Welcome to/ Croeso i Gŵyl Rhithwir Beaumaris

The 2020 Beaumaris Festival, the 35th, was planned to celebrate birth anniversaries of two of the greatest of composers, J.S.Bach at 335 and Beethoven at 250.  The Covid pandemic thwarted those plans and many people whose livelihoods depend on jobs in music and the arts haven’t worked for nine months.

Funding bodies such as the Arts Council of Wales have been determined to support the continuance of artistic activity in other ways and this has enabled us to put in place a virtual Beaumaris Festival which will be transmitted between December 27th and 30th.

While we will not be in our beautiful town and regrettably unable to bring performers to the historic church and welcoming Canolfan the programme will be of things Beaumaris: past performers, performers you would have seen last May and others who will appear in person in the future.

We have been able to include music by Bach and Beethoven. Organist Boyd Jones was to have made his debut festival visit in May and has generously allowed us to share a recital he gave just one day away from Bach’s 333rd birthday. He is joined by harpsichordist Webb Wiggins on this recording.

The virtual festival will open with film footage and a commentary about Beaumaris put together by Mike Davies. Hungarian-American violinists Isabelle and Emily Palmer, who performed in the 2019 festival, play a delightful Duo by Jean-Marie Leclair and John Whibley recalls the early festivals.

December 28th is devoted to talented young musicians from north Wales and includes a showcase presentation by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias introduced by Rhiannon Mathias. During the day, enjoy recordings of pianist Ellis Thomas and violist Ynyr Pritchard giving imaginatively programmed recitals.

Beethoven and Rachmaninov cello sonatas feature in a concert to be shared on December 29th featuring David Bjella who gave an inspiring masterclass and performance at the 2015 festival. He is joined by Australian-American pianist Hannah Sun. In the evening the south Wales-based Mavron Quartet play a pre-recorded concert of glorious string quartets by Mozart and Beethoven.

Beethoven’s Legacy continues on the final festival day with a recital by baritone, Jeremy Huw Williams and pianist, Paula Fan, of Welsh folk songs including some arranged by Beethoven and Haydn. The festival finale is a joyous concert by the Welsh Chamber Orchestra including Haydn’s 85th Symphony “La Reine”, a premiere of Triptych, a setting of  Rowan Williams’ poems by Nicola Lefanu, and Beethoven’s joyous Quartet in C minor, Op.18 No.4 in a version for string orchestra. 

The festival committee and I hope you enjoy this different festival and that we will see you in person at the 2021 Beaumaris Festival.

Anthony Hose
Artistic Director/ Cyfarwyddwr Artistig