MUSIC OF WALES CENTRAL TO CELEBRATIONS AT LLANGOLLEN /CERDDORIAETH CYMRU WTH GALON DATHLIADAULLANGOLLEN

On Wednesday night, Llangollen Eisteddfod hosted an enchanting night of Welsh music starring soprano Shân Cothi and tenor Rhodri Prys Jones.

They were accompanied by the British Sinfonietta orchestra, which also performed with international classical sensation Rolando Villazón for Tuesday night’s classical gala.

The audience were treated to two rare musical opportunities as the Eisteddfod premièred performances at the Saints and Singers concert, which included the incredible cantata ‘Saint Teilo’ by William Mathias CBE.This was accompanied by a unique masquerade dance performed by Llangollen-based New Dance Company.

This was the first time Shân Cothi and Rhodri Prys Jones performed together; and hopefully not the last. Their voices offered the audience an emotive and enjoyable experience as they showcased their equally impressive vocal ranges.

The evening offered the perfect opportunity to showcase The Land of Song at its very best to an international audience. A powerful massed choir made up of the London Welsh Chorale, Liverpool Welsh Choral, Palmdale High School Chamber Choir and Wrexham Music Cooperative also joined the supreme Welsh vocalists.

In memory of the Welsh tenor Kenneth Bowen, who died last year, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod hosted the world première of The Spring of Vision, composed by the festival’s Music Director and friend of Bowen, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry.

The Spring of Vision encapsulates the dream of Taliesin who, on questioning the state of humanity and our future is taken on a journey through wars, conflict and then finally arriving at the one act that defines humanity, the act of Christ on the cross.

Edward-Rhys Harry explains the significance of this performance: “Wednesday is the centre of the week-long festival and I wanted Welsh music to be at the heart of this year’s Eisteddfod.”

The audience were also treated to the crowning of the Pendine International Voice of the Future, which went to Erin Gwyn Rossington from Abergele, Wales.

The evening was a tremendous success in celebrating traditional music from Wales, bursting with glorious melodies and powerful operatic solos.

 Tickets for this year’s festival can still be purchased online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862001.

CERDDORIAETH CYMRU WTH GALON DATHLIADAULLANGOLLEN

Nos Fercher, fe gynhaliwyd noson gyfareddol o gerddoriaeth Gymreig yn Eisteddfod Llangollen yng nghwmni’r sopranoShân Cothi a’r tenor Rhodri Prys Jones.

Roedd y ddau unawdydd yn canu i gyfeiliant cerddorfa Sinffonieta Prydain, wnaeth hefyd berfformio gyda’r tenor byd enwog, Rolando Villazón, mewn gala glasurol nos Fawrth.

Ar y noson, cafodd aelodau cynulleidfa cyngerdd Seintiau a Chantorion brofi dau gyflwyniad cerddorol prin wrth i’r Eisteddfod arddangos gweithiau oedd yn cael eu perfformio am y tro cyntaf, gan gynnwys cantata meistrolgar William Mathias CBE, ‘Saint Teilo’. Perfformiwyd y darn i gyfeiliant dawns fasgiau unigryw gan gwmni New Dance Company o Langollen.

Dyma’r tro cyntaf i Shân Cothi a Rhodri Prys Jones berfformio gyda’i gilydd; ond dim yr olaf gobeithio. Roedd eu lleisiau yn cynnig perfformiadau emosiynol a dymunol, wrth i’r nail a’r llall arddangos ystod leisiol drawiadol iawn.

Hefyd ar y noson, bu cyfle i arddangos Gwlad y Gân ar ei gorau i gynulleidfa ryngwladol. Fe ddaeth côr enfawr o aelodau Choral Cymry Llundain, Coral Cymry Lerpwl, Côr Siambr Ysgol Uwchradd Palmdale a Chôr Cydweithredol Wrecsam, ynghyd i ymuno â’r unawdwyr Cymreig ar y llwyfan.

Er cof am y tenor Cymreig Kenneth Bowen fu farw’r llynedd, fe wnaeth Eisteddfod Gerddorol Ryngwladol Llangollen gynnal premier byd o The Spring of Vision, a gyfansoddwyd gan Gyfarwyddwr Cerdd yr ŵyl a ffrind i Bowen, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry.

Mae The Spring of Vision yn adrodd hanes breuddwyd Taliesin sydd, wrth gwestiynu cyflwr a dyfodol dynoliaeth, yn cael ei dywys ar siwrne o wrthdaro a rhyfel, cyn cyrraedd at y weithred sy’n diffinio dynoliaeth, sef aberth Crist ar y groes.

Wrth drafod yr ysbrydoliaeth tu ôl i’r perfformiad, esbonia Edward-Rhys Harry: “Dydd Mercher fydd canolbwynt yr ŵyl wythnos o hyd ac roeddwn eisiau i gerddoriaeth Gymraeg fod wrth galon yr Eisteddfod eleni.”

Cafodd y gynulleidfa hefyd weld seremoni coroni enillydd cystadleuaeth Llais Rhyngwladol y Dyfodol Pendine, a gyflwynwyd i Erin Gwyn Rossington gan Abergele, Wales.

Roedd y gyngerdd yn llwyddiant ysgubol wrth i’r holl gyfranwyr dathlu cerddoriaeth draddodiadol Gymreig, mewn noson oedd yn frith o felodïau bendigedig ac unawdau operatig pwerus.

Gellir prynu tocynnau ar gyfer gweddill cyngherddau’r wythnos o www.llangollen.netneu trwy alw’r Swyddfa Docynnau ar 01978 862001.