This unique Festival, devoted to performing the work of living classical music composers which takes place at very different venues across the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff holds a special place in the affection of audiences as it showcases exceptional talent from both home and international artists.
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary between 18 and 24 May 2019, the Vale of Glamorgan Festival is delighted to be inviting back composers they have championed over the years and to support emerging talents from Wales and beyond in presenting compositions by over 30 composers from across the world with 29 world premieres and many Welsh debuts. Highlights include:
• BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ concert featuring a Festival commission by Mark David Boden and the Welsh premiere of American composer Steve Reich’s Music for Ensemble and Orchestra.
• World premiere of John Metcalf’s new version of Polly Garter Aria from Under Milk Wood, sung by Elizabeth Donovan who sang the role previously at the premiere and features on the 2014 recording.
• Performances from New York’s excitingly different Sandbox Percussion featuring an unconventional assortment of instruments – from plant pots, to wine glasses and marimbas.
• A 50th Anniversary commission of 10 composers (8 from Wales) to write short pieces for Astrid the Dutch Street Organ, creating a platform to celebrate established multi award-winning composers alongside exciting younger talents
• Welsh debut of Berlin-based multi award-winning Armida String Quartet featuring a new work by Robert Fokkens, and Steve Reich’s emotive Different Trains
• Composer Graham Fitkin performing his own music to include two World premiere’s for prepared piano.
On 18 May BBC National Orchestra of Wales is conducted by 29 year old US conductor Ryan Bancroft – whose ‘natural fluidity, intense focus and beautiful shaping of the music’ won him both First prize and the Audience prize at the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen in 2018.
Taking part in this concert will be violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen, who has established herself as one of the most insightful and versatile young British violinists, and soprano Elizabeth Donovan, a former Welsh Singer of the Year who sang the role of Polly Garter for both the premiere of the opera and the recording in 2014. The performance is preceded at 6.30pm by a talk on the 50th Anniversary of the Festival “New Music in Wales, then and now”
The same concert includes two World premieres – Polly Garter Aria from Under Milk Wood by the Festival’s founder and artistic director, John Metcalf; Mark David Boden’s 50th Anniversary Festival commission, and Ben Wallace’s European premiere of Five Gifts for an Old Friend. Other featured composers include Dobrinka Tabakova and Latvian composer Peteris Vasks with the concert ending with Graham Fitkin’s celebratory work Metal for orchestra and un-tuned scaffolding – so ending the evening with a Bang!
The Festival is presenting the exuberant percussion chamber music group from New York, Sandbox Percussion (above), described by the Washington Post as “revitalizing the world of contemporary music (with) jaw-dropping virtuosity”. With their unconventional assortment of instruments Sandbox features heavily in the Festival performing to children and adults in two concerts at St. David’s Hall and on 21 May, and popping up in outdoor spaces around South Wales
Performing alongside Sandbox at St. David’s Hall on 21 May will be Astrid the Dutch Street Organ with her operator Francis Stapleton, There is a specially curated performance for children and their parents, with a presentation of songs written and performed by primary school children from South Wales, and a concert to include the World premiere of USA composer Ben Wallace’s Festival Commission for Dutch Street Organ and percussion.
Astrid opens the Festival on 18 May at the Wales Millennium Centre in a Free Event, in celebration of the Festival’s 50th Anniversary, with 10 new works which will first premiere at WMC before touring to St. Fagans National Museum of History, Barry Island, Penarth Pier and several other venues across Wales – but do check the website for updates of times and venues. The composers participating in this exciting project are: Charlie Barber, Mark David Boden, Graham Fitkin, Gareth Glyn, Lynne Plowman, Steph Power, Guto Pryden Puw, Claire Victoria Roberts, David Roche and Ben Wallace.
