Sinfonia Cymru & Llŷr Williams Rossini: Overture to ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K.491 Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in Bb, D. 485 Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 Conductor: Gareth Jones Piano: Llŷr Williams
Fri 21st Nov, 7.30pm Gwe 21st Tach, 7.30yh
Sat 22nd Nov, 7.30pm Sad 22nd Tach, 7.30yh
Sun 23rd Nov, 3.00pm Sul 23rd Tach, 3.00yh
Pontyberem Memorial Hall Neuadd Goffa Pontyberem
Aberystwyth Arts Centre Canolfan Celfyddydau Aberystwyth
The Riverfront, Newport Glan yr Afon, Casnewydd
Concert Programme £2 Rhaglen Gyngerdd £2
Aberystwyth Arts Centre • Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth
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CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS DATHLU’R NADOLIG Hosted by • Cynhelir gan Wynne Evans Thursday • Iau 18.12.14, 7.30pm St David’s Hall, Cardiff • Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd
Friday • Gwener 19.12.14, 7.30pm Brangwyn Hall, Swansea • Neuadd Brangwyn, Abertawe
Saturday • Sadwrn 20.12.14, 3pm & 7pm Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest Ysgol Syr Thomas Picton, Hwlffordd
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THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD & BENJAMIN GROSVENOR Beethoven, Haydn & Mozart Wednesday • Mercher 04.02.15, 7.30pm Brangwyn Hall, Swansea • Neuadd Brangwyn, Abertawe
Thursday • Iau 05.02.15, 7.30pm St David’s Hall, Cardiff • Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd
Cerddorfa a Chorws Cenedlaethol Cymreig y BBC
Friday • Gwener 28.11.14, 7.30pm
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
CELTIC IMPRESSIONS ARGRAFFION CELTAIDD
0800 052 1812 bbc.co.uk/now BBC NOW Sinfonia Cymru Nov 210x148mm.indd 1
04/11/2014 17:18
Cerddorfa a Chorws Cenedlaethol Cymreig y BBC
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Rossini: Overture to ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K.491 Interval Egwyl Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in Bb, D. 485 Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 Piano: Llŷr Williams Conductor Arweinydd: Gareth Jones Musical Director Cyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth 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 Steffan Morris Trustees Ymddiriedolwyr Lucy Stout Chair Cadeirydd Michael Salter Honorary President Llywydd Anrhydeddus Gareth Cheesman Company Secretary Ysgrfiennydd Cwmni Toks Dada Kempton Rees David Jackson Gaye Williams Geraint Lewis Catrin Slater Ian Morris Matt Cawardine Palmer Sophie Rashbrook Peter Bellingham Management Gweinyddiaeth Sophie Lewis James Thomas Emerald Skeete Elizabeth Day Luc Morris
General Manager Rheolwr Cyffredinol Orchestra Manager Rheolwr y Gerddorfa Administrator Gweinyddydd Arts & Business Cymru Creative Intern Intern Creadigol Arts & Business Cymru Marketing & Communications Officer Swyddog Marchnata a Chyfathrebu luc@sinfoniacymru.co.uk
Foreword Firstly, a warm welcome to you all; Friends, Patrons and Supporters to what promises to be a memorable series of concerts. As well as returning to two of our main venues in Pontyberem and Newport, this series sees Sinfonia Cymru’s first ever visit to Aberystwyth a first of many we hope. This year marks the tenth anniversary of a musical partnership – one that began shortly after I heard a brilliant young accompanist in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. I had been made aware previously of Llŷr Williams by the music critic, Rian Evans, who spoke of him in the loftiest terms, but it was only when I heard him for myself accompanying in the 2003 competition that I was really mesmerised by the sheer musicality and intellect of his playing. It inspired me to approach Llŷr to see whether he would consider joining the orchestra to create a major project, which led to us performing the cycle of five Beethoven Piano Concertos. We completed them in the Orchestra’s 10th Anniversary Concert in 2006, and inspired by this whole experience, we began immediately to discuss further collaborations. It is an extremely rare situation that an orchestra, soloist and conductor are able to
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enjoy such an enduring collaboration, but that has been precisely the case here. To date, we
Cefais fy ysbrydoli i ofyn Llyr os y gallai ystyried ymuno’r gerddorfa i creu prosiect
have enjoyed performing over a dozen concerti by Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich.
mawr, a arweiniodd i ni berfformio cylchred o bump Concerto Piano gan Beethoven. Fe gwblhaeon ni’r cylchred yn Cyngerdd Penblwydd y Gerddorfa yn deng mlwydd oed yn 2006, ac wedi ysbrydoli gan y profiad yma, fe ddechreuon ni drafod cydweithrediadau arall ar unwaith.
