Sinfonia Cymru & Catrin Finch by Sinfonia Cymru

Sinfonia Cymru & Catrin Finch Ravel: Introduction and Allegro Debussy: Danses Sacrée et Profane Mathias: Melos, Op. 73 Ibert: Divertissement Copland: Appalachian Spring Harp: Catrin Finch Conductor: Ben Gernon

Thu 5th June, 7:30pm Iau 5ed Mehefin, 7.30yh

Fri 6th June, 7.30pm Gwe 6ed Mehefin, 7.30yh

Sat 7th June, 7.30pm Sad 7ed Mehefin, 7.30yh

Sun 8th June, 3.00pm Sul 8ed Mehefin, 3.00yh

Theatr Harlech

Ffwrnes, Llanelli

Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD, Cardiff Neuadd Dora Stoutzker, CBCDC, Caerdydd

The Riverfront, Newport Glan yr Afon, Casnewydd

Concert Programme £2 Rhaglen Gyngerdd £2

19 – 26 JULY GORFFENNAF 2014

Ravel Introduction & Allegro Debussy Danses sacrĂŠe et profane Mathias Melos, Op. 73 Interval Egwyl Ibert Divertissement Copland Appalachian Spring Harp Telyn Catrin Finch Conductor Arweinydd Ben Gernon Musical Director Cyfarwyddydd Cerdd Gareth Jones Guest Leader / Director Arweinydd Gwadd / Cyfarwyddydd Bartosz Woroch Sinfonia Cymru: Curate Curadur Sinfonia Cymru Jonathan Davies Sebastian Pennar James Thomas Simon Howes Charlie MacClure Toks Dada Luc Morris Matthew Green Steffan Morris Trustees Ymddiriedolwyr Lucy Stout Chair Cadeirydd Michael Salter Honorary President Llywydd Anrhydeddus Gareth Cheesman Company Secretary Ysgrfiennydd Cwmni Toks Dada Ian Morris David Jackson Sophie Rashbrook Penny James Kempton Rees Geraint Lewis Gaye Williams Management Gweinyddiaeth Sophie Lewis Matthew Green Emerald Skeete Elizabeth Day Luc Morris

General Manager Rheolwr Cyffredinol Orchestra and Special Projects Co-ordinator Cyd-drefnydd y Gerddorfa a Phrosiectau Arbennig Administrator Gweinyddydd Arts & Business Cymru Creative Intern Intern Creadigol Arts & Business Cymru Marketing & Communications Officer Swyddog Marchnata a Chyfathrebu luc@sinfoniacymru.co.uk

Foreword The orchestra’s summer tour is always exciting for both players and audience alike, and this year will be no exception. We are once again joined by Catrin Finch, whose special relationship with the orchestra has developed over many years, in an exciting programme that explores the synergy between music and dance. We’re thrilled to be working with rising star conductor Ben Gernon in his Sinfonia Cymru debut. Ben’s career has already seen him win major competitions and this summer he will make his BBC Proms debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Sinfonia Cymru has always prided itself on working with the freshest talent in the UK and we’re absolutely thrilled that Ben can join us for this project and lead us in such a great programme of music. The orchestra’s creative group, Curate, has again been involved in the decision-making for this programme. We were particularly interested in the way audiences and the orchestra interact, and the size of this ensemble will hopefully prove for a more intimate experience for everyone. Many of you will be familiar with Copland’s evocative Appalachian Spring and we are especially excited to be performing the piece in its original orchestration for thirteen players. Written as a ballet before gaining popularity as a standalone orchestral suite, the piece complements an invigorating programme exploring the relationship between music and dance.

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www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

As I write this I realise that I have been performing with Sinfonia Cymru for nearly ten years and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than by sharing some of my favourite music with audiences across Wales alongside one of our greatest instrumentalists.

Mae taith haf y gerddorfa bob amser yn gyfnod cyffrous i’r perfformwyr a’r gynulleidfa fel ei gilydd, a bydd eleni yr un mor gynhyrfus ag erioed. Unwaith eto cawn gwmni Catrin Finch, sydd wedi datblygu perthynas arbennig â’r gerddorfa, mewn rhaglen arbennig sy’n archwilio’r synergedd rhwng cerdd a dawns. Rydym wedi cyffroi’n lân i gael y cyfle i weithio gyda’r arweinydd Ben Gernon, sydd wrthi’n ennill ei blwyf ac a fydd yn perfformio gyda Sinfonia Cymru am y tro cyntaf erioed. Mae Ben eisoes wedi ennill cystadlaethau clodwiw ac yr haf hwn fe fydd yn perfformio yn Proms y BBC am y tro cyntaf gyda Cherddorfa Siambr yr Alban. Mae Sinfonia Cymru bob amser wedi ymfalchïo yn ein gwaith gyda thalent fwyaf ffres yn y DU ac rydym yn eithriadol o falch y gall Ben ymuno â ni ar gyfer y prosiect hwn a’n harwain mewn rhaglen wych o gerddoriaeth.

Bydd llawer ohonoch yn gyfarwydd ag Appalachian Spring atgofus Copland, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn arw at berfformio’r darn yn ei offeryniaeth wreiddiol ar gyfer un deg tri o berfformwyr. Wedi’i ysgrifennu fel ballet cyn dod yn boblogaidd fel cyfres gerddorfa ar ei phen ei hun, mae’r darn yn gymar da i raglen fywiocaol sy’n archwilio’r berthynas rhwng cerdd a dawns. Wrth i mi ysgrifennu hwn, rwy’n sylweddoli fy mod wedi bod yn perfformio gyda Sinffonia Cymru ers bron i 10 mlynedd erbyn hyn, ac ni alla i feddwl am ffordd well o ddathlu na thrwy rannu rhywfaint o’m hoff gerddoriaeth gyda chynulleidfaoedd ar draws Cymru ochr yn ochr ag un o’n hofferynwyr gorau.

