Eisteddfod party for Verdi's 200th birthday

Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi will get a 200^th birthday to remember at this year’s Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, according to an Anglesey opera star.

Tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones, from Llanbedrgoch, (pictured right) will join a stellar cast on stage at the Eisteddfod in July in a spectacular performance of Verdi’s Requiem.

Alongside Gwyn, fresh from performing in New York, will be Claire Rutter, from England, Bulgarian Mirouslava Yordanova and New Zealander Jonathan Lemalu.

They will be accompanied on the Llangollen stage by the Eisteddfod Orchestra which will be conducted by Andrew Greenwood for the Verdi 200.

Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, double choir and orchestra.

It was composed in memory of Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni and was first performed in Milan in May 1874.

Llangollen is familiar territory for Gwyn who says he is looking forward to returning to the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod having competed there many times in his early years.

He said: “Verdi was such a wonderful composer and his work helps showcase opera around the world. The subject matters he chose were so important and I trained as a singer so I could perform Verdi.

“There are so many wonderful pieces but Requiem has to be right up there with his best and most emotional work.

“I’m looking forward to teaming up with Claire Rutter, Mirouslava Yordanova, and Jonathan Lemalu who are all wonderful soloists in their own right.

“But being an opera singer can be a lonely existence in some ways. You can work with another performer and then perhaps not see them for five years but you remain friends.

“I’m certainly looking forward to what should be a magical night in Llangollen.

“I have just finished performing Il Trovatore in New York and Madama Butterfly with the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff.

“I’m now preparing to play Rodolfo in La Boheme in London with the English National Opera. So Llangollen will signal the start of a short summer break for me.”

Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “It’s wonderful that Gwyn is taking part in what will be a wonderful night and a really impressive performance with four great soloists, a double choir and orchestra.

“The fact that he has also competed at Llangollen several times before emphasises the enduring connections of the Eisteddfod.”

Gwyn says he is on a mission to ensure as many people as possible get a true taste of opera.

He said: “there was always a stigma about opera. People thought it wasn’t for the masses and you had to be of a certain class to appreciate it.

“People are now spending less than half of what they would spend on a ticket to a Premier League football match to attend a concert and realising they actually like what they see and hear.

“The more people that have access to opera the better. As an art form it has taken me to places I would only have dreamt about, from America to Japan and the Far East and right across Europe.”

But Gwyn, who now lives in Cardiff with his American-born wife, says the Eisteddfod stage is such a magical place to perform and he is excited about returning to Llangollen.

He said: “It really is an iconic venue whether you’re an aspiring young singer or musician or a top international star. Verdi’s 200th birthday should be celebrated and we intend to make it a birthday party to remember.”

Verdi 200 is just one of a galaxy of star-studded evening concerts at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July.

It kicks off on Tuesday, July 9, with International Children’s Day including interactive performances from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the colourful procession of the competitors to the Royal International Pavilion, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, CBE, the former Archbishop’s Special Envoy and a long-time supporter.

The evening concerts start with Tuesday night’s Carnival of Nations featuring four of Wales’s finest male voice choirs, the Rhos Orpheus, Cor Godre’r Aran, Cor y Brythoniaid and the chart topping Fron Choir, performing on the 60^th anniversary of the historic visit of Germany’s Oberkirchen Choir. They will be joined by the St Melodians Steel Band, from Trinidad and international competitors.

Wednesday night will feature An Evening with Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie who will be joined by the rising American tenor Noah Stewart and harpist Claire Jones, former official harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales, along with the Eisteddfod Orchestra and the Santo Tomas Choir from the Philippines, twice Choir of the World winners.

Thursday will be Strictly Cuban, a celebration of Latin dance rhythms with James and Ola Jordan and the Buena Vista Social Club while Friday will be VERDI 200.

Saturday is Choir of the World which this year will also feature Only Men Aloud, Last Choir Standing TV winners while for the first time dance will be teamed with choral music on Saturday night as the Eisteddfod’s top two dance troupes dance off for the new Dance Champions 2013 Trophy.

On Sunday keyboard king Jools Holland will bring the house and the curtain down with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and a special guest.

The Eisteddfod runs from Tuesday, July 9, to Sunday, July 14, at the Royal International Pavilion site and as well as star-studded concerts there are top class music and dance competitions.

