Post by drew on Jan 15, 2008 11:14:19 GMT
ICWales:
ic wales
I enlarged the text.
Richard
STAGE veteran Elaine Paige will top the bill at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The line-up, which includes all-girl classical group All Angels, Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and Classical Brit winner Alfie Boe, was unveiled at a launch in Cardiff yesterday.
And organisers also revealed that they were in talks with the Foreign Office in a bid to resolve the visa problems that have dogged the festival year after year.
The 62nd eisteddfod, which takes place in July, promotes world culture by featuring music and dance from groups from countries all over the world. Celebrated stars who have performed at the eisteddfod in the past include the late Luciano Pavarotti.
This year there will be a series of evening concerts.
The world famous festival has run into problems in the past due to the cost and bureaucracy involved in issuing visas to performers from countries competing outside Europe and North America.
Last year, five groups from Africa dropped out after government officials tried to class eisteddfod competitors as migrant workers with visas at £200 a head.
Festival chief executive Gwyn L Williams, said last year they managed to negotiate student rates of £99 for many of the overseas competitors but this year they were hoping the rate would be further reduced to £63 – which is what a typical visitor would be charged.
“We are developing a relationship with the Foreign Office whose duty it is to administer visa law,” he said.
“These competitors, from countries like Russia, Ukraine, India and Persia, are contributing to the eisteddfod and the eisteddfod contributes to the local economy. We don’t just want to be a festival of European and American groups.
“The Foreign Office has been sympathetic and we are continuing our dialogue.”
The 2008 festival opens on July 8 with a performance from Paige, who has been dubbed the First Lady of Musicals.
The legendary Broadway and West End star is renowned for leading roles in productions like Evita, Cats and Chess.
Her show, Elaine Paige: The Anniversary Concert, will celebrate her 40 years in the business and feature many of the show-stopping songs from her career.
Mr Williams said, “The ability Llangollen has to continually attract the very best of international performers, such as Elaine Paige, is a true recognition of the festival’s reputation, both here and abroad, and keeps the eisteddfod in a strong position to face the challenges of the future.”
Classical group All Angels, who performed at yesterday’s launch at St David’s Hall, will headline the Friday evening concert on July 11.
Their repertoire is a mixture of classical, choral, opera and pop music.
The girls – Charlotte Ritchie, Melanie Nakhla, Laura Wright, and Daisy Chute – are following in the footsteps of their friend Hayley Westenra, who performed in Llangollen last year.
They said, “Hayley told us how amazing the whole event is and how the eisteddfod continues to bring new music, dance and competitors from around the world to this beautiful corner of Wales in the name of friendship and unity.”
The opera gala evening on July 13 will feature three young soloists – Alfie Boe, Elin Manahan Thomas, and David Kempster – who will perform with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.
Boe has enjoyed two chart-topping classical albums and been nominated for a Classical Brit Award for Best Album.
Kempster represented Wales in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition before joining English National Opera as principal baritone.
Thomas, who is from Gorseinon, reached number two in the classical album chart last year with her recording Eternal Light. She has signed a major album deal with Universal Classics, just like fellow Welsh classical star Katherine Jenkins.
She said, “I’ve been going to the International Eisteddfod since I was kid, and actually presented the event for S4C last year along with Rhodri Owen.
“So this year is going to be great fun, and a very special evening for me as it’s both my eisteddfod debut, and the first time I’ve sung with either Alfie or David.”
Llangollen Eisteddfod 2008 highlights
July 8
9.30am to 3pm International Children’s Day.
7.45pm Elaine Paige with songs from the shows
July 9
9am to 5.30pm International Song & Dance Day.
7.45pm Window on the World. Folk dancers and choirs from 10 countries at the official welcoming ceremony.
July 10
9am to 5.30pm International Youth Day.
7.45pm Onke Ose. A performance by 17 singers and dancers from Africa.
July 11
9am to 5.30pm International Celtic Day.
7.45pm All Angels perform a selection from their repertoire.
July 12
9am to 5.30pm International Family Day.
7.45pm Choir of the World. The winning choirs from five major choral competitions.
