Friday 19 – Monday 22 October: Angels and Archangels
Gwyl Faroc Aberhonddu 2018 | Dydd Gwener 19 - Dydd Llun 22 Hydref: Angylion ac Archangylion
The 2018 Brecon Baroque Festival (Friday 19 October - Monday, 22 October) is inspired by angels and archangels – the divine, the maverick and the diabolical. Five concerts with Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque, VOCES8, The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments and lutenist James Bramley frame a long weekend which also includes a pop-up café with live chamber music, Caffé Paradiso, Baroque dance events and guided walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park exploring the landscape that inspired 17th-century poet Henry Vaughan.
Commenting on this year’s Festival, Rachel Podger said: “Inspired by my current tour with the vocal ensemble, Voces8, entitled ‘A Guardian Angel’, I came up with the idea of angels as an overall theme for this year’s Festival. The music is gorgeous and broader than ever before at the Festival, ranging from Bach to a brand new work by Owain Park.”
The Festival’s highlights are: On Friday, 19 October in Theatr Brycheiniog at 7.30pm, VOCES8 make their Festival debut joining Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque in a programme interweaving music for violin together with choral masterpieces by composers including Thomas Tallis, JS Bach, Heinrich von Biber, Nicola Matteis and a new work by Owain Park.
On Saturday, 20 October at 1pm, Hannah Medlam (soprano), James Bramley (lute) and Kate Conway (viola da gamba) perform at the Plough Chapel on Lion Street. These three young professionals bring a programme of English devotional songs, Italian sacred music, and a few fallen angels, with works by Dowland, Purcell, Monteverdi and Strozzi among others.
On Saturday evening, 20 October at Theatr Brycheiniog at 7pm, Rachel and her multi award-winning ensemble, Brecon Baroque, perform “Bach’s Angels” with Voces 8 including singers Zoe Brookshaw & Rachel Redmond (sopranos), Mark Chambers (counter-tenor), Thomas Herford (tenor) and Giles Underwood (bass). Music includes JS Bach’s Magnificat in D major and JS Bach’s Double Violin Concerto for 2 violins. On Sunday evening, 21 October at Theatr Brycheiniog at 7pm the renowned
Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments make their Festival debut in a celebration of celestial and occasionally diabolical beings. Their programme, entitled ‘Ministry of Angels’, includes traditional tunes, dances, and songs by composers including Corelli, Francoeur and Arbeau, played on instruments that appear in descriptions and depictions of angels as well as other strange and ethereal-sounding instruments.
The Festival’s music is complemented by walks, talks, the popular Baroque Tea Dance and a pop-up café.
For more information and bookings visit: www.breconbaroquefestival.com and Theatr Brycheiniog or call 01877 611 622. Following a complete sell-out for the last two years, visitors are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