Making their Welsh debut in a concert at Ewenny Priory on 22 May, the Berlin-based Armida Quartet (above) feature the music of Azerbaijan, Tatar-Russia and Bulgaria, and a World premiere of Cardiff based composer Robert Fokkens Festival Commission. This multi award-winning quartet, which comprises of violinists Martin Funda, and Teresa Schwamm and the sister-brother team of violinist Johanna Staemmier and cellist Peter-Philipp Staemmier, have established themselves as one of today’s greatest chamber music groups.
Four compositions by 50th Anniversary Festival Patron, Steve Reich, will feature across the Festival, including the Welsh premiere of Music for Ensemble and Orchestra and his emotive Different Trains, making the comparison of the trains of his childhood and those used in the Holocaust. This piece, which won a Grammy Award for best contemporary composition in 1989, is performed by the Berlin-based Armida Quartet along with the music of Arvo Pärt and Peteris Vasks.
To further mark the Festival’s 50th Anniversary there is a one-off special event – the Festival’s first ever Mystery Tour! After a 30 minute coach journey, when a renowned composer (or composers) will give a guide to their music, you will reach your destination to hear approximately 100 minutes of music performed at an atmospheric intimate secret venue. You can buy a picnic in advance or bring your own! For full details visit the Festival website www.valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk
Presented in collaboration with Composers of Wales and supported by a grant from Tŷ Cerdd, our Artistic Director, John Metcalf, will interview composers Brian Noyes and Andrew Wilson-Dickson on what inspires and challenges composers when they are creating new music, before Welsh premieres of two of their standout piano trios. Noyes dramatic Piano Trio Op.38 was inspired by time spent with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in 2015. Wilson-Dickson’s high-energy Piano Trio No.2 was inspired by ancient British bell-ringing techniques and is an offshoot of his 1980 chamber opera ‘errors’. Following the performance with pianist Robin Green, violinist Sara Trickey and cellist Rosie Biss, there will be the opportunity to ask questions.
In a Free event on 24 May, the Aminda Quartet will also be performing works written by participants in the week long Peter Reynolds Composers Studio, which is a residency for emerging composers at the start of their careers to enable them to hone their skills and create genuine career progression. Fittingly named for the Cardiff composer whose huge depth of knowledge of musical literature and unique artistic perspective were evident in his work as a generous and patient teacher.
Bringing the Festival to a close on 24 May, is a fascinating range of work from one of the UK’s foremost composers, Graham Fitkin, who has a long connection with the Festival. This concert gives a rare opportunity to hear the composer play his own music in a programme to include Resistances, Running and Breathing and two World premieres for prepared piano. Prior to the concert there will be a pre-concert talk by Steph Power, journalist and composer.
Full details of this year’s programme can be found on the Festival’s website www.valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk
Vale of Glamorgan Festival 2019
Saturday 18 May 2019 11.00am
Glanfa Stage, Wales Millennium Centre, CF10 5AL
Free Event
ASTRID the Dutch Street Organ -with operator Francis Stapleton
World premieres of 10 short works commissioned or arranged for Dutch Street Organ by:
Charlie Barber (Wales)
Mark David Boden (Wales)
Graham Fitkin (England)
Gareth Glyn (Wales)
Lynne Plowman (Wales)
Steph Power (Wales)
Guto Puw (Wales)
Claire Victoria Roberts (Wales)
David Roche (Wales)
Ben Wallace (USA)
Following the premiere on stage at WMC, ASTRID will be out and about with more Free performances at the following venues:
Sunday 19 May 2019 – am
St.Fagans National Museum of History
Sunday 19 May 2019 – lunchtime
Penarth Pier Pavillion, CF64 3AT
Sunday 19 May 2019 – pm
Barry Island Eastern Shelter
Before touring to both Aberystwyth and Bangor later in the year.
This is a series of open-access events for all the family to enjoy with Astrid the Dutch Street Organ and Francis Stapleton.