These concerts will raise further that total and I am particularly thrilled to have persuaded Llŷr to perform Mendelssohn Concerto No 1, a new piece for him and a longtime favourite of mine. Enjoy!
Yn gyntaf, croeso cynnes i chi gyd; Gyfeillion, Noddwyr, a Chefnogwyr oll i’r hyn sy’n addo i fod yn gyfres gofiadwy o gyngherddau. Wrth I ni hefyd ddychwelyd yn nôl i’n prif neuaddau, mae’r cyfres yma yn gweld ymweliad cyntaf Sinfonia Cymru i Aberystwyth - y cyntaf o lawer gobeithiwn. Mae blwyddyn yma hefyd yn nodi’r degfed pen-blwydd o phartneriaeth cerddorol – un a ddechreuodd yn fuan ar ôl i mi chlywed gyfeilydd ifanc wych yn cystadleuaeth BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd. Fe ddes i’n ymwybodol o Llyr Williams yn gynharach gan y feriniad cerddoriaeth Rian Evans, a siaradodd amdano gyda iaith eithafol, dim ond pan glywais i ef yn cyfeilio yn cystadleuaeth 2003 y roeddwn i cefais i fy hudo gan ei gerddoroldeb a deallusrwydd.
Prin iawn y gewch sefyllfa lle mae cerddorfa, unawdydd ac arweinydd yn gallu mwynhau’r fath o partneriaeth parhaol, ond dyma’r achos yn union yma. Hyd at nawr rydym wedi mwynhau perfformio dros deuddeg concerti gan Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninov a Shostakovich. Bydd y cyngherddau yma yn codi’r nifer yma eto ac roeddwn i wrth fy modd at gallu annog Llyr i berfformio Consierto Rhif 1 Mendelssohn, sydd yn darn newydd iddo ef ac un o’n ffefrynau i ers amser. Mwynhewch! Gareth Jones Musical Director Cyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth
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Sinfonia Cymru Sinfonia Cymru is a young 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 is directed by founding conductor and Musical Director Gareth Jones.
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), 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.
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.
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 also 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
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’.
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and electronic musical performance with live reactive visuals. Described by Gramophone as “a radical overhaul of the concert experience”, UnButtoned was performed at the Bristol Proms in July 2014 alongside an experimental collaboration by Tom Morris (Director, Bristol Old Vic) named ‘Towards a Staged Concert’ (★★★★ Bristol Post). The UnButtoned team has since gone on to develop their new immersive project ‘Unease’ which features musical ideas from UnButtoned with innovative technology and production by video artist John Collingswood, immersive experience producers Yellobrick with theatre director Gerald Tyler.
www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk
In 2014 Sinfonia Cymru worked with actor Richard Harrington (star of S4C Y Gwyll / Hinterland), with harpist Catrin Finch alongside young conductor Ben Gernon, Bryn Terfel, and on an experimental collaboration with Tom Morris (Original Director War Horse, Artistic Director Bristol Proms) at The Bristol Proms. The orchestra also played a major role in the ‘Emerging Classical Talent in the EU’ project; an extraordinary International collaboration that brought together a number of European partners for concerts across Europe and culminated in Sinfonia Cymru’s Small Nations Big Sounds Festival, which it delivered in Cardiff in partnership with RWCMD. The orchestra looks forward to performing with Laura Van Der Heijden and Rachel Podger in 2015.
Mae Sinfonia Cymru yn gerddorfa siambr 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 cael ei gyfarwyddo gan ei arweinydd sefydlol a Chyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth, Gareth Jones. 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
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glasurol BBC Radio 3, a pherfformiad yn
(★★★★ Bristol Post). Mae tîm UnButtoned wedi
‘Yellow Lounge’ Universal Live.
mynd ymlaen i ddatblygu eu prosiect trochol newydd, ‘Unease’ sy’n cynnwys syniadau cerddorol o UnButtoned gyda technoleg a cynhyrchiant arloesol gan artist fideo John Collingswood, cynhyrchwyr profiadau trochol Yellobrick a cyfarwyddydd theatr Gerald Tyler.