James Thomas Curate/Curadur, Sinfonia Cymru

Mae grŵp creadigol y gerddorfa, Ciwrad, unwaith eto wedi cyfrannu at y penderfyniadau ar gyfer y rhaglen hon. Yn benodol, mae diddordeb gennym yn y ffordd y mae’r cynulleidfaoedd a’r gerddorfa’n rhyngweithio, a bydd maint yr ensemble hwn yn cynnig profiad mwy cartrefol i bawb.

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Sinfonia Cymru Sinfonia Cymru is an exciting and progressive chamber orchestra from Wales. The orchestra is made up of musicians in the early stages of their careers and is the first and only orchestra of its kind to be revenue-funded by the Arts Council of Wales. Sinfonia Cymru works in partnership with The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) through the Professional Pathway Bursary scheme and regular performances at The Dora Stoutzker Hall. Sinfonia Cymru is also resident orchestra at The Riverfront, Newport and performs in venues across Wales. The orchestra works with Young Classical Artists Trust to create opportunities for the next generation of solo artists including the orchestra’s current Leader/Director Bartosz Woroch. Sinfonia Cymru has worked with a number of celebrated guest artists including Bryn Terfel, Llŷr Williams, Paul Watkins, Carlo Rizzi, and Alina Ibragimova. The orchestra enjoys a long-standing relationship with Deutsche-Gramophon harpist Catrin Finch. Past projects with Catrin include Classic BRIT nominated album ‘Blessing’ with John Rutter, which reached number one in BBC Radio 3’s classical chart, and a performance at Universal Live ‘Yellow Lounge’. Collaboration forms a key part of Sinfonia Cymru’s work. In 2013 Sinfonia Cymru worked with Ballet Cymru on TIR & Celtic Concerto (featuring Cerys Matthews and Catrin Finch),

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an award-winning production of Romeo and Juliet at The Riverfront, as well as with The Clod Ensemble on ‘Anatomie in Four Quarters’ at Wales Millennium Centre. In 2013 Sinfonia Cymru embarked on a major project to develop and launch a new way of working for chamber orchestras. This included establishing Curate, a group that brings together orchestral musicians, administrators and other young creatives to express their artistic ideas and develop their own projects. 2013 saw the development of UnButtoned at Chapter Arts Centre; a collaboration with BAFTA-Cymru award winning musician Tom Raybould, featuring a score which integrates live and electronic musical performance with live reactive visuals. UnButtoned will be further developed throughout 2014 with performances planned for later in the year. In March 2014 Sinfonia Cymru worked with actor Richard Harrington (star of S4C Y Gwyll / Hinterland), and will be welcoming pianist Llŷr Williams to perform concerti in November, as well as numerous festival appearances including Fishguard International Music Festival (July 25th) and a semi-staged performance of Sweeney Todd at Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod featuring Bryn Terfel in the title role, conducted by Sinfonia Cymru founder and Musical Director Gareth Jones (7th July). The orchestra will also be taking part in a major European project with partners from across the continent, culminating in a festival featuring music from each participating nation, hosted by Sinfonia Cymru and RWCMD in October this year.

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

Mae Sinfonia Cymru yn gerddorfa siambr gyffrous a blaengar o Gymru. Mae’r gerddorfa yn cynnwys cerddorion ar ddechrau eu gyrfaoedd a dyma’r gerddorfa gyntaf, a’r unig un gerddorfa siambr i gael cyllid refeniw gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Mae Sinfonia Cymru yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â Choleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru drwy gynllun Bwrsari Llwybrau Proffesiynol ac yn perfformio’n rheolaidd yn Neuadd Dora Stoutzker. Sinfonia Cymru yw’r gerddorfa breswyl yng Nglan-yr-Afon, Casnewydd ac mae’n perfformio mewn nifer o leoliadau ledled Cymru. Mae’r gerddorfa’n gweithio gyda’r Ymddiriedolaeth ar gyfer Artistiaid Clasurol Ifanc i greu cyfleoedd ar gyfer y genhedlaeth nesaf o artistiaid sy’n unawdwyr gan gynnwys Arweinydd/ Cyfarwyddwr cyfredol y gerddorfa, Bartosz Woroch. Mae Sinfonia Cymru wedi gweithio gyda nifer o artistiaid gwadd enwog gan gynnwys Bryn Terfel, Llŷr Williams, Paul Watkins, Carlo Rizzi, ac Alina Ibragimova. Mae’r gerddorfa’n ymfalchïo yn y berthynas dda sydd ganddi â Catrin Finch, telynores y Deutsche-Gramophon. Ymhlith y prosiectau a wnaed yn y gorffennol gyda Catrin mae’r albwm ‘Blessing’ gyda John Rutter a enwebwyd ar gyfer BRIT Clasurol, ac a gyrhaeddodd rhif un yn siart cerddoriaeth glasurol BBC Radio 3, a pherfformiad yn ‘Yellow Lounge’ Universal Live. Mae cydweithrediadau yn ffurfio rhan allweddol o waith Sinfonia Cymru. Yn ystod 2013, bu Sinfonia Cymru yn gweithio gyda Ballet Cymru ar gyfer TIR & Celtic Concerto (gyda Cerys Matthews a Catrin Finch) mewn cynhyrchiad o Romeo and Juliet