Performances will be weather dependent, so please check on Vale of Glamorgan Facebook for more details and updates both before and on the day @valeofglamorganfestival
Saturday 18 May 6.30pm
Ty Cerdd, Wales Millennium Centre CF105AL
Pre-concert talk by Rian Evans on the 50th Anniversary of the Vale of Glamorgan Festival – ‘New Music in Wales, then and now’
Saturday 18 May 7.30pm
BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff CF10 5AL
Box Office: 0333 666 3366
Tickets £16.50 Students £3
BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES
Ryan Bancroft conductor
Tamsin Waley-Cohen violinist
Elizabeth Donovan soprano
Dobrinka Tabakova Organum Light
Peteris Vasks Vientulais Engelis (Lonely Angel)
Steve Reich Music for Ensemble and Orchestra -Welsh premiere
Ben Wallace Five Gifts for an Old Friend – European premiere
Claire Victoria Roberts Blue Lab
Mark David Boden New work (Festival Commission) – World premiere
David Lang Simple Song
John Metcalf Polly Garter’s Aria from Under Milk Wood – World premiere
Graham Fitkin Metal
The Welsh premiere of Steve Reich’s Music for Ensemble and Orchestra, a World premiere arrangement of John Metcalf’s Polly Garter Aria for soprano and orchestra, and Graham Fitkin’s celebratory work Metal – for orchestra and un-tuned scaffolding – ending the night with a bang!
Sunday 19 May 2019 5.45pm
Outside National Museum, Cardiff
Box Office: 0333 666 3366
Tickets £17.50, Picnic’s £13.95.
NEW MUSIC MYSTERY TOUR
A 30 minute Mystery Tour with composers speaking of their music which will be heard at an atmospheric, intimate secret venue
Monday 20 May 2019 7.00pm
Ty Cerdd Studio, Wales Millennium Centre, CF10 5AL
Box Office: 0333 666 3366
Tickets: £8 advance, £10 on the door
COMPOSERS SPOTLIGHTS
John Metcalf interviewer
Robin Green piano
Sara Trickey violin
Rosie Biss cello
Brian Noyes Piano Trio Op.38 (In the spirit of Ave Maris Stella)
Andrew Wilson-Dickson Piano Trio No.2 (Rapunzel’s Dream)
The composers speak with John Metcalf on what inspires and challenges composers when they are creating new music, before the premieres of their works. Piano Trio Op.38 was inspired by time spent with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Piano Trio No.2 by ancient British bell-ringing techniques.
Tuesday 21 May 2019 6.30pm
St.Asaph Room, St.David’s Hall, Cardiff CF10 1AH
John Metcalf in conversation with composer Ben Wallace about his new commission for street organ and percussion
Tuesday 21 May 2019 11.00am – Schools Performance
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, CF10 1AH SANDBOX PERCUSSION
FRANCES STAPLETON and ASTRID the DUTCH STREET ORGAN
HELEN WOODS presenter and project music director
Steve Reich Music for Pieces of Wood
Victor Caccese Bell Patterns
Charles Peck Synthetic Twin
Jonathan Allen Sonata
Andy Akiho Haiku 2
David Crowell Point Reyes
Jason Treuting Extremes
A specially curated performance for children and their parents, opening with a presentation of songs written and performed by primary school children from South Wales.
This is a Vale of Glamorgan Festival Project in partnership with Arts Active, with funding support from Arts Council Wales, Vale of Glamorgan Council and Ty Cerdd
Tuesday 21 May 2019 7.30pm
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, CF10 1AH
Box Office: 02920 878 444
Tickets £14.00, Disabled £12.50, Students & under 16’s £5
SANDBOX PERCUSSION
FRANCES STAPLETON and ASTRID the DUTCH STREET ORGAN
Jason Treuting Extremes
Charlie Peck Synthetic twin
Steve Reich Mallet Quartet
Andy Akiho Pillar IV
Viet Cuong Water, Wine, Brandy, Brine
Ben Wallace Festival Commission for Dutch Street Organ and percussion –World Premiere
The exciting percussion quartet from New York, delights and thrills with their energetic and flamboyant style of contemporary American music and Ben Wallace’s premiere for street organ and percussion quartet.