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. Wedi ei ddisgrifio gan Gramophone fel “atgyweiriad radicalaidd o’r brofiad cyngerdd, cafodd UnButtoned ei berfformio ym Mhroms Bryste yn Gorffenaf 2014 ochr yn ochr â cydweithrediad arbrofol gan Tom Morris (Cyfarwyddydd, Bristol Old Vic) ag enwyd ‘Towards a Staged Concert’
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Yn 2014, gweithiodd Sinfonia Cymru gyda’r actor Richard Harrington (seren Y Gwyll / Hinterland S4C), gyda Catrin Finch a Ben Gernon, Bryn Terfel ac ar prosiectau addysg arbennig yn ysgolion Casnewydd. Cymerodd y gerddorfa prif rhan mewn prosiect ‘Emerging Classical Talen in the EU’; cydweithrediad rhyngwladol eithriadol ddaeth â nifer o phartneriaid Ewropeaidd i’w gilydd ar gyfer cyngherddau ledled Ewrop ac arweiniodd i Gwyl Cenhedloedd Bach Synau Mawr Sinfonia Cymru y gyflwynodd mewn partneriaeth gyda CBCDC. Mae’r gerddorfa yn edrych ymlaen i berfformio gyda Laura Van Der Heijden a Rachel Podger yn 2015.
www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk
Llŷr Williams Piano
Welsh pianist, Llŷr Williams, is widely admired for his profound musical intelligence, and for the expressive and communicative nature of his interpretations. He has worked with orchestras around the world, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Sinfonia Cymru, I Pomeriggi Musicali, Meininger Hofkapelle, Berner Kammerorchester, Limburgs Symphony and the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg. He also appears at the BBC Proms in London and has given many remarkable performances at the Edinburgh International Festival, including a sensationally received performance of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata in 2010. He is a regular performer in the Wigmore Hall’s main piano series. In the autumn 2014 Williams is embarking on a complete Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle spread over three years, both at the Wigmore Hall and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff. His previous Beethoven cycles around the UK included an epic twoweek period in August 2011 at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh during the Festival, for which he received a prestigious South Bank Show award. Since September 2013, Williams has
been collaborating with the Elias Quartet in a residency at Glasgow Royal Concert Halls and over the next two seasons they will be exploring Beethoven’s piano sonatas and string quartets, in a series of concerts and talks. Llŷr Williams is a regular performer at the East Neuk Festival in Scotland, Handelsbeurs Concertzaal Gent, and in the Piano aux Jacobins series in Toulouse. He is also currently artist in residence at Galeri Caernarfon in Wales. Highlights in 2013/14 season included recitals at the Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse, St George’s Hall in Liverpool, 3 solo Beethoven programmes at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in the USA and appearances at East Neuk Festival featuring an all Schubert programme. He also worked with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Meininger Hofkapelle. 2014/15 season will see further appearances with SCO featuring Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1 and Piano Concerto No.2. A regular collaborator with violinist Alexander Janiczek, they will appear together in Salzburg and Wigmore Hall in 2015/16 season. His latest release Wagner Without Words (Signum, August 2014), reflects Williams’ intimate relationship with operatic music. Alongside original piano music by Wagner
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himself, and the transcriptions by Liszt and
to become one of the official accompanists at
Glenn Gould, Williams’ own arrangements of Parsifal were highly praised in the press. Williams had previously recorded two solo albums for Signum, the first one in 2010 with music by Mussorgsky, Debussy and Liszt and the second in 2012 featuring works by Liszt. Summer 2012 saw a release of a live CD from the East Neuk Festival, containing Beethoven’s Op109 and Op110 sonatas, available at http://www.eastneukfestival. com/ Llŷr Williams is the subject of two films produced for S4C: the first of which won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Music Programme, and the second featured his debut at Carnegie Hall. Llŷr Williams’ great love of lieder led him
the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
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Born in 1976 in Pentrebychan, North Wales, Llŷr Williams read music at The Queen’s College, Oxford and went on to take up a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where he won every available prize and award. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was an active member of the Live Music Now! scheme for several years, was selected for Young Concert Artists in 2002. From 2003-2005 he was a BBC New Generation Artist and in 2004 received a Borletti- Buitoni Trust award.