Tickets for this year’s concerts are available from the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk and more information is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen

£30M boost for affordable housing welcomed

Housing Minister, Carl Sargeant has welcomed a £30m boost to funding for affordable housing in Wales.

 

The £30m, which was announced by the Finance Minister in Plenary, will be split into £20m to respond to the housing demands of families and individuals adversely affected by UK Government changes in Housing Benefit, and £10m to deliver additional affordable homes by bringing more long-term empty properties back into use.

 

The Minister said: “This funding boost is very welcome and very timely. Since the UK Government changed the welfare benefit rules, we have seen increased demand for smaller, one and two bedroom properties. We are therefore allocating an additional £20m to provide Social Housing Grants that will mitigate this need and help those individuals and families that have been adversely affected. 

 

“I’m also pleased that we have resources to expand our successful Houses into Homes pilot scheme, which is bringing empty homes back into use.

 

“The Welsh Government’s target is to bring 5,000 empty properties into use during this Assembly term and the money we have invested already will bring around 450 units of accommodation back into use.

 

“This additional £10m will bring around 500 more empty properties back into use. And, when the loans are repaid the money will be used again as new loans so that we maximise the number of empty properties that are returned to use. 

 

“As well as increasing the supply of housing in Wales, this funding will bring wider socio-economic benefits by providing employment for local builders and restoring confidence in previously run-down communities.

 

“In these difficult economic times it is essential that we make the most of capital investment, not only for better housing outcomes, but for the continued support of our construction industry and the growth of our economy.”

Warning over Carrog burglaries

A reader has sent llanblogger a copy of an e-mail from the local Neighbourhood Watch warning about burglaries in the Carrog area, which says:

"Following two burglaries that have occurred in the Carrog area of Corwen sometime between 11:30am and 5:30pm on the 07.05.2013, North Wales Police would urge residents to be vigilant with their home security.

"Please ensure windows are closed and doors are locked.  Most criminals are opportunists and will quickly take advantage of any lapse in your security."

Hospital closure row rages on

* Llangollen Hospital may now be lying empty but the row about its closure rages on. 

The following is a letter from the chair of the campaign group, Keep Llangollen Health Services, regarding developments in the saga of the closure of the town's Cottage Hospital:

Keep Llangollen Health Services has called for the Older People's Comissioner to investigate the decision to close Llangollen hospital, with the loss of 18 beds, because we have real concerns about the well-being of our elderly residents in the Dee Valley.

It was therefore with dismay we read the Health Board's response claiming to be 'saddened' by this latest development, which they claim is causing alarm and concern (Leader 3 May 2013). Let me remind them that it is they who closed the hospital and caused alarm and concern. They closed it in early March at a week’s notice.

Two months on and we are still waiting for details of the promised enhanced care at home scheme and there are no plans or even a business case in place yet for a new health centre. This will take at least three years to materialise, assuming it happens at all.

We were told Chirk Hospital would take the patients but we’ve discovered that Chirk is already 98%. So where are Llangollen patients now going?

We have already heard of patients having to be moved to Mold and Deeside to get hospital beds. Ambulances are queuing daily at the Wrexham Maelor hospital due to beds not being available – causing stress to patients and preventing paramedics from doing their work properly.

Is it really us causing “alarm and concern” or is it a failing health board that cannot run our NHS efficiently?
 

We are glad that the Older People's Commissioner is investigating this matter and are looking forward to providing evidence to her independent inquiry.
 

I understand that there has been a clamp-down on whistleblowers within the Health Board, though many are concerned about the ongoing changes. We would urge anybody wishing to share their experiences to contact us on keepllanhealthservices@gmail.com

Sincerely

Mabon ap Gwynfor
Chair, Keep Llangollen Health Services

Alexei Sayle in 2013 Fringe line-up

Legendary Scouse comedian Alexei Sayle heads the list of top entertainers who will be appearing at this year’s Llangollen Fringe Festival.

The 11-night event, which runs from July 18-28, also features former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion and Ian Dury’s backing band The Blockheads. 

Alexei Sayle (pictured left) is a stand-up comedian, actor and author.  

He was a central part of the alternative comedy circuit in the early 1980s.  

He was voted the 18th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-ups in 2007.  

Sir Andrew Motion is a poet, novelist, and biographer, who was Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2009.

During the period of his laureateship, Motion (pictured right) founded the Poetry Archive, an online resource of poems and audio recordings of poets reading their own work. In 2012, Sir Andrew became President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, taking over from Bill Bryson.