Wednesday 22 May 2019 – 6.30pm
Ewenny Priory, Bridgend CF35 5BW
Pre-concert talk with composer Dr Robert Fokkens about his new commission for String Quartet performed by the Armida Quartet
Wednesday 22 May 2019 – 7.30pm
Ewenny Priory, Bridgend CF35 5BW
Box Office: 0333 666 3366
Tickets £15.00, Students £3.00
ARMIDA QUARTET
Martin Funda violin
Johanna Staemmier violin
Teresa Schwamm viola
Peter-Philipp Staemmier violoncello
Dobrinka Tabakova On a bench in the shade
Sofia Gubaidulina String Quartet No.1
Robert Fokkens New work (Festival Commission) – World Premiere
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh Muga-Sayagi (1993)
for String Quartet with percussion instruments and pre-recorded tape
Featuring the music of Azerbaijan, Tatar-Russia and Bulgaria, and a world premiere by Cardiff-based composer Robert Fokkens, at this stunningly atmospheric venue
For those keen to attend this concert but who find it difficult to get to Ewenny Priory, please email vogfestival@outlook.com as we may be able to connect you with Festival Friends who can help with transport.
Thursday 23 May 2019 – 7.00pm
Cinema, Penarth Pier Pavilion CF64 3AT
Pre-concert talk by Prof Pwyll ap Sion on Trains of Thought? – exploring Steve Reich’s Different Trains
Thursday 23 May 2019 – 8.00pm
Cinema, Penarth Pier Pavilion CF64 3AT
Box Office: 0333 666 3366
Tickets £15.00, Students: £3
ARMINDA QUARTET
Martin Funda violin
Johanna Staemmier violin (also triangle & djembe)
Teresa Schwamm viola (also tam-tam)
Peter-Philipp Staemmler violoncello
Arvo Pärt Summa
Pēteris Vasks String Quartet No.5
Johannes Fischer cannons and sparrows
Steve Reich Different Trains
For string quartet and tape
The music of Peteris Vasks and Arvo Pärt is presented alongside Different Trains, Steve Reich’s haunting comparison of the trains of his childhood and those used in the Holocaust
Friday 24 May 2019 – 9.30am
Cardiff University School of Music, Corbett Rd, Cardiff CF10 3EB
Free Event – but please email vogfestival@outlook.com to reserve a space
An informal read-through of works written by participants on the Festival’s PETER REYNOLDS COMPOSERS STUDIO,
with the Armida Quartet.
The Composers Studio is a residency for emerging composers with seminars, mentoring, composition, workshopping, recording with world-class artists and exposure to contemporary music from around the world. The week-long residency aims to fulfil the vital need to give the composers at the start of their careers the best possible circumstances in which to hone their skills and create genuine career progression.
Friday 24 May 2019 – 7.15pm
Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD
Pre-concert talk with composer Steph Power to mark the last night of the 50th Anniversary of the Vale of Glamorgan Festival – New Music in Wales Today and In The Future
Friday 24 May 2019 – 8.00pm
Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD
Box Office: 02920 890862
Tickets: £16.50
50th Anniversary Finale
GRAHAM FITKIN – The Composer Plays
A rare opportunity to hear one of the UK’s foremost composers play his own music in a programme to include Resistances, Running and Breathing and two world premieres for prepared piano. There is no more fitting way to celebrate the finale of the Festival’s 50th Anniversary than with the fascinating range of work from a composer whose long connection with the Festival we value so highly.
Please Note: Acapela Studio is a former church. Seats at Acapela Studio area a mixture of tables and chairs and seats in pews and are unreserved. Acapela Studio provides pre-concert dining between 6.00 and 7.45pm from their wood burning pizza oven. All seating at tables must purchase a pizza. To book a table and tickets, please book online at www.valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk
Disabled Access: Although there is disabled access to Acapela Studio, due to the intimate nature of the venue there is no disabled toilet. Please contact Acapela Studio on 029 2089 0862 for further information.
For further information about any of these events, or Vale of Glamorgan Festival, please visit valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk or email Caroline Tress, General Manager vogfestival@outlook.com