yng Nglan yr Afon a enillodd wobr, yn ogystal ag ‘Anatomie in Four Quarters’ gan The Clod Ensemble yng Nghanolfan Mileniwm Cymru. Yn ystod 2013, dechreuodd Sinfonia Cymru ar brosiect mawr i ddatblygu a lansio ffordd newydd o weithio ar gyfer cerddorfeydd siambr. Roedd hwn yn cynnwys sefydlu Curadur, grŵp sy’n dod â cherddorion cerddorfaol, gweinyddwyr a phobl greadigol ifanc eraill at ei gilydd i fynegi eu syniadau artistig a datblygu eu prosiectau eu hunain. Yn 2013, datblygwyd UnButtoned yng Nghanolfan Gelfyddydau’r Chapter; cydweithrediad gyda’r cerddor Tom Raybould, sydd wedi ennill gwobr BAFTA Cymru, yn cynnwys sgôr sy’n cyfuno perfformiad electronig a byw gydag adweithiau gweledol byw. Bydd UnButtoned yn cael ei ddatblygu ymhellach drwy gydol 2014 gyda pherfformiadau wedi’u cynllunio ar gyfer yn hwyrach yn y flwyddyn. Yn Mawrth 2014 gweithiodd Sinfonia Cymru gyda’r actor Richard Harrington (seren Y Gwyll/Hinterland), ac yn hwyrach y 2014 fe fydd y gerddorfa yn croeso y pianydd Llŷr Williams i perfformio concerti ym mis Tachwedd, ynghyd â ymddangosiadau yn nifer o wyliau gan gynnwys Gwyl Gerdd Ryngwladol Abergwaun (Gorffenaf 25ain) a perfformiad o Sweeney Todd yn Eisteddfod Gerddorol Ryngwladol Llangollen yn cynnwys Bryn Terfel yn y prif rôl, wedi arwain gan sefydlydd Singonia Cymru a Cyfarwyddydd Cerdd Gareth Jones (Gorffenaf 7ed). Bydd y gerddorfa hefyd yn cymryd rhan mewn prosiect Ewropeaidd mawr gyda phartneriaid ledled y cyfandir, gan arwain at uchafbwynt mewn gŵyl gerdd a fydd yn cynnwys cerddoriaeth o bob gwlad sy’n cymryd rhan, ac yn cael ei chyflwyno gan Sinfonia Cymru a Choleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru ym mis Hydref eleni.

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Ben Gernon Conductor

British conductor Ben Gernon studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he held the Conducting Fellowship, graduating in 2011. He is 13/14 season Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and makes his BBC Proms debut on 8 September with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. In 2013 he won the internationally-acclaimed Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award conducting Camerata Salzburg (in a programme of Beethoven and Maxwell-Davies) following a unanimous decision from the jury, led by Ingo Metzmacher. As part of the Award, he later made his debut with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester at the Salzburg Festival conducting Prokofiev’s Symphony No.5. Alongside his commitments in Los Angeles, the 13/14 season includes debuts with Ulster Orchestra as part of the BBC Radio 3 “America” series; BBC Scottish Symphony and BBC Singers at the St Magnus Festival and Southbank Sinfonia, as well as conducting the LPO Future Firsts and Bristol Ensemble in two projects as part of their “Northern Lights” series. He also returns twice to London Symphony Orchestra on 12 and 23 June. Future highlights include debuts with New Japan Philharmonic, Vancouver

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Arweinydd

Symphony, Sinfonietta Lausanne, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Nagoya Philharmonic, CBSO Youth Orchestra, Glyndebourne Festival (assistant), UK touring with Camerata Salzburg and returns to Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra. Highlights of recent seasons include conducting Tansy Davies’ Composer Portrait at ‘Proms Plus’, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra at the St Magnus Festival, London Sinfonietta, London Philharmonic Future Firsts and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as reaching the finals of the renowned Donatella Flick conducting competition in 2012. In Spring 2013 he assisted Gustavo Dudamel during the LA Philharmonic residency at the Barbican and most recently conducted a specially crafted arrangement of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Salzburg Festival to critical acclaim. Ben is mentored by Sian Edwards and until recently, Sir Colin Davis. A former tuba player, in 2009 Ben was awarded first prize in the National Association of Brass Band Conductors. In Summer 2013 BBC Music Magazine featured him as their “Rising Star: Great artist of tomorrow”.