www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk
Mae’r pianydd Gymraeg, Llŷr Williams yn cael
Mae ei rhyddhad diwethaf Wagner Without
ei edmygu am ei deallusrwydd cerddorol, ac am natur fynegiannol a chyfathrebol ei ddehongliadau. Mae ef wedi gweithio gyda cherddorfeydd ledled y byd, gan gynnwys Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru, I Pomeriggi Musicali, Berner Kammerorchester, a’r Mozarteum Orchestra yn Salzburg. Mae ef hefyd wedi ymddangos ym Mhroms y BBC yn Llundain ac wedi rhoi llawer o berfformiadau rhyfeddol yng Ngŵyl Ryngwladol Caeredin, gan gynnwys perfformiad o Concord Sonata Charles Ives yn 2010. Mae ef yn berfformiwr rheolaidd yn prif gyfres piano Neuadd Wigmore.
Words (Signum, Awst 2014), yn adlewyrchu perthynas agos Williams gyda cherddoriaeth operatig. Ochr yn ochr â cherddoriaeth wreiddiol ar gyfer y piano gan Wagner ei hun, a’r trawsgrifiadau gan Liszt a Glenn Gould, cafodd trefniadau Williams ei hun o Parsifal ei chanmol yn uchel yn y wasg. Recordiodd Williams dau albwm unawdol ar gyfer Signum yn flaenorol. Yr un cyntaf yn 2010 gyda cherddoriaeth gan Mussorgsky, Debussy a Liszt a’r ail yn 2012 yn cynnwys gweithiau gan Liszt. Mae Llŷr Williams yn destun dwy ffilm wedi cynhyrchu ar gyfer S4C: enillodd y cyntaf BAFTA Gymreig am Raglen Cerddoriaeth Gorau, a’r ail yn cynnwys ei berfformiad cyntaf yn Neuadd Carnegie.
Yn yr hydref 2014 mae Williams yn cychwyn ar Gylchred cyflawn o Sonatau Piano Beethoven wedi lledaenu dros dair blynedd yn Neuadd y Wigmore ac yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru yng Nghaerdydd. Roedd ei gylchredau Beethoven blaenorol o amgylch y DU yn cynnwys pythefnos arwrol yn Awst 2011 yn Greyfriars Kirk yng Nghaeredin yn ystod yr Ŵyl, gamp ag enillodd ef wobr fawreddog Sioe South Bank. Ers Medi 2013, mae Williams wedi bod yn cydweithredu gyda’r Pedwarawd Elias mewn preswyliad yn Neuaddau Brenhinol Glasgow a dros y ddau tymor nesaf fe fydden nhw yn archwilio sonatau piano a phedwarawdau llinynnol Beethoven, mewn cyfres o gyngherddau a sgyrsiau.
Wedi ei eni yn 1976 ym Mhentrebychan, Gogledd Cymru, Darllenodd Llŷr Williams cerddoriaeth yng Ngholeg Queens, Rhydychen ac aeth ymlaen i gymryd ysgoloriaeth ôl-raddedig yn Royal Academy of Music lle enillodd bob gwobr ar gael. Mae ef hefyd yn Gymrawd Anrhydeddus yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru. Roedd ef hefyd yn aelod actif yn y cynllun Live Music Now! am nifer o flynyddoedd, gafodd ei ddewis am Artistiaid Cyngerdd Ifanc yn 2002. O 2003-2005 roedd ef yn Artist Cenhedlaeth Newydd y BBC ac yn 2004 derbynodd gwobr ymddiriedaeth Borletti- Buitoni.
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Gareth Jones Conductor
Arweinydd
Gareth Jones began his conducting career as a member of Music Staff of Welsh National Opera, which he joined in 1990. While there he conducted an extensive range of repertoire including Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Turandot, Nabucco, La Traviata, Ernani, Die Fledermaus, Eugene Onegin, The Yeomen of the Guard, Faust, La Boheme, Fidelio, Billy Budd, The Carmelites, Carmen, Katya Kabanova, The Cunning Little Vixen, Jenufa, Le Nozze di Figaro, Der Fliegende Hollander, Madama Butterfly, La Cenerentola, The Magic Flute andHansel and Gretel. In 2009 and 2010, Gareth conducted Aida at the Bregenz Festival. He has conducted The Mikado for Vancouver Opera and English National Opera and returned to the RNCM, his alma mater, in 2011 to conduct Barber’s Vanessa.
