News
International Gala Concert: Friday 2nd March
, William Aston Hall, Wrexham
Faryl Smith (Soprano)
Finalist in 'Britain's Got Talent', her debut album was the fastest selling classical debut album in chart history.
Adriano Graziani (Operatic Tenor)
A protégé of Dennis O'Neil CBE, his voice has size, power and an utterly distinct dramatic sound.
Orlyk - Ukranian Dance Ensemble
Côr Rhuthun
Côr Ysgol Morgan Llwyd
Stage Presenter: BBC Newsreader Sian Lloyd
Friday 2nd March, 7.30pm
William Aston Hall, Wrexham
Tickets £15
International Eisteddfod Office: 01978 862 001
Wrexham Tourist Information Centre
Ysgol Morgan Llwyd
West End Star Is Latest Addition To 2012 Llangollen Line-Up
Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera star John Owen-Jones is the latest big name star to join the 2012 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod concert series line-up.
Owen-Jones, who is originally from Burry Port, will feature in the Grand finale musical extravaganza on Sunday 8 July. The award-winning and record-breaking West End and Broadway performer joins classical singer and Go Compare advert star Wynne Evans, Evans’ brother Mark Llywelyn Evans, soprano Fflur Wyn and Côr CF1 on the iconic Llangollen Pavilion stage.
The announcement comes as concert and field tickets are officially released on general sale via the Box Office (01978 862001) and on the Eisteddfod website.
John Owen-Jones says, "I'm really looking forward to performing at the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s Grand Finale, so much so that I'll be flying in from Dublin especially to sing there. Everyone taking part are going to make sure the audience that night go home feeling the Eisteddfod kept the best show for last!"
Owen-Jones is currently reprising his role as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera having previously a successful stint between 2001 and 2005, and becoming the longest running Phantom.
Other names confirmed to appear at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2012, between Tuesday 3 July and Sunday 8 July, include Alfie Boe, Karl Jenkins, Lesley Garrett, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and instrumentalists Alison Balsom and Nicola Benedetti.
Boe, Evans And Garrett Headline 2012 Llangollen Line-Up
A musical theatre superstar, a classical singer also known for his star role in a TV advert, a world-famous music conductor and an opera sensation are among the artists set to perform at the 2012 Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
The 2012 line-up features music favourites Alfie Boe, Wynne Evans, Karl Jenkins and Lesley Garrett among its highlights. Instrumentalists Alison Balsom and Nicola Benedetti, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, soprano Fflur Wyn, opera star Mark Llywelyn Evans and Côr CF1 have also been confirmed to perform at the Eisteddfod.
The announcement came at a press conference at Llangollen Pavilion on Wednesday 16 November by new Music Director Eilir Owen Griffiths. Tickets for the concerts will be released on general sale from Monday 5 December at the Box Office and online.
Wynne Evans was also at the launch and gave the press a sneak preview of what’s to come at the 2012 Grand Finale concert with a specially written song about Llangollen to the tune of the Go Compare adverts.
The tenor from Carmarthen says, “The Llangollen International Eisteddfod has such a rich tradition and is well supported by locals and visitors from four corners of the world. It’s an honour to be invited to perform on such an iconic stage for the first time in front of an international audience. I am ashamed to say I only visited the Eisteddfod for the first time last year and I was amazed by the broad spectrum of musical styles and cultures there. I can honestly say there is something for everyone. As soon as I felt the atmosphere in the pavilion it became my ambition to sing there and now I am delighted to be headlining the final night concert. The line-up for 2012 looks fantastic and I’m sure the demand for tickets will be as high as ever.”
Music Director Eilir adds, “2012 is an exciting year for Llangollen International Eisteddfod. We’ve managed to attract an exciting mix of accomplished artists and instrumentalists to complete an attractive Concert Series. This year also sees the launch of ‘The LIME Festival Chorus’ and ‘The LIME Orchestra’ as well as the brand new ‘All Singing, All Dancing Showchoirs’ competition, which I’m personally looking forward to.