July 13
7.45pm The festival is brought to a close with the opera gala featuring Alfie Boe, Elin Manahan Thomas and David Kempster
The line-up, which includes all-girl classical group All Angels, Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and Classical Brit winner Alfie Boe, was unveiled at a launch in Cardiff yesterday.
And organisers also revealed that they were in talks with the Foreign Office in a bid to resolve the visa problems that have dogged the festival year after year.
The 62nd eisteddfod, which takes place in July, promotes world culture by featuring music and dance from groups from countries all over the world. Celebrated stars who have performed at the eisteddfod in the past include the late Luciano Pavarotti.
This year there will be a series of evening concerts.
The world famous festival has run into problems in the past due to the cost and bureaucracy involved in issuing visas to performers from countries competing outside Europe and North America.
Last year, five groups from Africa dropped out after government officials tried to class eisteddfod competitors as migrant workers with visas at £200 a head.
Festival chief executive Gwyn L Williams, said last year they managed to negotiate student rates of £99 for many of the overseas competitors but this year they were hoping the rate would be further reduced to £63 – which is what a typical visitor would be charged.
“We are developing a relationship with the Foreign Office whose duty it is to administer visa law,” he said.
“These competitors, from countries like Russia, Ukraine, India and Persia, are contributing to the eisteddfod and the eisteddfod contributes to the local economy. We don’t just want to be a festival of European and American groups.
“The Foreign Office has been sympathetic and we are continuing our dialogue.”
The 2008 festival opens on July 8 with a performance from Paige, who has been dubbed the First Lady of Musicals.
The legendary Broadway and West End star is renowned for leading roles in productions like Evita, Cats and Chess.
Her show, Elaine Paige: The Anniversary Concert, will celebrate her 40 years in the business and feature many of the show-stopping songs from her career.
Mr Williams said, “The ability Llangollen has to continually attract the very best of international performers, such as Elaine Paige, is a true recognition of the festival’s reputation, both here and abroad, and keeps the eisteddfod in a strong position to face the challenges of the future.”
Classical group All Angels, who performed at yesterday’s launch at St David’s Hall, will headline the Friday evening concert on July 11.
Their repertoire is a mixture of classical, choral, opera and pop music.
The girls – Charlotte Ritchie, Melanie Nakhla, Laura Wright, and Daisy Chute – are following in the footsteps of their friend Hayley Westenra, who performed in Llangollen last year.
They said, “Hayley told us how amazing the whole event is and how the eisteddfod continues to bring new music, dance and competitors from around the world to this beautiful corner of Wales in the name of friendship and unity.”
The opera gala evening on July 13 will feature three young soloists – Alfie Boe, Elin Manahan Thomas, and David Kempster – who will perform with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.
Boe has enjoyed two chart-topping classical albums and been nominated for a Classical Brit Award for Best Album.
Kempster represented Wales in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition before joining English National Opera as principal baritone.
Thomas, who is from Gorseinon, reached number two in the classical album chart last year with her recording Eternal Light. She has signed a major album deal with Universal Classics, just like fellow Welsh classical star Katherine Jenkins.
She said, “I’ve been going to the International Eisteddfod since I was kid, and actually presented the event for S4C last year along with Rhodri Owen.
“So this year is going to be great fun, and a very special evening for me as it’s both my eisteddfod debut, and the first time I’ve sung with either Alfie or David.”
Llangollen Eisteddfod 2008 highlights
July 8
9.30am to 3pm International Children’s Day.
7.45pm Elaine Paige with songs from the shows
July 9
9am to 5.30pm International Song & Dance Day.
7.45pm Window on the World. Folk dancers and choirs from 10 countries at the official welcoming ceremony.
July 10
9am to 5.30pm International Youth Day.
7.45pm Onke Ose. A performance by 17 singers and dancers from Africa.
July 11
9am to 5.30pm International Celtic Day.
7.45pm All Angels perform a selection from their repertoire.
July 12
9am to 5.30pm International Family Day.
7.45pm Choir of the World. The winning choirs from five major choral competitions.
July 13
7.45pm The festival is brought to a close with the opera gala featuring Alfie Boe, Elin Manahan Thomas and David Kempster
ic wales
I enlarged the text.
Richard