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Astudiodd yr arweinydd Prydeinig, Ben Gernon, yn Ysgol Gerdd a Drama’r Guildhall lle bu’n Gymrawd Arwain, a graddiodd yn 2011. Ef yw Cymrawd Dudamel 13/14 gyda Cherddorfa Ffilharmonig Los Angeles ac ar 8 Medi bydd yn ymddangos am y tro cyntaf gyda Cherddorfa Siambr yr Alban mewn cyngerdd a fydd yn dathlu pen-blwydd Syr Peter Maxwell Davies yn 80 oed. Yn 2013, enillodd Wobr Arweinydd Ifanc Gŵyl Salzberg a Nestlé, sy’n adnabyddus yn rhyngwladol. Bu’n arwain Camerata Salzburg (mewn rhaglen o Beethoven a Maxwell-Davies) yn dilyn penderfyniad unfrydol gan y beirniaid, dan arweiniad Ingo Metzmacher. Fel rhan o’r Wobr, cafodd gyfle i berfformio am y tro cyntaf gyda Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester yng Ngŵyl Salzburg gan arwain Symffoni Rhif 5 Prokofiev. Ochr yn ochr â’i ymrwymiadau yn Los Angeles, mae tymor 13/14 yn cynnwys ei berfformiadau cyntaf gyda Cherddorfa Ulster fel rhan o gyfres “America” BBC Radio 3; Cerddorfa Symffoni BBC yr Alban a Chantorion y BBC yng Ngŵyl Sant Magnus a Sinfonia Southbank, yn ogystal ag arwain Ensemble Bryste a ‘Future Firsts’ Cerddorfa Ffilharmonig Llundain mewn dau brosiect fel rhan o’u cyfres “Northern Lights”. Mae hefyd yn dychwelyd i Gerddorfa Symffoni Llundain ddwywaith, ar 12 a 23 Mehefin. Bydd uchafbwyntiau yn y dyfodol yn cynnwys ei berfformiadau cyntaf gyda Cherddorfa Ffilharmonig Siapan Newydd, Symffoni Vancouver, Sinfonietta Lausanne, Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC, Cerddorfa Ffilharmonig Nagoya, Cerddorfa Ieuenctid

CBSO, Gŵyl Glyndebourne (cynorthwyydd), teithio ledled y DU gyda Camerata Salzburg a dychwelyd i Gerddorfa Siambr yr Alban a Cherddorfa Ulster. Mae uchafbwyntiau tymhorau diweddar yn cynnwys arwain ‘Composer Portrait’ Tansy Davies yn ‘Proms Plus’, Cerddorfa Symffoni Llundain, Cerddorfa Symffoni’r BBC yng ngŵyl Sant Magnus, Sinfonietta Llundain, ‘Future Firsts’ Cerddorfa Ffilharmonig Llundain a Cherddorfa Siambr yr Alban, yn ogystal â chyrraedd rownd derfynol cystadleuaeth arwain enwog Donatella Flick yn 2012. Yn ystod gwanwyn 2013, bu’n cynorthwyo Gustavo Dudamel yn ystod preswyliad Ffilharmonig LA yn y Barbican ac yn fwyaf diweddar bu’n arwain trefniant o waith Mozart a fireiniwyd yn arbennig, Die Entführung aus dem Serail yng Ngŵyl Salzburg a chafod ganmoliaeth fawr. Mae Ben yn cael ei fentora gan Siân Edwards a than yn ddiweddar, Syr Colin Davies. Yn gyn-chwaraeydd y tiwba, enillodd Ben gwobr gyntaf Cymdeithas Genedlaethol Arweinwyr Band Pres yn 2009. Yn ystod Haf 2013, ymddangosodd yn yng nghylchgrawn BBC Music o dan y pennawd “Seren Ddisglair: Artist addawol y dyfodol”.

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Catrin Finch Harp

Telyn

Catrin Finch is the most well known and perhaps the most accomplished harpist in the UK. Since her first recoding of Bach’s Goldberg Variations for the Deustche Grammophon in 2007, she has since recorded three further albums for the label including the best selling “Blessing”, which featured her own composition “Celtic Concerto” and works by multi award winning composer John Rutter. Since her inspiration to learn the harp at the age of five, her rise to prominence started almost immediately, achieving the highest mark in the UK for her Grade VIII exam at the age of nine. She studied with Elinor Bennett for eight years before entering the Purcell School. Catrin graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2002 where she studied with Skaila Kanga and received the Queen’s Award for the most outstanding student of her year. She then went on to win the Lily Laskine International Harp Competition in France, the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, and subsequently has been nominated for Classical Brit Awards and has also received an “Echo Klassik” in Germany. Catrin is the former Royal Harpist to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Holding the appointment from 2000-2004, she had the honour of reviving this ancient tradition last held in 1873. During her period as Royal Harpist she played regularly at the Royal Palaces and performed to Royalty from around the world.

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She has performed extensively throughout the U.S.A., south America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Europe. She has appeared with many of the world’s top orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Philharmonia, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Mozart Players, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony, the Lake Charles Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony and the Manchester Camerata. Festival appearances include Salzburg, Edinburgh, Spoleto, Smithsonian Folklife, MDR Musiksommer Festival in Leipzig, Le Domaine Forget and Lanaudiere Festivals in Canada and the Gödöllő Harp Festival in Hungary. Catrin has appeared on all the major television and radio networks in the UK and many abroad. Among her earliest appearances on TV were two features on the BBC’s ‘Blue Peter’, and since then there have been many appearances on radio and television in the UK. Catrin has recorded for most of the major international recording companies, including Universal Records, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI and Sony Classical, both solo and with notable artists such as Bryn Terfel, Sir James Galway and Julian Lloyd-Webber. She has received honours from the University