The Blockheads are a rock and roll band who were originally fronted by vocalist Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads. 

The band (pictured below) has continued to perform since Dury's death in 2000.r 

 

A complete event ticket is priced at £50. Individual event advance tickets are also available, the prices vary from £7 to £16.50. 

 

 

+ For more details, email: contact@llangollenfringe.co.uk, or call 0800 1455 779.0

National eisteddod "could be held outside Wales"

A group examining the future of the National Eisteddfod has been urged to consider taking the iconic festival to a location outside of Wales.

 

A National Eisteddfod Task and Finish group chaired by Roy Noble was established last autumn by the Welsh Government to make recommendations on the modernisation of the festival and is taking public evidence until May 10.

As part of its work the group has asked for suggestions from the public, organisations and stakeholders with an interest in the future of the event.

In a joint statement, Clwyd South AM and MP, Ken Skates (pictured right) and Susan Elan Jones, said the festival, which has been held outside of Wales on seven occasions, but not since 1929, was a strong cultural tool with which to brand Wales and its language to the wider world. 

 

The group is due to report its findings in September, following this year’s Eisteddfod.

 

Mr Skates said: "The National Eisteddfod is as popular and important in 2013 as it ever has been. We were lucky enough to have the festival in Wrexham in 2011 and it helped bring in a much needed cash boost of over £1m for local businesses. This year’s festival in Denbigh is shaping up to be a similar success.

“What we should do now is use its strength and pulling power, even if it is just once every ten years, to take the Eisteddfod outside Wales to help more people understand Wales, its language and its culture.

 

“The Eisteddfod could be taken to Liverpool or to London.  They both have very strong cultural connections with Wales and a significant expat community with a thirst for Welsh culture.  

 

“Such a move would be in keeping with the recent modernisation of the National Eisteddfod with the addition of Maes B and decision to allow alcohol to be served on the festival site. 

 

“Given the challenges thrown up by the 2011 census which showed a fall in the number of places where over half the population could speak Welsh, we have to innovate to keep the National Eisteddfod the strong cultural brand that it is.”

 

Susan Elan Jones said: "So long as there are no changes to the Welsh rule and there is a serious bid from an expatriate Welsh community, I certainly think this idea should be considered.

 

“I know people will have different views on this subject, but I think there are real advantages in terms of supporting families who are committed to keeping the Welsh language and culture alive outside of Wales. 

 

“There are far too many examples of the Welsh language being lost in families because they live outside of Wales for a time.  This initiative could be a real boost to them.

 

“It would also be an excellent way of showcasing Wales and promoting Welsh as a living, and ultimately I hope, growing, community language."

 

The Eisteddfod has been held in Liverpool three times before in 1884, 1900, and 1929.  It has also been held in Birkenhead (1879) and London (1884 and 1909)

 

The 12 members of the task-and-finish group are due to report to Welsh Ministers in September.  The festival receives around £500,000 of funding from the Welsh Government.

Police use lorry to target dangerous drivers

Not being in proper control of a vehicle and failing to wear a seatbelt were some of the offences detected during an operation by officers using an undercover lorry yesterday (Tuesday 7^th May).

 

Officers from North Wales Police’ Commercial Vehicle Unit, which includes staff from VOSA and Roads Policing Officers, worked in partnership to target HGV drivers who flout the law.

 

The operation, which was the first of its kind in North Wales, was carried out to coincide with UN Road Safety Week (6^th – 12^th May 2013) which highlights some of the work being done as part of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020.

 

Sergeant Tony Gatley who was in charge of the initiative said: “During the operation 24 offences were detected and all were dealt with by fixed penalty notices.

 

“Some of the most worrying were those who were not in proper control of their vehicle. One driver was found to be reading a map, which was being balanced on the steering wheel and another was a driver playing with his mobile phone and taking photographs. Any vehicle not being driven safely can be a lethal weapon and drivers need to be responsible for their actions when they get behind the wheel.

 

“HGV’s are large and powerful vehicles and the consequences to other motorists, as well as themselves can be devastating. For instance, when a heavy vehicle hits a stationary car on the hard shoulder or in a tailback the consequences can be fatal.

 

He added: “It has been a real eye opener to see the results of the operation because police in cars or on motorbikes cannot see in the cabs of lorries and we intend on carrying out similar operations in the future.”