Posts tagged fcm (see all posts).
May 2025 Rhossili Duo concert
We had a very engaging concert from the Rhossili Duo, who opened with Argentinian tango composer Astor Piazzola’s Histoire du Tango and closed with First Milonga, Last Tango by Welsh composer Stephen Goss—written as an elegy to the former and a piece using fragments of material from his work. Then Welsh folk songs including Suo gan arranged by Goss and Bartok’s Romanian Dances based on his extensive folk music studies. The Bartok works are often heard in their original piano or orchestral renderings, and this interpretation brought a great zest to them.
The duo then had an opportunity to play solo pieces by Agustín Barrios (guitar) and Eugène Bozza (flute). Then Sonatina by leading composer for the guitar, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco—exiled from Italy to the US prior to WWII.
The performances received enthusiastic applause from our audience; and were a brilliant reminder of how lucky we are to have alumni and students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama at our annual concert series.
Rhossili Duo can be seen in June at the Budleigh Music Festival.
Artist-in-residence Francesca Kay displayed a selection of her letterpress, calligraphy and paper designs—website.
Our March 2025 Nantwen Ensemble concert
We were treated to an inspiring and varied programme by the wonderful Nantwen Ensemble (website) on the 8th March.
Nantwen Ensemble preparing for their concert.
Firstly the imaginative sound world created with some unusual string techniques by composer Caroline Shaw in Plan & Elevation, her musical drawing of Dumbarton Oaks, and then the beautiful and hypnotic Verses by Ólafur Arnalds. Then Nantwen’s own commission, Songs without Words composed to complement the Schubert string quintet, from Welsh composer John Metcalf. This set the scene perfectly for the concert’s second half with its closing hymn-like prayer.
In his introduction, Daniel said that each time he prepares the Schubert Quintet with different colleagues, they each bring something new to the work with their ideas and interpretations. Schubert’s mastery of writing for all the instruments and the sheer beauty and scale of the work meant that time almost stood still for us. It’s a work that never seems to date or lose its popularity.
Our Artist-in-residence, Helen of InSpired Pottery—“Beautifully handcrafted wares for everyday use” had a stunning display of her work. (Website).
Display with the artist, Helen.
Our last concert of 2024
In October we had a fabulous concert from composer, vocalist and violinist Claire Victoria Roberts with string players Treske Quartet and Swansea-based keyboardist and jazz band leader Dave Cottle.
Claire Victoria Roberts is a composer, vocalist and violinist–blurring the boundaries of jazz, contemporary and singer-songwriter genres. https://www.clairevictoriaroberts.com/
Treske Quartet–Oli Baily & Mollie Wrafter (violins), Abigail Hammett (viola), Robert Wheatley (cello)–is an emerging ensemble based in Manchester, UK. https://www.treskequartet.com/
Dave Cottle formed the Dave Cottle Band in 1985. Swansea’s Lord Mayor Awarded Dave for his services to music in the City at a Gala dinner in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea November 2018. https://www.davecottlemusic.com
See our 2025 calendar for next year’s events.
Very enjoyable RWCMD concert from The Bute Wind Quintet
On Saturday 11th May, graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama The Bute Wind Quintet gave us a fabulous concert on an evening with balmy weather.
The performers were introduced and we also updated the audience with a salutary description of the state of music funding in Wales; for example the Welsh National Opera and their orchestra who have had funding by both Arts Council in England and Wales significantly cut.
Even closer to home and relevant in particular to this evening’s activity has been a recent threat to “Young RWCMD” whose Young Acting and Young Music activities provide the opportunity for promising new performers to develop their individual talents. A reminder that “As music lovers we cannot afford to be complacent”.
There is a petition about the RWCMD threat.
Also one for the Welsh National Opera.
The night’s programme gave us an insight into the range of the Quintet, including a soaringly lyrical Milhaud La cheminée du roi René, Celia McDowall’s Subject to the Weather—commissioned for the Presteigne Festival in 2010 and evoking the countryside and birdsong. After the interval works included cinema composer Nino Rota’s theme for Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet and Szervánszky’s Wind Quintet. The evening concluded with Brazilian composer Júlio Medaglia’s Tango from suite Belle Epoque en Sud-America.
Our Artist/Maker in residence Rebecca ‘Becky’ Way displayed a stunning collection of work.
A great evening which highlighted how lucky we are to have RWCMD’s graduates and students on our doorstep.
The Bute Wind Quintet are playing at Gŵyl Beaumaris Festival on 25th May details, and Fishguard Festival of Music/Gŵyl Gerdd on 22nd July details.