It’s not only Santa visiting Cardiff and Pembrokeshire this year – BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales will also be bringing the spirit of the season to families, with concerts in Cardiff and Haverfordwest.
The Orchestra and Chorus will have plenty of festive treats at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on Tuesday 17 December, 7pm; and Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest on Saturday 21 December, 3pm and 7pm.
In Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, charismatic Welsh conductor Grant Llewellyn will lead the massed musicians of BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and members of Bridgend Youth Choir, for an evening of Christmas favourites.
In Haverfordwest, BBC National Orchestra of Wales will be joined by singers from the Pembrokeshire Youth Choir for two concerts – performing just a few miles from conductor Grant Llewellyn’s home town of Tenby.
Packed full of Christmas crackers, there will be plenty of seasonal surprises in both Cardiff and Haverfordwest – and a wide variety of music for all the family. Helping to conjure the magic of Christmas, the Orchestra will perform music including highlights from Tchaikovsky’s most popular ballets – The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
There’s also a trip down memory lane with music from the popular 1990 film Home Alone – where Hollywood’s favourite composer, John Williams, brings to life the fun-filled antics of eight-year-old Kevin McCallister.
Audiences will even have an opportunity to join in with the music-making, as everyone will be invited to sing along with a medley of favourite Christmas songs! As the concert closes, the sleigh bells will come out as the Orchestra performs Leroy Anderson’s Christmas classic – Sleigh Ride.
Returning to Wales to lead the Orchestra, conductor Grant Llewellyn is looking forward these family concerts: “I always love coming home to Wales at Christmas – and these events are the perfect start to anyone’s festive season.
“It’s certainly a chance for the Orchestra to let their hair down and get into the Christmas spirit, and I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises along the way. I hope you can join us– and we hope you’ll be in fine voice for a rousing sing-a-long!”
Booking Information
Tickets for the Orchestra’s Christmas concerts can be booked by calling the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line on 0800 052 1812.
Family tickets for these concerts are priced at just £12.50 for 1 adult and up to 2 children; and £18 for 2 adults and up to 4 children.
Single tickets are also available, priced at £10-£29 (discounts available) for Cardiff’s St David’s Hall; and £15 for the concerts in Haverfordwest.
Alternatively, for the Cardiff concert on Tuesday 17 December, 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 bbc.co.uk/now.
Highlights from the concert in Cardiff will be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales, on Sunday 22 December at 12pm and Tuesday 24 December at 6pm.
