Concerts 2024

One of the most dynamic young brass groups in the UK, Connaught Brass are known for both their astonishing musicality and their friendly and warm presence on stage. Ranging from Gershwin to Vivaldi, their programme brings an extraordinary variety of works for this virtuosic ensemble. Robin Haigh – Get Good (Commission, 2023)Antonio Vivaldi arr. Stone – Concerto in F major Anton Bruckner arr. Akugbo – Christus Factus Est Florence Price – Night Victor Ewald – Quintet No. 1 Elliott Carter – A Fantasy About Purcell’s ‘Fantasia Upon One Note’ Lili Boulanger – Clairières George Gershwin arr. Schutza – No. 2 from Three Preludes Kurt Weill arr. Foster – Suite from The Threepenny Opera

Bach’s 48 Preludes and Fugues from his ‘Well-Tempered Clavier’ are widely thought to be among the gems of his compositional output. International concert pianist Libby Burgess has toured the UK performing Bach’s ‘48’, and tonight she performs a selection of these beautiful works for us, by candlelight.

Esteemed Cardiff-based chamber choir Cantemus celebrate the treasured tradition of the folk song in this programme. At the heart of their concert are Holst’s Twelve Welsh Folksongs, sung in Welsh, which mark the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birthday on this very date! Charles Villiers Stanford – Songs of the Fleet; The Blue Bird;  Three Motets William Mathias – Four Welsh Folk Songs Gustav Holst – Twelve Welsh Folk Songs Robert Pearsall – Lay a Garland Arr. Robert Rice – The Bare Necessities Arr. Andrew Carter – Teddy Bears’ Picnic Arr. Grayston Ives – Name that Tune

We are thrilled to welcome Toscana Strings to Cowbridge, for this year’s Family Concert. With both live dancing and music, they will present an adaptation of  Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’ for all the family, followed by a short bonus performance of the fable ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’.

Back by popular demand, we celebrate the conclusion of this year’s festival with a Choral Evensong in Holy Cross Church. All are very welcome at this service, which will feature much-loved Welsh hymns and choral riches from the Anglican tradition. FREE ADMISSION

The 2024 festival is brought to a stirring close by Acoustic Triangle. ‘A trio of world-class virtuosi…exquisitely passionate and inspired’ (BBC Music Magazine), their music blurs the boundaries between classical music and jazz, and will no doubt prove a rousing finale for the festival. Supported by