They have thrilled music fans at The Proms, TV fans with music for Dr Who, Torchwood and Human Planet, brought music to thousands of Wales’ special needs children – and now they will play for Wrexham shoppers, absolutely free.
Musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales will give shoppers a lunchtime treat when they perform outside the Marks and Spencer store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham, from about 2.30pm on Saturday, March 24.
The impromptu performance by a brass quartet will highlight the main orchestra’s concert in Wrexham’s William Aston Hall that night.
Wrexham is one of a series of north and mid Wales concerts by the Grammy-nominated orchestra.
The tour takes the orchestra to Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Thursday March 22, 7.30pm; Prichard Jones Hall at Bangor University on Friday March 23, 7.30pm; William Aston Hall at Glyndwr University, Wrexham, on Saturday March 24, 7.30pm; and Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Sunday March 25, 3pm.
David Murray, the Director of BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, said: “Our concerts in North Wales are an important part of our concert season, and we’re delighted to be performing at the William Aston Hall on Saturday 24 March.
“We’re always looking for new ways to reach our audiences, and so we’re very grateful to Eagles Meadow shopping centre for welcoming some of our players to perform on Saturday afternoon.”
Based at BBC Hoddinott Hall at Wales Millennium Centre, the orchestra has recorded numerous soundtracks, including BBC Wales’s Doctor Who, Torchwood, and the BBC’s Human Planet series.
On Saturday afternoon trombonists Donal Bannister and Simon Wills, bass trombone Darren Smith, and tuba player Dan Trodden will be playing a selection of light music for up to an hour. And while they play, details of the night’s concert will be handed out to shoppers.
“We regularly tour around Wales, and on Monday (March 26), we’re bringing our popular concerts, designed for children with special educational needs, to Venue Cymru in Llandudno – and schools from the Wrexham area will be attending,” said David.
Education and community outreach is integral to the Orchestra’s musical life and for nearly 15 years, it has been extending its work schools, workplaces and communities.
In the first scheme of its scale in Europe, last year the orchestra distributed music resource packs to every special school, unit and primary school in Wales – reaching over 2000 schools and performed a series of special concerts to more than 4000 children in Tenby and Cardiff – which it hopes to repeat with the Llandudno concert on Monday March 26.
Joining the Orchestra for the tour will be the 25-year-old Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang, who first came to the attention of critics and orchestras globally after she first performed alongside the Norwegian Radio Orchestra aged just 10.
For this tour she will be performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No 1 in Bangor and Wrexham, and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in Aberystwyth and Llandudno.
Conducted by principal guest conductor Jac van Steen, in Bangor and Wrexham the Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Hamlet, and Dvořák’s Symphony No 7.
In Aberystwyth and Llandudno, the audiences will be treated to two short symphonies, Prokofiev’s Symphony No 1, Classical, and Haydn’s Symphony No 104, London.
Tickets are available from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line on 0800 052 1812. Alternatively, tickets can be booked from the venues directly. Wrexham (£9.25-£15.50 discounts available) ring 01978 293293, or visit www.glyndwr.ac.uk/events, or through Wrexham Tourist Information 01978 292015. For further information on the Orchestra, visit bbc.co.uk/now