As a result of a highly acclaimed Gala concert given by Sinfonia Cymru in April 2000 with Bryn Terfel, which included a performance of “Wotan’s Farewell”, a special bond has developed between Bryn, Gareth and the orchestra. Gareth has worked with Bryn Terfel on numerous projects including the disc “We’ll Keep a Welcome”, opera galas at the Faenol, Henley and Hampton Court Festivals and an S4C recording of Handel’s “Messiah”. In addition Gareth has conducted more than sixty concerts worldwide with Bryn, including his BBC Proms debut with Renee Fleming and Bryn in works by Wagner and Strauss. Gareth has been the regular conductor at the Faenol Festival where he has worked with international singers such as Andrea Bocelli, Angela Gheorghiu, Rolando Villazon, Renee Fleming, Carlos Alvarez and Diana Damrau.
In 1996, Gareth formed Sinfonia Cymru which, in recent years, has established itself as Wales’ premier chamber orchestra. Many prominent artists have worked with Gareth and the orchestra including Dennis O’Neill, Rebecca Evans, Simon Keenlyside, Joseph Calleja, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Jean Phillipe Collard, Peter Donohoe, David Pyatt, Michael Collins, Chloe Hanslip, Catrin Finch, Guy Johnston, Liwei Qin, Alina Ibragimova, Jiafeng Chen and Llyr Williams.
Concert work in the United Kingdom has included appearances with the Halle Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra and the Manchester Camerata.
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Recent engagements include Madama
a recordiad S4C o “Messiah” Handel. Yn
Butterfly for Welsh National Opera, the UK premiere of Philip Glass’s A Perfect American for English National Opera and a Scandinavian tour with Bryn Terfel of an all-Wagner programme. Engagements in 2014 include concerts with Bryn Terfel and the Orchestre National de Belgique in Paris and Brussels, performances of Showboat with Cape Town Opera both in Cape Town and a UK tour, performances of A Perfect American in Brisbane Festival and a concert performance of Sweeney Todd with Bryn Terfel at Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
ogystal, mae Gareth wedi arwain mwy na chwe deg cyngerdd ledled y byd gyda Bryn, gan gynnwys ei ymddangosiad cyntaf yn Proms y BBC gyda Renee Fleming a Bryn mewn gweithiau gan Wagner a Strauss. Mae Gareth hefyd wedi arwain yng Ngŵyl y Faenol lle mae wedi gweithio gyda chantorion rhyngwladol fel Andrea Bocelli, Angela Gheorghiu, Rolando Villazon, Renee Fleming, Carlos Alvarez a Diana Damrau.
Dechreuodd Gareth Jones ar ei yrfa arweinydd fel aelod o Staff Cerddorol Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, yr ymunodd ag ef yn 1990. Tra ei fod yno, arweiniodd amrywiaeth eang o repertoire gan gynnwys Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Turandot, Nabucco, La Traviata, Ernani, Die Fledermaus, Eugene, La Boheme, Fidelio, Billy Budd, The Carmelites, Carmen, Katya Kabanova, The Cunning Little Vixen, Jenufa, Le Nozze di Figaro, Madama Butterfly, The Magic Flute a Hansel and Gretel. Yn 2009 a 2010, arweiniodd Gareth Aida yng Ngŵyl Bregenz. Yn ogystal â hyn, mae Gareth wedi arwain llawer iawn o cyngerddau ledled y byd gyda Bryn Terfel, gan gynnwys y recordiad “We’ll Keep a Welcome”, operau mawreddog yng ngwyliau’r Faenol, Henley a Llys Hampton
Mae gwaith cyngherddau yn y Deyrnas Unedig wedi cynnwys ymddangosiadau gyda Cherddorfa Hallé, Cerddorfa Siambr yr Alban, Cerddorfa Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, Opera Cenedlaethol Brenhinol yr Alban, Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Cymru’r BBC, Cerddorfa Ffilharmonig Frenhinol Lerpwl, y Gerddorfa Ffilharmonig, Cerddorfa Wlster, Cerddorfa Siambr Lloegr a Camerata Manceinion. Mae ymrwymiadau diweddar yn cynnwys Madama Butterfly ar gyfer Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru. Perfformiad cyntaf y DU o A Perfect American gan Philip Glass ar gyfer Opera Cenedlaethol Lloegr a taith Sgandinafaidd o rhaglen oll-Wagner gyda Bryn Terfel âg Orchestre National de Belgique ym Mharis a Brussels, perfformiad o Showboat gyda Opera Cape Town yn Cape Town ac ar taith y DU, perfformiad o A Perfect American yng Ngwyl Brisbane a perfformiad cyngerdd o Sweeney Todd gyda Bryn Terfel yn Eisteddfod Ryngwladol Llangollen.
