Saturday 12th July
Opening Celebration Concert
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 7.00pm
‘Naked Byrd Two’
Armonico Consort
Director: Christopher Monks
An indulgence of what may arguably be described as some of the greatest choral music ever written!
The Armonico Consort’s highly acclaimed, Naked Byrd Two, featuring music by composers who wore their hearts on their sleeves, and whose art saw their emotions laid bare, in an atmospheric concert where magical musical moments are intertwined with sublime passages of plainchant and violin improvisation. “…where vocal lines can float, suspensions can melt and the listener can relax and marvel at the singers’ superb breath control and rock-steady intonation – an unending delight Gramophone Magazine,
“perhaps most moving of all is the “Agnus Dei” section of Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, re-scored by the composer for eight-part harmonies” The Independent 5 out of 5*.
Admission – £20.00
Sunday 13th July
Festival Service
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 11.00am
Festival Singers (Director: Gordon Kilby).
Address by Rev Carys Middleton (Vicar).
Wyn Turner (Organ).
The Rhossili Duo
Gabriella Alberti (Flute).
Cai Charles (Guitar).
‘Last Tango’
Venue: Newton House
Time: 7.00pm
The Australian/Welsh Flute and Guitar Duo provide a tantalising programme for their Festival debut.
The International Rhossili Duo are a vibrant ensemble who love to explore the passionate world of dance and tango music. Gabriella has worked with major Orchestras and in 2023 she was winner of the ‘All Flute Pluse Prize’ while guitarist Cai has had many successes, including performing the UK première of the Dos Dalias concerto by Gerardo Tamez as a soloist during the World Harp Congress 2022 and has also performed as part of the ‘Maestros de la Guitarra’ concert series in Granada, Spain.
Programme:
Piazzolla – History of the Tango.
Bartok – Romanian Dances.
Tedesco – Sonatina.
First Milonga, Last Tango by Welsh composer Stephen Goss.
Book early to avoid disappointment!
Admission – £15
Monday 14th July
Harp Masterclass with Elinor Bennett.
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church.
Time: 1.00pm.
Elinor Bennett (Harp)
Llais Hen Delynau/Voice Of Old Harps.
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church.
Time: 7.00pm.
A fascinating evening with one of Wales’s most iconic harpists.
An opportunity to listen to wonderful music from the 18th and early 19th centuries played on two historic harps made in that period. The story starts with the Triple harp, which was developed in Italy during the Baroque period and was played at the Royal Court London. Programme will feature music by Handel, blind harpist John Parry, Edward Jones (The King’s Bard), Rosetti, Spohr and contemporaries.
Admission – £15
Tuesday 15th July
Walking Tour: Love Llandeilo.
Time: 11.00am
Admission: FREE
This will be a special opportunity to fall in love with Llandeilo and its history! Join Elen Jones, Menter Dinefwr, to enjoy a walking tour of the town and to hear about the fascinating story of one of Carmarthenshire’s gems.
This will be a Welsh language walk with simultaneous English translation.
To start and end at Hengwrt, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo, SA19 6AE.
Email: hengwrt@menterdinefwr.cymru to secure your place on the walk for free!
Lunchtime Recital
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 1.00pm
Llewellyn Jones (Harp).
Sarah Williamson (Clarinet).
Sam Haywood (Piano).
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 7.00pm
Virtuoso clarinettist Sarah Williamson has performed as a soloist in many of the world’s major concert halls (the Albert
BBC Music Magazine wrote: ‘A tenacious player like Williamson doesn’t need gimmicks – her sonorous timbre and natural musicality speak for themselves.’ The Independent hailed her as a ‘superb player’; and The Telegraph praised her ‘blend of languor and exuberance.’ For this recital, she teams up with internationally acclaimed pianist and composer, Sam Haywood, whose work as both a soloist and chamber musician has taken him across the globe. The New York Times has praised his“passionate flair and sparkling clarity” and the Washington Post, his “dazzling, evocative playing”.
Programme:
Poulenc Clarinet Sonata.
Weber Grand Duo Concertante, Op48.
Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op.73.
Gerald Finzi – Five Bagatelles.
Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm.
Brahms – Clarinet Sonata No2. in Eb major, Op.120, considered one of the great masterpieces in the clarinet repertoire.
Admission £20
Wednesday 16th July
Lunchtime Recital
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 1.00pm
Ffion Thomas (Soprano).
