Oriana Festival 2024
Schedule
Sat May 18 2024 at 10:00 am to 09:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
St Elvan's | Aberdare, WA
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This year's Oriana Festival focuses on the 70th anniversary of the publication of J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy classic "The Lord of the Rings", and the 70th anniversary of Dylan Thomas' iconic radio play "Under Milk Wood". The festival will also once again showcase the very finest in contemporary Welsh music and Welsh composersThis full day festival of music opens with a FREE Music & Wellbeing session, a showcase for the tremendous weekly sessions offered by Ragsy & Reevsy at St Elvan's, supported by Community Music Wales. Learn more about the sessions, and how making music can boost wellbeing, tackle isolation, plus all the local opportunities to engage in music - FREE!
The afternoon sessions then see two first class brass performances, by two first class brass bands. The first performance, "Under Milk Wood", sees an hour long performance of the music of Rhondda Cynon Taf's own Gareth Wood, who sadly passed away in August 2023. RCT's own Lewis Merthyr Band will perform a number of Gareth's best known works, plus the world premiere performance of the composer's final work, his "Under Milk Wood suite - Rum & Laverbread", which was commissioned by and written especially for Lewis Merthyr and will receive its first performance here at the festival
The second afternoon performance will then see Lewis Merthyr combine together with the current West of England Champions, City of Bristol Brass Band, to perform music from and inspired by The Lord of the Rings. This performance will feature works from all three of Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings movie series, plus additional scores performed by 60 piece(!) massed brass band, 70 voice massed male choir and vocalist Harriet Whitehead, including the world premiere performance of Christopher Painter's "Mirkwood". Truly a performance not to be missed!
Finally, the festival will close with the Evening Gala Concert featuring the fantastic Rhondda Symphony Orchestra. RSO will showcase a series of music by iconic Welsh composers including Alun Hoddinott, Sir Karl Jenkins, William Mathias, Morfydd Owen, and 2023 Oriana featured composer & performer Chris Marshall. Marshall's "Dylan" was premiered in New York on St David's Day 2014 for the Dylan Thomas centenary. This performance will feature the former Royal Harpist to King Charles III, Claire Jones, plus Narration by Mark Llewellyn Evans
2024 Oriana Festival tickets are available from just £8(!) for the afternoon events, up to full day festival passes for all four events, plus pre-concert talks, for just £18. The morning music & wellbeing session, supported by Community Music Wales and RCT Cohesion Team is FREE!
For full details on the festival, visit www.stelvans.com/oriana-festival For tickets, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans or click on the booking link below
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Where is it happening?
St Elvan's, Aberdare, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