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of Wales Aberystwyth and Bangor, Glyndwr University, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music. She is a visiting Professor at the latter two musical institutions and is in great demand for masterclasses. Catrin Finch yw’r delynores fwyaf adnabyddus ac efallai’r delynores fwyaf medrus yn y DU. Ers iddi recordio Goldberg Variations Bach ar gyfer Deutsche Grammophon gyntaf yn 2007, mae hi wedi recordio tri albwm arall ar gyfer y label gan gynnwys yr hynod boblogaidd “Blessing”, a oedd yn cynnwys ei chyfansoddiad ei hun, “Celtic Concerto”, a gwaith gan y cyfansoddwr sydd wedi ennill sawl gwobr, John Rutter. Ers iddi gael ei hysbrydoli i ddechrau canu’r delyn yn bump oed, dechreuodd ddod yn amlwg bron ar unwaith, gan ennill y radd uchaf yn y DU ar gyfer ei harholiad gradd VIII yn naw oed. Astudiodd gydag Elinor Bennett am wyth mlynedd cyn mynd i Ysgol Purcell. Graddiodd Catrin o’r Academi Gerdd Frenhinol yn 2002 lle yr astudiodd gyda Skaila Kanga a derbyn Gwobr y Frenhines am y myfyriwr mwyaf rhagorol ei blwyddyn. Yna enillodd Gystadleuaeth Telyn Ryngwladol Lily Laskine yn Ffrainc, Clyweliadau Rhyngwladol Artistiaid Cyngerdd Ifanc yn Efrog Newydd, ac yn dilyn hynny mae wedi cael ei henwebu ar gyfer Gwobrau BRIT Clasurol, ac wedi derbyn “Echo Klassik” yn yr Almaen. Catrin yw cyn Delynores Frenhinol Ei Uchelder Brenhinol Tywysog Cymru. Parhaodd yn y swydd hon rhwng 2000-2004, a chafodd y fraint o ailadfer y traddodiad hynafol hwn na fu’n bodoli ers 1873. Yn ystod ei chyfnod fel Telynores Frenhinol bu’n perfformio’n rheolaidd yn y Palasau Brenhinol ac i aelodau o deuluoedd brenhinol ledled y byd.

Mae hi wedi perfformio’n helaeth yn yr Unol Daleithiau, De America, y Dwyrain Canol, Asia, Awstralia ac Ewrop. Mae hi wedi ymddangos gyda llawer o gerddorfeydd gorau’r byd gan gynnwys Ffilharmonig Efrog Newydd, Boston Pops, Philharmonia, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Cerddorfa Frenhinol Ffilharmonig, Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Cymru’r BBC, Chwaraewyr Mozart Llundain, Cerddorfa Siambr Lloegr, Symffoni Charlotte, Symffoni Lake Charles, Symffoni Gogledd Carolina a Camerata Manceinion. Mae ymddangosiadau mewn gwyliau’n cynnwys Salzburg, Caeredin, Spoleto, Smithsonian Folklife, Gŵyl MDR Musiksommer yn Leipzig, Gwyliau Le Domaine Forget a Lanaudiere yng Nghanada a Gŵyl Telyn Gödöllő yn Hwngari. Mae Catrin wedi ymddangos ar holl brif rwydweithiau’r radio a’r teledu yn y DU a nifer fawr ohonynt dramor. Ymhlith ei hymddangosiadau cynharaf ar y teledu, ymddangosodd ddwywaith ar raglen y BBC, Blue Peter, ac ers hynny mae wedi cyfrannu’n helaeth at raglenni radio a theledu yn y DU. Mae Catrin wedi recordio ar gyfer y mwyafrif o brif gwmnïau recordio rhyngwladol, gan gynnwys Universal Records, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI a Sony Classical, fel unawdydd a chydag artistiaid nodedig fel Bryn Terfel, Syr James Galway a Julian Lloyd-Webber. Mae hi wedi derbyn anrhydedd gan Brifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth a Phrifysgol Cymru Bangor, Prifysgol Glyndŵr, Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru a’r Academi Gerdd Frenhinol. Mae hi’n Athro gwadd yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru a’r Academi Gerdd Frenhinol, ac mae galw mawr iddi gynnal dosbarthiadau meistr.

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Introduction et Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet Introduction et Allegro i delyn, ffliwt, clarinet a phedwarawd llinynnol

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Danses sacree et profane for harp and strings

Danses sacree et profane i delyn a llinynnau

These two works are linked in a way which is probably unique in the history of music. In 1904 the French instrument building firm Pleyel wanted to promote its new ‘chromatic’ harp, which did away with nasty unsightly pedals by arranging two sets of strings in such a way that all notes were somehow possible. Debussy was asked to write a work which would show off all the advantages of this new wonder and his response was a set of contrasted dances - ‘sacred and profane’ - for harp and strings. Not wanting to be outdone, the rival firm Erard turned to Ravel in 1905 for a piece to display the virtues of the ‘traditional’ pedal harp. He was due to join some friends for a two-month cruise on a boat called the Aimee, but delayed boarding in order to spend eight days and ‘three sleepless nights’ fulfilling this commission ‘for better or worse’. It would seem somehow invidious to choose between these two pieces, even if posterity has generally awarded the palm to Ravel. In one sense however, Erard was indeed triumphant, in that its concert harp easily outclassed the newfangled Pleyel, which soon became extinct. Tonight’s concert rather proves the point in that Debussy’s transparently haunting music works perfectly on the rival instrument. As for Ravel’s ravishing masterpiece - words are simply superfluous in the presence of such musical magic. As Poulenc said of his own: “Don’t analyse my music - just love it”. Amen to that!