“Annual favourites including the fantastic International Competitors, Children’s Day, Folk Friday and the inaugural and internationally renowned Choir of the World finale all return. We certainly have got something for everyone. And personally, I’m looking forward to the challenges that my first year in the role will bring.”
The 2012 Llangollen International Eisteddfod kicks off on Tuesday 3 July with the annual Parade of Nations through Llangollen town centre. Later that evening, competitors from across the globe will perform at the One World, One Stage, One Llangollen Welcome concert (7.30pm).
Classical Brit award winner and trumpeter Alison Balsom, soprano Lesley Garrett and violinist Nicola Benedetti will perform with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert on Wednesday 4 July (8.00pm).
Lesley Garrett explains, “Llangollen Eisteddfod is an amazing festival that brings many genres of music together. This is a cultural festival with great longevity and a fabulous history. Some of the world’s best singers have headlined here over the past 65 years. I’m also looking forward to performing at Llangollen again and sharing the stage with the fantastic Alison Balsom and Nicola Benedetti. They are wonderful instrumentalists and performers.”
Broadway and West End star Alfie Boe – best known for his role as Jean Valijean in Les Misèrables – makes his second appearance at Llangollen on 5 July to launch the All Singing, All Dancing Showchoirs competition (7.30pm).
Alfie Boe says, “Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has played host to a great number of international singers and performers in the past and I’m thrilled to be able to follow in their footsteps once again. It’s also exciting for me to launch the 2012 Show Choir competition and as Wales is traditionally known as ‘Land of the Song’ I’m sure the standard will be high.”
The winner of the Cardiff Singer of the World 2011, Valentina Nafornita, is the special guest singer during Karl Jenkins’ The Peacemakers on Friday 6 July (8.00pm). Swansea-born Jenkins returns to the Eisteddfod having led concerts in 2010. He was also Day President at the 2009 Eisteddfod.
On Saturday 7 July, the week’s competitions come to a head in the spectacular Choir of the World finale (8.00pm).
Brothers Wynne and Mark Evans lead an exciting musical extravaganza on 8 July as they perform at the Grand Finale (7.30pm). The classical singers will be joined by opera singer Fflur Wyn, Côr CF1 and many more in closing the 2012 festival.
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Llangollen Eisteddfod Appoints New Music Director
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are pleased to announce that they have appointed Eilir Owen Griffiths, the highly successful conductor and composer, as their new Music Director to follow Mervyn Cousins who has left to take a senior post with the Associated Board of Royal Colleges of Music.
Mr Griffiths, 30, a native of Denbigh and whose parents still live in Colwyn Bay, is a Tutor/Cultural Organiser at The University of Wales Trinity St David in Carmarthen, where, in addition to lecturing he is also a director for Musical Theatre productions and a singing teacher, as well as being Artistic Director of the Trinity Arts Festival.
He is best known throughout Wales as the Musical Director of the very well-known choirs CF1 and Côr Godre’r Garth with whom he has attained considerable success in competitions and concerts. He conducts the college choir, and is also a highly-regarded composer, his most recent work being a “Requiem” written to celebrate the creation of a new university, which received its premiere in June 2011 with Bryn Terfel and Wynne Evans performing together with Eilir’s 3 choirs and the Chamber Orchestra of Wales. In addition to his work in Wales, Eilir has considerable international contacts, especially with Poland and North America, and is the founder of the Stuart Burrows International Voice Award.
Eilir said “I am very much looking forward to the challenge of maintaining and advancing the very high standards of the International Eisteddfod, and I am particularly anxious to increase the involvement of children in this great festival”
Eisteddfod Chairman Phil Davies said “We are all very excited at this new appointment of a young man who, while at the heart of the Welsh music scene, has a wide and international outlook which will equip him well for the task of taking the Llangollen Eisteddfod forward to even greater achievements.”
