world on
the stage where Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, Elaine Paige, Michael Ball,
Sir Bryn Terfel and Luciano Pavarotti have performed.
This year’s Eisteddfod is a
shortened version of previous years but will still pack plenty in with a full
programme of competitions in the Pavilion and starting on Thursday with Schools
Day and the Young Peacemaker Awards.
Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let
its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert featuring indie
rock stars
Amber Run, blues powerhouse Elles Bailey and Bajan-Welsh singer songwriter
Kizzy Crawford
* For
more on Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and its competitions and
concerts as well as how to get to it and where to stay go to http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/ or check out https://www.facebook.com/llangollen
No comments:
Post a Comment