A glittering array of musical talent will light up this year’s North Wales International Music Festival.
Founded in 1972, the festival at St Asaph Cathedral is now firmly established as one of the highlights on the UK’s cultural calendar.
Organisers are confident this years festival between September 20 and 28 will be one of the best ever.
It will feature the premiere of a special choral work to celebrate the Prince of Wales’s 65th birthday that’s been written by royal composer Paul Mealor.
The work has been commissioned jointly by the festival – which is supported by the Welsh Arts Council – and London-based Holywell Music, one of Europe’s leading harp suppliers.
The Prince’s first official harpist, international star Catrin Finch, and the current royal harpist, Hannah Stone, will both accompany the performance.
Prof Mealor has become a Vice-President of the festival along with Dr Rhiannon Mathias, the daughter of the founder, Prof William Mathias.
The premiere will be one of many highlights to be provided by a stellar line-up that also includes the Swingle Singers, virtuoso pianist Peter Donohoe, historical performance ensemble, La Serenissima and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
An opera about the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark will help raise money for flood victims in St Asaph.
The two performances of Benjamin Britten’s Noye‘s Fludde at the festival were planned long before last year’s devastating deluge.
After consulting the town council, festival organisers decided it would be appropriate to use the occasion for the benefit of the people who were affected.
The production by Mid Wales Opera will be on the opening day of the festival at St Asaph Cathedral on Friday, September 20.
The festival’s Artistic Director, Ann Atkinson, a talented mezzo soprano, will play one of the leading roles. Also taking part will be schoolchildren from six different primary schools and three high schools.
More than 400 homes of the Denbighshire city were flooded and hundreds evacuated last November after the River Elwy burst its banks.
The Mayor of St Asaph, Cllr John Roberts, said: “Donating the retiring collection following the performances of Noye’s Fludde to the St Asaph Flood Appeal is a wonderful gesture by Festival organisers and something we welcome very much.”
One of the factors behind the success of the festival is the “world class” acoustics in St Asaph Cathedral which, according to Artistic Director Ann Atkinson, are better than the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Ann, who has performed at both venues, said:“St Asaph Cathedral is the perfect acoustic environment to showcase our highly talented line-up.
“The cathedral has a very special acoustic – the combination of the stone and the wood creates something really magical somehow.”
“I have also performed in the concert hall at Sydney Opera House and, while it has a brilliant acoustic, I must say that St Asaph Cathedral is actually a much better venue acoustically.”
The cathedral was chosen as the venue for the Festival by its founder, the royal composer William Matthias, who wrote the anthem, Let the people praise Thee O God, for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
According to Professor Matthias, one of his greatest achievements was the creation of the hugely popular music.
He visited every potential venue in North Wales before deciding that St Asaph Cathedral provided the very best acoustic setting for the event.
For more information about what’s on at this year’s festival and to book online go to: www.nwimf.com
