National Eisteddfod evening events range from Bryn on Paul Robeson to Siwper Stomper
Evening concerts are all held at the Donald Gordon Theatre in the Millennium Centre at 20:00:
Friday and Saturday 3-4 August (sold out)
Sir Bryn Terfel is the star of Hwn yw fy Mrawd: Paul Robeson – Arwr i Gymru, Arwr i’r Byd, a biopic depicting the life of actor and singer, Paul Robeson and hisstrong links with Wales. We follow Robeson’s life through the eyes of his greatest fan,Mr Jones, played by Sir Bryn Terfel, as he regales Twm, a young man searching for ahero, with stories of Robeson’s fight against oppression.
Twm is portrayed by Steffan Cennydd, and other soloists include former national winners, John Ieuan Jones, Elain Lloyd, Elin Llwyd, Steffan Prys Roberts and Mared Williams. They are joined by renowned Birmingham ensemble, Black Voices, winners of the 2016 National Eisteddfod Festival Choir, Côrdydd, a youth choir from the Eisteddfod area, and dancer, Matthew Gough.
Libretto by Mererid Hopwood and music by Robat Arwyn. Directed by Betsan Llwyd.Friday evening’s performance takes place sixty years to the day since Paul Robesonaddressed the Eisteddfod crowd at the 1958 festival in Ebbw Vale.
Sunday 5 August (sold out)
The evening concert is a brand new adaptation of a highly popular favourite, Teilwngyw’r Oen. Mei Gwynedd and John Quirk have worked together on the musicaladaptation of Handel’s Messiah, with the words revised by John Gwilym Jones.
This is the Eisteddfod Choir’s concert this year. The choir has over 300 members and has been rehearsing over the winter. They’ll also be performing Geraint Cynan’s adaptations of some of Wales’ best pop songs combined with famous classical tunes. The evening’s soloists are Rebecca Trehearn, Mirain Haf and Daniel Lloyd.
Monday 6 August
Welcome to the Siwper Stomp, the biggest poetry competition this millennium! Silly and sombre performances with you – the audience – in charge.
Join Aneurig (Aneirin Karadog & Eurig Salisbury), Gwennan Evans, Gwyneth Glyn, Rhys Iorwerth, Osian Rhys Jones, Siân Northey, Gruffudd Owen, Iwan Rhys and Casia Wiliam, from Bragdy’r Beirdd, for an evening of poetry, music and a few surprises…
Tuesday 7 August (sold out)
Geraint Jarman brings the Eisteddfod Pavilion alive this evening as the Pavilion Gig returns for the third year. Presenter Huw Stephens is joined by pop scene favourites, Band Pres Llareggub with the Welsh Pops Orchestra also returning with fabulous orchestral adaptations which will wow the Eisteddfod audience.
Thursday 9 August
Pendevig push the boundaries of Welsh music on the Pavilion stage on Thursday evening as members of bands like Calan, Jamie Smith’s Mabon and Plu come together to perform their unique combination of traditional Welsh music coupled with jazz, funk and drum’n’bass. Fiddles and pipes mixed with brass, synths and strong rhythms.
Fresh from celebrating Wales at the Lorient International Festival, this is a new dawn of Welsh music exploding energetically on the National Eisteddfod stage.