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Rossini (1792- 1868) Overture to ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ Agorawd i ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’ From the taut pizzicato strings of its opening moments, to the crashing triumphal fanfare of the conclusion, this piece is every inch the typical Rossini Overture. The opening pizzicato phrases bristle with energy, as oboe and clarinet solos intone a downward, questioning phrase. Rossini then sets his orchestral machinery in motion with an insouciantly catchy melody in the woodwind, its infectious levity offset by abrupt interjections from the brass and percussion. Flourishes and melodic fragments gradually add colour to Rossini’s increasingly complex musical landscape, but it veers sideways at the last moment, into an unexpected reprise of the opening theme. The bustling activity that underpins this mischievous tune once again erupts into a blaze of glory for the whole orchestra, unleashing the “glittering sensations” for which Rossini was renowned.
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O linynnau pizzicato tynn ei eiliadau agoriadol, i ffanffer orfoleddus aruthrol y diweddglo, mae’r darn hwn yn Agorawd Rossini nodweddiadol o’i ddechrau i’w ddiwedd. Mae’r cymalau pizzicato agoriadol yn ferw o egni, wrth i unawdau obo a chlarinét lafarganu cymal disgynnol, ymholgar. Yna, mae Rossini yn rhoi ei beirianwaith cerddorol ar waith gydag alaw ddidaro, fachog gan y chwythbrennau, y caiff ei hysgafnder heintus ei wrthbwyso gan ebychiadau gan yr offerynnau pres a tharo. Mae darnau blodeuog a rhannau melodaidd yn ychwanegu lliw yn raddol at gefndir cerddorol cynyddol gymhleth Rossini, ond mae’n gwyro i’r ochr ar y funud olaf, i ailadrodd y thema agoriadol yn annisgwyl. Mae’r gweithgarwch bywiog sy’n sail i’r alaw ddireidus hon yn ffrwydro’n ogoneddus unwaith eto gyda’r gerddorfa gyfan, gan ryddhau’r “cynyrfiadau disglair” yr oedd Rossini’n enwog amdanynt.
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Mozart (1756-91) Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K.491 Concerto Piano Rhif 24 yn C leiaf, K.491 1. Allegro 2. Larghetto 3. Allegretto
1. Allegro 2. Larghetto 3. Allegretto
Mozart’s 24th piano concerto, which at its 1786 premiere in Vienna was played and conducted from the piano by the composer, is regarded by many as a unique work. In addition to the unusually prominent role of the woodwind, Mozart also flouted convention by opening with a waltz rhythm in three-four, and by maintaining a dark-hued minor key setting until the end. The concerto begins with a smoothly ominous melody in the strings and lower woodwind which ends with a sudden, jagged cadence. The piano repeats this uneasy phrase, and embellishes it with rippling chords that are echoed in the woodwind. There is a furious piano cadenza, but its whirling anger gives way to a cautiously restrained Larghetto. In this second movement, the piano begins, and the orchestra echoes the soloist; however, despite the tentative optimism of the melody, it never truly leaves behind the nervous energy of the opening. The Allegretto returns to the enigmatic shadiness of the opening, and its tentative tune is refracted through a series of eight variations. Prominent woodwind solos briefly lighten the mood, but these hints of major-key sunlight are inescapably lured back into the machinery of a C minor cadence, whose darkness is completed by rippling arpeggios in the piano.
