THE BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES performed at Sir Thomas Picton School on December 21 as part of its Christmas Celebrations concert season. Grant Llewellyn conducted the orchestra, which performed alongside members of the Pembrokeshire Youth Choir. The programme included a wide variety of festive favorites, both classical and modern including Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas by John Williams from the Home Alone film, Troika by Sergey Prokofiev, Christmas Lullaby by John Rutter, Waltz (The Sleeping Beauty) by Tchaikovsky.
Also performed was the theme of The Polar Express film by Alan Silvestri, When Christmas Comes To Town.
The concert was rounded off with a Christmas sing-a-long where the audience was encouraged to participate.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales occupies a special role as both a national and broadcasting orchestra, acclaimed not only for the quality of its performances but also for its importance within its own community. The work of BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales is supported by the Arts Council of Wales.
Thomas Søndergård is the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, and is greatly admired for his interpretation of Scandinavian repertoire, as well as his opera performances. He joins the formidable conducting team of Principal Guest Conductor Jac van Steen, Associate Guest Conductor François-Xavier Roth and Conductor Laureate Tadaaki Otaka; with whom the Orchestra has won considerable critical and audience acclaim over recent years.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales is Orchestra-in-Residence at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, and also presents a concert series at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. As well as international touring, including most recently a tour to China in July 2012, the Orchestra performs every year at the BBC Proms and biennially at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
The Orchestra is based at its state-of-the-art recording and rehearsal base, BBC Hoddinott Hall at Wales Millennium Centre.
Add Comment