Mae’r ddau ddarn yma yn gysylltiedig mewn ffordd sydd o bosib yn unigryw yn hanes cerddoriaeth. Yn 1904 dyma’r cwmni adeiladu offerynnau Ffrengig Pleyel yn gofyn i Debussy gyfansoddi darn i ddangos holl rinweddau y delyn ‘gromatic’ newydd. Dyma offeryn oedd yn cael gwared a’r holl bedalau diflas ‘na a thrwy drefnu dwy res o dannau gyferbyn a’i gilydd yn galluogi canu pob nodyn o’r raddfa gromatic. Daeth Debussy a dwy ddawns gyferbyniol i’r fei - un o’r byd a’i ragflaenydd o’r betws - i delyn i gyfeiliant llinynnau. Ond yn awr dyma’r cwmni arall yn y maes, Erard, yn troi at Ravel am ddarn i amlygu rhagoriaeth eu telyn bedal ‘draddodiadol’ hwythau. Roedd yntau ar fin ymuno a ffrindiau ar fordaith ar long o’r enw’r Aimee, ond oedodd cyn gwneud gan gymryd wyth niwrnod a ‘thair noswaith ddi-gwsg’ i orffen y comisiwn ‘er gwell neu er gwaeth’. Afraid rhoi’r un darn yn uwch na’r llall (er bod y farn gyffredinol wedi tueddi ffafrio Ravel) ond ar un ystyr Erard fu’n fuddugol, gan i’w hofferyn hwy oroesi telyn newydd Pleyel yn rhwydd. Ac mae’n cyngerdd heno yn profi’r pwynt gan fod Dawnsiau tyner-dryloyw Debussy yn gweithio’n berffaith ar y delyn bedal. Hud a lledrith pur a geir gan Ravel, ac yng ngwyneb y fath gamp fe’m hatgoffir o eiriau Poulenc am ei eiddo’i hun: “Peidiwch a dadansoddi fy ngherddoriaeth - dim ond ei garu”. Amen i hynny!

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

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William Mathias (1934-1992) Melos for flute, harp, percussion and strings, Op.73 (i) Nocturne - (ii) Aubade - (iii) Sun-Dance Melos i ffliwt, telyn, offerynnau taro a llinynnau, Op.73 (i) Noswylgan - (ii) Cyfarch y Bore - (iii) Dawns yr Haul

Mathias wrote his first solo work for harp in 1958 when he was still a student in London, waiting until 1970 before writing the great Harp Concerto for Osian Ellis. In 1975 came the Zodiak Trio for Marisa Robles and her (then) husband, flautist Christopher Hyde-Smith and their viola colleague Frederick Riddle. A commission in 1976 for the London Mozart Players then led to Melos, in which the same flute and harp duo were supported by strings and percussion. Inspired by a sea-voyage around the Greek Islands in 1975 Melos derives its character form the Greek word itself: ‘Melos’ means melody and song and it is also an island in the Aegean where, according to myth, the irresistible goddess Aphrodite was born!

Cyfansoddodd Mathias ei waith cyntaf i delyn unawdol tra’n dal yn fyfyriwr yn Llundain yn 1958, gan aros tan 1970 cyn ysgrifennu’r Concerto Telyn gwych i Osian Ellis. Yn 1975 daeth y Triawd Zodiak ar gyfer Marisa Robles a’r ffliwtydd Christopher Hyde-Smith, oedd yn wr iddi (ar y pryd), a’u cyfaill Frederick Riddle ar y fiola. O dderbyn comisiwn wedyn am ddarn i’r London Mozart Players ei berfformio yn 1976, fe gyfansoddodd Melos i’r un par ar ffliwt a thelyn i gyfeiliant offerynnau taro a llinynnau. Tan ddylanwad mordaith o amgylch Ynysoedd Groeg yn 1975 mae Melos yn tynnu’i ysbrydoliaeth o’r gair Groegaidd ei hun. Ystyr ‘melos’ yw alaw neu gan (melodi!) ac y mae hefyd yn ynys yn yr Aegean lle, yn ol y chwedl, ganed y dduwies lesmeiriol Aphrodite!

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June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Jacques Ibert (1890-1962) Divertissement for chamber orchestra Divertissement i gerddorfa siambr (i) Introduction (ii) Cortege (iii) Nocturne (iv) Valse (v) Parade (vi) Finale Ibert belonged to the generation of French composers of whom some were manacled together by Jean Cocteau as ‘Les Six’ - but wasn’t actually one of the gang. His musical hallmarks are mostly very similar however, in embracing all the cock-a-snook jazz-infused irreverence of this colourful post-war group. His most popular and enduring work - the kaleidoscopic Divertissement - had its origins in some incidental music written for Eugene Labiche’s comedy The Italian Straw Hat in 1929. Ibert got slightly impatient in waiting for the staging two years later and by then had put bits of it together to form the concert-hall Divertissement, in which form it has long outlived the play which gave rise to it. But the role of the play was nevertheless crucial in giving the music its colour and flavour as well as the dazzling scoring which includes a veritable array of exotic percussion instruments. The ‘pea whistle’ may sound prosaic enough in English but ‘soufflet a roulette’ just makes you long to be in France if even for half-an-hour!

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Perthynai Ibert i’r genhedlaeth honno o gyfansoddwyr Ffrengig a gasglwyd at ei gilydd fel ‘Les Six’ gan Jean Cocteau, er nad oedd yn perthyn i’r grwp yn ffurfiol. Ond roedd popeth amdano yn perthyn i’r un estheteg ol-ryfel, lle ceir holl fwrlwm jazz ac elfen amharchus wrthryfelgar yn ogystal. Ei waith mwyaf poblogaidd yw’r Divertissement amryliw, sydd a’i wreiddiau mewn cerddoriaeth theatr i’r ddrama Yr Het Wair Eidalaidd gan Eugene Labiche ac a gyfansoddodd yn 1929. Wrth i oedi ohirio’r perfformiad am ddwy flynedd aeth Ibert ati i droi’r gerddoriaeth orau yn ddarn i’r neuadd gyngerdd, ac yn wir y mae’r Divertissement wedi hen oroesi’r ddrama wreiddiol. Eto i gyd, y gwreiddiau theatrig hynny sy’n gyfrifol am gymeriad lliwgar y gerddoriaeth a’i offeryniaeth lachar sy’n cynnwys pob math o offerynnau taro anghyfarwydd. Efallai bod y ‘chwiban-bys’ yn swnio’n ddigon di-liw yn ein hiaith ni ond mae ‘soufflet a roulette’ yn bwydo’r awydd i fod yn Ffrainc yn syth, hyd yn oed os taw am hannerawr yn unig!

