Paul Mealor (photograph by Chris O’Donovan)
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales’ St David’s Day concert at St David’s Hall will feature the world premiere of Celtic Prayers, a new work by composer Paul Mealor.
The premiere will be performed at the Orchestra and Chorus’s annual St David’s Day concert, one of Cardiff’s best-loved gala events – and with a large orchestra and hundreds of singers on stage at St David’s Hall. The venue is renowned for its world-class acoustics, and the Orchestra is proud to perform there as Orchestra-in-Residence.
Born in Denbighshire, north Wales, Paul Mealor shot to fame as a choral composer when his work Ubi Caritas was performed at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. Later that year his song Wherever You Are reached the Number 1 spot, sung by the Military Wives Choir with conductor Gareth Malone.
Commissioned by the BBC for this gala concert, at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on Saturday 1 March, 7pm, Paul Mealor explains the inspiration behind Celtic Prayers: “The beautiful, inspiring prayers of the Celtic people have fascinated me for many years – and I am particularly drawn to how their voice seems to call across time and speak to us today with freshness and relevance.
“Taking inspiration from four Celtic lands – Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Ireland – this piece draws together some of the most evocative texts and poems to create this new song cycle. I’m looking forward to hearing it premiered by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, and hope the audience will enjoy the performance, with all of the traditional “hwyl” that comes with a St David’s Day gala concert!”
Celtic Prayers features the Welsh baritone Gary Griffiths as soloist, returning to St David’s Hall after representing Wales at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2013. Gary Griffiths will also sing a selection of Welsh songs, including music by Ivor Novello, and the traditional Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night).
Joining the musicians on stage will be a massed children’s choir with pupils from schools from Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taff. The choir will be singing a number of Welsh songs, including a closing medley of traditional Welsh favourites.
Tickets for this concert, on Saturday 1 March, 7.00pm, are £10-£29 (discounts available) and are available through the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line, by calling 0800 052 1812.
Alternatively, tickets are available through the St David’s Hall Box Office on 029 2087 8444, or online at stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk. Please note that the St David’s Hall online booking service carries an additional booking charge of £1.75 per transaction.
For more information about the Orchestra, visit their website at bbc.co.uk/now.