Mae llawer o’r farn bod 24ain concerto piano Mozart, a chwaraewyd ac a gyfeiliwyd o’r piano gan y cyfansoddwr pan gafodd ei berfformio gyntaf yn Fienna ym 1786, yn waith unigryw. Yn ogystal â rôl anarferol o amlwg y chwythbrennau, roedd Mozart hefyd yn herio confensiwn trwy agor gyda rhythm walts tripedwar, a thrwy gynnal cywair lleiaf ag arlliw tywyll iddo tan y diwedd. Mae’r concerto’n dechrau gydag alaw fygythiol o lyfn gan y llinynnau a’r chwythbrennau isaf sy’n gorffen gyda diweddeb sydyn, ddanheddog. Mae’r piano’n ailadrodd y cymal anesmwyth hwn, ac yn ychwanegu ato gyda chordiau byrlymus sy’n cael eu hadleisio gan y chwythbrennau. Ceir cadenza piano ffyrnig, ond mae ei ddicter chwyrlïol yn ildio i Larghetto gochelgar o gynnil. Yn yr ail symudiad hwn, mae’r piano’n dechrau, ac mae’r gerddorfa’n adleisio’r unawdwr; ond, er gwaethaf optimistiaeth betrus yr alaw, nid yw byth yn rhydd rhag egni nerfus yr agoriad. Mae’r Allegretto yn dychwelyd i naws enigmatig yr agoriad, ac mae ei alaw betrus yn cael ei gwyro trwy gyfres o wyth amrywiad. Mae unawdau chwythbrennau amlwg yn ysgafnhau’r naws am ychydig, ond mae’r awgrymiadau hyn o olau haul trwy’r cywair mwyaf yn cael eu denu’n ôl yn anochel i beirianwaith diweddeb C leiaf, yr ategir ei thywyllwch gan arpegios byrlymus y piano.
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Schubert (1797-1828) Symphony No. 5 in Bb, D. 485 Symffoni Rhif 5 yn Bb, D. 485 1. Allegro 2. Andante con moto 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto 4. Allegro vivace
1. Allegro 2. Andante con moto 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto 4. Allegro vivace
In the weeks before Franz Schubert composed his fifth symphony in 1816, he wrote that he had been captivated by the “magic notes of Mozart”. Schubert, like Mozart, died tragically young, having produced a mind-boggling catalogue of works for every classical genre, astounding in their quality and quantity. In this symphony, the spirit of Schubert’s predecessor is very much alive, and can be heard in the effortless arc of the opening theme, which is bathed in a radiant harmonic glow, only occasionally darkened by flashes of the minor key, or diminished chords. The second movement retains the poise of the opening theme, weaving it into a serenely lilting melody which is passed between instruments in six-eight time. The Menuetto inverts the rising and falling motif with an angrily rustic dance, interspersed with a calmer central section. The concluding Allegro Vivace rapidly recaps the musical terrain explored thus far in condensed form, always retaining a sense of classical poise, and finishes with a final flourish of radiant joy.
Yn yr wythnosau cyn i Franz Schubert gyfansoddi ei bumed symffoni ym 1816, ysgrifennodd ei fod wedi’i gyfareddu gan “nodau hud Mozart”. Bu farw Schubert, fel Mozart, yn druenus o ifanc, ac yntau wedi cynhyrchu catalog rhyfeddol o waith ar gyfer pob genre clasurol, a oedd yn syfrdanol o ran ei ansawdd a’i faint. Yn y symffoni hon, mae ysbryd rhagflaenydd Schubert yn fyw, a gellir ei glywed yn arc diymdrech y thema agoriadol, sy’n fôr o gynhesrwydd harmonig, a dywyllir ar brydiau yn unig gan fflachiadau o’r cywair lleiaf, neu gordiau cywasg. Mae’r ail symudiad yn cadw cydbwysedd y thema agoriadol, gan ei gwau’n alaw felodaidd, dawel sy’n cael ei throsglwyddo rhwng offerynnau mewn amser chwech-wyth. Mae’r Menuetto yn gwrth-droi’r motiff codi a gostwng gyda dawns wledig ddig, wedi’i brithio â rhan ganolog dawelach. Mae’r Allegro Vivace terfynol yn ailadrodd yr arddulliau cerddorol a archwiliwyd hyd yma yn gyflym ar ffurf gryno, gan gadw ymdeimlad o gydbwysedd clasurol bob amser, ac yn gorffen gyda darn blodeuog olaf o lawenydd gorfoleddus.