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Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Appalachian Spring - ballet in one act for 13 instruments Appalachian Spring - balet mewn un act i 13 offeryn As old as the century, Copland started out with impeccable European intentions and studied at the famous Parisian patisserie of Nadia Boulanger where he happily guzzled up her diet of Stravinsky and sugar. On returning to America however, he discovered his own voice only by turning to indigenous American sounds as in the ballets Billy the Kid, Rodeo and El Salon Mexico. During World War II he was approached by the fabulously rich Mrs.Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge to compose a one-act ballet for the 1944 Coolidge Foundation Festival to be held at Washington’s Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium. Mrs.Coolidge herself was instrumental in bringing Copland together with the great choreographer Martha Graham and the partnership worked triumphantly. The half-hour scenario is set in Puritan Pennsylvania farming territory where a pioneering-era community is about to celebrate a springtime wedding. Copland creates a wonderful sense of innocent rapture in which quiet meditation and exuberant dancing move from one to the other quite naturally before melting into a spellbinding re-creation of the old Shaker hymn “Tis a Gift to Be Simple”. Almost as magical is the title itself, which Graham took from the inscription to a poem by Hart Crane: those two words alone - Appalachian Spring - conjure up a brave new world of confident beauty. With materials like these there was no need now for American artists to look any farther afield than their own homeland and its traditions.

Dechreuodd Copland ar ei yrfa gydag ymagwedd barchus Ewropeaidd yn dilyn astudiaethau ym Mharis gyda Nadia Boulanger. Ond wedi dychwelyd i America fe ddarganfyddodd ei lais ei hun dim ond wedi troi at sain a sylwedd gynhenid Americanaidd yn ei ddarnau dawns fel Billy the Kid, Rodeo ac El Salon Mexico. Yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd derbyniodd gomisiwn gan Mrs.Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge i gyfansoddi balet un-act i’w pherfformio yn 1944 - yn ystod Gwyl Sefydliad Coolidge yn Awditoriwm Coolidge y Llyfrgell Gyngresol yn Washington: nid oedd Mrs. Coolidge yn brin o geiniog neu ddwy! Ac fel rhan o’i haelioni fe ddaeth a Copland at wireddu breuddwyd trwy ei gyflwyno i’r goreograffwraig nodedig Martha Graham. Cytunwyd ar stori wedi’i gosod yn un o gymunedau ffermio y Bensylfannia Biwritanaidd yng nghyfnod yr arloeswyr, lle mae priodas wanwyn ar fin cael ei dathlu. Llwydda Copland yn rhyfeddol i greu naws awyr-agored wyrddlas lle mae myfyrio tawel yn symud yn naturiol at ddawnsio egniol cyn toddi’n hudolus i mewn i’r hen emyn Shaker “Tis the Gift to Be Simple”. Bron mor hudolus hefyd yw’r teitl ei hun, a gymerodd Graham o arysgrif un o gerddi Hart Crane: dau air - ‘Appalachian Spring’ - sy’n cyfleu gwybren newydd yn llawn hyder hapus. Gyda’r fath ddefnyddiau crai naturiol pa angen nawr oedd i athrylith o Americanwr droi i’r tu allan am ysbrydoliaeth neu hunaniaeth? Notes and translations by Geraint Lewis (2014) Nodiadau a chyfieithiadau gan Geraint Lewis (2014)

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Violin Bartosz Woroch Kay Stephen Christina Knox Kirsty Lovie

Double Bass Stewart Wilson

Trumpet Jason Lewis

Flute Sarah Bennett

Trombone Stephen Sykes

Viola Lucy Nolan Elitsa Bogdanova

Clarinet Benjamin Mellefont

Piano Robin Green

Bassoon James Thomas

Timpani/Percussion Rhys Matthews

Cello Alistair Howes Gemma Johnson

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Horn Hugh Sisley

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

How can you help?

Sut gallwch chi helpu?

Please help us to support young musicians at the start of their careers.

Helpwch ni i cefnogi gerddorion ifanc ar ddechrau eu gyrfaoedd.

Sinfonia Cymru can only thrive as an ambitious orchestra committed to supporting young musical talent in Wales with the dedicated support of our audiences, funders, donors, Friends, Patrons and partner organisations. We would like to thank all of you for your empowering support, as we continue on our musical journey throughout Wales and beyond.

Gall Sinfonia Cymru ond ffynnu fel cerddorfa uchelgeisiol sydd wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi talent gerddorol ifanc yng Nghymru gyda chefnogaeth ymroddedig ein cynulleidfaoedd, cyllidwyr, rhoddwyr, Cyfeillion, Noddwyr a sefydliadau partner. Hoffem ddiolch i chi i gyd am eich cefnogaeth frwd wrth inni barhau â’n taith gerddorol drwy Gymru a thu hwnt.

There are a number of different ways you can get involved with Sinfonia Cymru:

Mae sawl ffordd y gallwch gymryd rhan gyda Sinfonia Cymru:

You can join the Supporting Friends of Sinfonia Cymru for just £30 per individual or £50 per household per year or the Patrons of Sinfonia Cymru for £100, £240 or £600+ per year.