Caradog Williams (Piano).
Admission: Free.
Junyan Chen (Piano)
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 7.00pm
Junyan Chan emerges as a concert pianist, chamber musician, and collaborator with a wealth of experiences across diverse musical genres. She won Second Prize at the 2024 Leeds International Piano Competition as well as winning the chamber music prize and the Alexandra Dariescu award for a work by a woman composer.
“superb performance by young Chinese born pianist – Junyan Chen” — Classic-FM
“exhilarating and technically thrilling performance ” – Gramophone.
“The vivacity was outstanding…” – Theartsdesk.
Programme:
Couperin – Les Barricades mysterieuses, (Le Tic-toc-choc ou les maillotins, Les Ombres errantes, Les Tricoteuses).
Messiaen – Prelude No.1 ‘La Colombe’, Un reflet dans le vent.
Ravel – Le Tombeau de Couperin.
Amy Beach – Balkan Variations.
Ravel – La Valse.
Admission – £20
Thursday 17th July
Lunchtime Recital
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 1.00pm
John James, a retired music teacher established ” James Music” in Carmarthen 30 years ago, because of his love of music, particularly piano music.
John continues to teach piano and gives weekly piano recitals, with a mix of classical, jazz and light cocktail music.
He organises concerts , known as “Llwyfan”, giving young, local musicians the opportunity to perform to an audience.
Voluntary contributions received at the recitals help to sponsor the young musicians.
Charlie Lovell Jones (Violin)
Ariel Lanyi (Piano)
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 7.00pm
Charlie Lovell-Jones debuted at a sold-out Royal Festival Hall aged 15. An international soloist and critically acclaimed concertmaster of the Sinfonia of London, he won top prizes at Oxford University and the Royal Academy of Music. He has many competition successes and enjoys a busy international concert and recording schedule. He will be partnered by the equally talented international pianist, Ariel Lanyi. A much-celebrated artist in his own right, he has performed with major orchestras and in 2021 he was awarded 3rd prize at Leeds International Piano Competition
“Charlie Lovell-Jones’ playing is rapturous…” – Ralph Moore, Music Web International.
“Charlie… was spell-binding with wonderful control and tone and technical ability” – West Wight Arts Association.
“He doesn’t simply play the notes, he lives the music, seeks to capture its essence, and reflects it with extraordinary intensity, sensibility, and expressive maturity.” Rudolf Buchbinde.
Programme:
Beethoven – Violin Sonata No. 3.
Debussy – Violin Sonata.
Arseniy Gusev – Crossroad (British Premiere).
Elgar – Violin Sonata.
Admission – £20
Image of Ariel Lanyi by Kaupo Kikkas.
Charlie Lovell Jones on Facebook.
Friday 18th July
Lunchtime Recital
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 1.00pm
Wyn Turner: Organ
Sir Willard White
Brodsky Quartet
Venue: St. Teilo’s Church
Time: 7.00pm
One of the best-loved and most versatile opera stars of the last 40 years, Sir Willard White’s illustrious career has taken him to the most prestigious opera houses and concert halls throughout the world, collaborating with conductors, directors and orchestras of the highest calibre. Expect an eclectic evening full of favourites including Ol’ Man River, spirituals and folksongs, highlights from Porgy & Bess and a touch of Sinatra magic via the iconic My Way.
Highlights of the 2024/25 season include a house debut at Dallas Opera as Arkel in Debussy Pelléas et Mélisande, his return to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Bartolo in Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro and Porgy in Gershwin Porgy and Bess for Hungarian State Opera. On the concert platform, White performs, Tippett A Child of our Time with The Royal Northern Sinfonia and continues his collaboration with The Brodsky Quartet, including a performance at The Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music and together on a tour to China.
He’ll be joined by the Brodsky Quartet who has been described as not just a great group but as a genuine phenomenon …… with a musical repertoire which is mind-blowing in its diversity.
They are one of a handful of string quartets that have come to represent an elite in redefining the nature and function of a string quartet ensemble.” The Scottish Herald.
Admission – £20
Tickets are available from the following:
Peppercorn on 01558 822410 or by email at gloriajvr@hotmail.com.
Morgan Newsagent, Llangadog 01550 777697.
Office on 01269 594303 or by email juliajones2ne@gmail.com