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Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 25 Concerto Piano yn G leiaf, Op. 25 1. Molto allegro con fuoco 2. Andante 3. Presto—Molto allegro e vivace Felix Mendelssohn, yet another prodigy, plunges us straight into the swirling drama of the Romantic era, in his breathtaking piano concerto from 1831. With a mighty crescendo in the orchestra, the piano erupts onto the scene, stating the proudly defiant theme before diving into a breathtaking display of virtuosity. An oasis of calm emerges, bathed in the warm glow of string chords, but the smooth piano tune is punctuated by savage chords in the orchestra. A sudden hunting call in the brass drives a seemingly inevitable conclusion off course, leaving the piano alone in a desolate musical limbo, until it is rescued by a cello melody of exquisite tenderness in threefour. The consolatory mood of this Andante is occasionally sullied by remnants of earlier uncertainty, but the gentle accompaniment of the piano provides a blissful sense of calm. An abrupt fanfare in the brass signals a return to the drama of the opening movement, and with lightning-bolt arpeggios and runs, the piano launches into an infectiously playful tune, propelling the concerto to its dazzling conclusion.
1. Molto allegro con fuoco 2. Andante 3. Presto—Molto allegro e vivace Mae Felix Mendelssohn, oedd yn rhyfeddod arall, yn ein taflu’n syth i ddrama droellog y cyfnod Rhamantaidd, yn ei goncerto piano syfrdanol o 1831. Gyda chresendo mawr yn y gerddorfa, mae’r piano’n ffrwydro i’r amlwg, gan ddatgan y thema herfeiddiol yn falch cyn cychwyn ar arddangosiad syfrdanol o feistrolaeth. Mae cordiau llinynnol cynnes yn creu gwerddon o lonyddwch, ond ceir ysbeidiau o gordiau ffyrnig gan y gerddorfa yn ystod yr alaw biano lyfn. Mae cri hela sydyn gan yr offerynnau pres yn newid cyfeiriad yr hyn sy’n ymddangos yn ddiweddglo anochel, gan adael y piano ar ei ben ei hun mewn limbo gerddorol ddiffaith, tan iddo gael ei achub gan alaw soddgrwth lesmeiriol o dyner mewn amser tri-pedwar. Caiff naws gysurol yr Andante hwn ei difwyno ar adegau gan olion ansicrwydd cynharach, ond mae cyfeiliant ysgafn y piano yn darparu ymdeimlad braf o dawelwch. Mae ffanffer sydyn gan yr offerynnau pres yn arwydd o ddychwelyd i ddrama’r symudiad agoriadol, a chydag arpegios a rhediadau cyflym iawn, mae’r piano’n dechrau alaw heintus o chwareus, gan arwain y concerto i’w ddiweddglo syfrdanol.
(c) Sophie Rashbrook
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Patrons Noddwyr Mr & Mrs Neil & Madeleine Bidder Mr & Mrs G Cheesman Mr & Mrs John Cosslett Geraint & Elizabeth Talfan Davies Marian Evans William & Christine Eynon G Wyn Howells Mrs Sheila Jeffries Hywel & Marian Jones
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Clarinets
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Oboes
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First Violins Conductor
Violin 1 Bartosz Woroch Ricky Gore Georgie Leo Alix Lagasse Lily Whitehurst Simran Singh Violin 2 Hugh Blogg Rebecca Smith Emily Pettet Bethan Allmand Colin McKee Lydia Marshall Viola Jenny Lewisohn Charlotte Bonneton Rhiannon James Miguel Angel
Cello Chris Graves Steffan Morris Alistair Howes Rozzie Curlett Double Bass Seb Pennar Dave Johnson Flute Sarah Bennett Jack Welch Oboe Mary Noden Karla Powell
Bassoon Gareth Humphreys Bartosz Kwasecki Horn Hugh Sisley Meilyr Hughes Trumpet Jason Lewis Chris Hart Timpani/Percussion Rhys Matthews Percussion Paul Stoneman
Clarinet Greg Hearle Rhodri Taylor www.sinfoniacymru.co.uk
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2014: Thank you from