Gallwch ymuno â Chyfeillion Cefnogol Sinfonia Cymru am ddim ond £30 yr unigolyn neu £50 yr aelwyd y flwyddyn neu Noddwyr Sinfonia Cymru am £100, £240 neu £600+ y flwyddyn.

You can pay monthly or annually by cheque or standing order. As a Friend or Patron you will receive regular newsletters and a discount of £1 off full and concession ticket prices for the orchestra’s main orchestral concerts each year.

Gallwch dalu’n fisol neu’n flynyddol drwy siec neu archeb sefydlog. Fel Cyfaill neu Noddwr byddwch yn derbyn cylchlythyrau rheolaidd a disgownt o £1 oddi ar brisiau llawn tocynnau a chonsesiynau ar gyfer prif gyngherddau’r gerddorfa bob blwyddyn.

You can support a Professional Pathway Award for the 2014/2015 academic year either individually or as member of a syndicate.

Gallwch gefnogi Dyfarniad Llwybr Proffesiynol ar gyfer blwyddyn academaidd 2014/15 naill ai’n unigol neu fel aelod o syndicet.

Or simply join our mailing list and receive information only about all our forthcoming concerts and events by post or email.

Neu ymunwch â’n rhestr bostio a dim ond derbyn gwybodaeth am ein holl gyngherddau a digwyddiadau sydd ar y gweill drwy’r post neu dros yr e-bost.

You can find out more about the orchestra and how to get involved at our website www.sinfoniacymru. co.uk or contact us directly by phone (02920 754 556) or email (contact@sinfoniacymru.co.uk).

Gallwch gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y gerddorfa a sut i gymryd rhan ar ein gwefan www. sinfoniacymru.co.uk neu cysylltwch â ni yn uniongyrchol dros y ffôn (02920 754 556) neu e-bost (contact@sinfoniacymru.co.uk).

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

Patrons Noddwyr Mr & Mrs G Cheesman Mr & Mrs John Cosslett Geraint & Elizabeth Talfan Davies Marian Evans William & Christine Eynon G Wyn Howells Emyr Wynne Jones Hywel & Marian Jones

Dr & Mrs G Stanley Jones Dafydd & Christine Lewis Susan Holmes & Penny Malec John Minkes Sally Morgan Steven Tyrer & Mike Pierce Kempton & Helene Rees Dr & Mrs John C Rees

Ms. Menna Richards Lucy Stout & Carlo Rizzi Michael & Mary Salter Mr Seligman Roger & Rhian Thomas Mrs. Gaye Williams

Supporting Friends Cyfeillion Cefnogol David Ash Geoff D Atkins Valerie Chance Mona Clark Mr & Mrs Chegwin Rev & Mrs P E N David Dr & Mrs Anthony J Edwards Rhona Elias Wendy Ellis Mr & Mrs J Evans John Foster

Bette L Griffiths Gethin & Jane Griffiths Anna K Jackson Sheila Jeffries Dr D S & S A Jeremiah Mrs Janet Jones Jenny Kendall Meinir Lloyd Lewis Dr & Mrs Colin E Morgan Dr Brian Nelson Eleri Owen

Meg Park Mary Pugh Alban & Rhinedd Rees J M Tanner Corris & Joan Thomas Genevieve Thomas Lynn & Moira Thomas Clive Wales Lady Sarah Waterhouse Anna Williams

Madeleine Hanford Leslie Jones

Emyr Williams

Friends Cyfeillion George & Joyce Davis J Russell Evans

Supporters Cefnogwyr a Cyllid

Partners Partneriaid

Sinfonia Cymru is a registered Charity (1058196)

Mae Sinfonia Cymru’n elusen gofrestredig (1058196)

Sinfonia Cymru is a Company Limited by Guarantee (03240356)

Mae Sinfonia Cymru’n gwmni Cyfyngedig gan warant (03240356)

SINFONIA CYMRU IS A REVENUE FUNDED CLIENT OF THE ARTS COUNCIL OF WALES

MAE SINFONIA CYMRU YN GLEIENT REFENIW CYNGOR CELFYDDYDAU CYMRU

Media Centre, S4C, Parc Tŷ Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5DU 02920 754556

June 2014 Mehefin 2014

@sinfoniacymru

/sinfoniacymru

www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk

Welsh Proms, Swansea / Abertawe, 23.07.14 North Wales International Music Festival, St Asaph, 27.09.14 Midsummer Night’s Dream, Newtown, 28.09.14 Four Last Songs, Cardiff / Caerdydd, 03.10.14 John Corigliano, Swansea / Abertawe, 11.10.14 Halloween Spooktacular / Nos Glangaea Bwgandibethma 26.10.14 In Memory of Dylan Thomas / Er Cof am Dylan Thomas, Bangor, 30.10.14

0800 052 1812 bbc.co.uk/now

Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC

Gregynog Festival, Aberystwyth, 27.06.14

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

HIGHLIGHTS • UCHAFBWYNT

SMALL NATIONS BIG SOUNDS An International festival showcasing emerging musical talent from across Europe.

In partnership with Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama & BBC National Orchestra of Wales Artistic Director Bartosz Woroch Sinfonia Cymru Camerata Nordica Swedish Wind Ensemble Rodolfo Celletti Belcanto Academy Pille Lille Music Foundation

Fri 3 October, 7.30pm BBC National Orchestra of Wales St Davids Hall Sat 4 October, 7.30pm Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD Sun 5 October, 7.30pm Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD Mon 6 October, 7.30pm Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD

June 2014 Mehefin 2014