THE 2017 Swansea International Festival heralds in the autumn with a wealth of such exciting and diverse national and international talent that it will be impossible not to tempt you out and about for the next two weeks!
For the opening concert at the Brangwyn Hall, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Tecwyn Evans, will play a programme of Copland and Dvorak, with Karl Jenkins’ harp concerto, Over the Stone, being performed by brilliant Welsh harpist Catrin Finch.
BBC NOW are also making a return to the Festival with their successful Family Concert, conducted by Clark Rundell and compered by Naomi Wilkinson – a regular face on CBBC and CITV.
With music from films such as The Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Simpsons this has proved to be a popular event for families when introducing their youngsters to the fun of live music – as well as giving them the opportunity to try out some instruments for themselves before the concert!
If you like your music a little more avant-garde then take in The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments with their adventure in words and music based on the writings of Francis Bacon. Performing on extraordinary lost instruments from history they conjure a special world of music, physics, theatre and philosophy Or go along and hear percussionist extraordinaire Joby Burgess and his adrenalin-fuelled Powerplant concert where he uses an aluminium harp, typewriter, giant steel sheet, electronics and video with such musical athleticism that it will astound you!
Take in a whole day of activity on October 8 when you can hear a recital from talented young pianist Tim Horton, enjoy lunch with the Festival Friends, then a talk by broadcaster Stephen Johnson and a piano recital by Wales’ own international talent Llŷr Williams.
Next week is just as busy with organist Jonathan Hope giving his own live improvisation to the 1925 Lon Chaney classic silent film, Phantom of the Opera; Thomas Carroll’s Orpheus Sinfonia, performing in Swansea for the first time; two very much home-grown plays – Granton Street and Not About Heroes; the Russian State Opera with two of Puccini’s most powerful operas – Madam Butterfly and Tosca; Ballet Cymru’s delightful new ballet The Light Princess and James Wilton Dance’s athletic contemporary ballet Leviathan.
There is a unique opportunity to hear Lord Heseltine in conversation with Jamie Owen, A Primary Schools Festival and Free Lunchtime Lectures and a Morriston Hospital Music Festival – and much, much more.
Two concerts round off the Festival for 2017 – The Dunvant Male Choir and Morriston RFC Male Choir, with soloist Gwawr Edwards, sing some of your most well-loved songs in their concert on 13 October and on 14 October the St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Dmitriev, with solo cellist Tim Hugh, will bring the Festival to a rousing finale.
See Festival website for full details on: www.swanseafestival.org
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