Full-flavoured classics

If popular classics are music to your ears, make sure you don’t miss the Midsummer Concert at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

The 40-piece Symphonica Tywi orchestra will be playing favourite music from the classical world in the stunning surrounds of the Great Glasshouse, from 7.30pm until dusk on Saturday June 22.

Musical Director Mike Cottam said: “This annual concert is a set-piece event in the orchestra’s year and a date we know lots of people look forward to. This year, we can promise some full-flavour classics that will suit all tastes.”

The concert will include many well known and loved classics including the 1812 overtures by Tchaikovsy – audience participation required! – Rossini (William Tell) and scores from movies such as Lord of the Rings, Spartacus, Lawrence of Arabia and (in its anniversary year) Dambusters.

As ever Cantorion & Symphonica Tywi encourage audience participation and families are welcome. Dress code is “colourful” and both the audience and orchestra will be inside the Great Glasshouse.

National Botanic Garden event organiser, David Hardy said: “It’s always a fantastic occasion. People bring along picnic hampers and really make a night of it. In truth, there’s not much to beat sitting in among the Mediterranean plants as the sun goes down, listening to this fantastic orchestra play beautiful music.”

Tickets for the concert are £10 (£8.50 for Garden members). To book, call 01558 667149 or email info@gardenofwales.org.uk

For more information about the Garden, go to www.gardenofwales.org.uk

Symphonica Tywi , founded by Reverend Mike Cottam in 1994, is a regional orchestra made up of gifted amateur and professional musicians, young and old, drawn from Wales and England that exists for players of all ages to express their talent and experience in the pleasure of orchestral performance. The orchestra relies on its funding, solely from ticket receipts.

Rhys Watkins – leader of the orchestra – is a member of the London Symphony Orchestra