Wales’ leading chamber music ensemble, Ensemble Cymru, will mark its 15 year anniversary with an 11 date national tour across Wales this November with specially extended concerts which celebrate hidden gems from the chamber music repertoire.
Featuring its largest ensemble in recent times, the new season presents a rich programme of music showcasing the harp, flute, clarinet, piano, violin, viola and cello at their very best.
The harp will again take centre stage for the November tour as the 2017-18 season is the culmination of a two-year project to explore chamber music for the harp. Ensemble Cymru’s Principal Harpist, and current Royal Harpist, Anne Denholm, has co-curated the season with Artistic Director, Peryn Clement-Evans. Talking about what they hoped to achieve from the new season, Anne said:
“Our goal was to show a variety of instrumental combinations featuring the harp, and to create programmes that are diverse, entertaining, and sometimes challenging.”
Anne added, “Any opportunity to include the harp in chamber music is a valuable chance to demonstrate the incredible versatility and power of the instrument.”
Welsh composers will also be celebrated in this 15 year Anniversary Tour as part of the Ensemble’s commitment to promoting Welsh talent. Speaking ahead of the November tour, Ensemble Cymru’s Artistic Director, Peryn Clement-Evans said:
“We’re starting our next 15 years with one of the most exciting and busiest years Ensemble Cymru has ever had! We’ll be visiting venues across Wales with our tour this November, before joining OPRA Cymru in a world premiere of a brand new Welsh language opera – and we’ve just launched a National Chamber Music Day for Wales.”
Looking forward to the November tour, Peryn added: “Our chamber music tour features seven of our musicians performing the richly romantic music of Mahler and uplifting music by Belgium composer Jongen. Harp and piano feature in music from the Czeck Republic and we’re proud to be sharing music by two of Wales’ composers; emerging creative Claire Roberts of Bangor University has a distinctive and innovative style contrasting with lyrical and more meditative music by internationally recognised Welsh composer, John Metcalf.”
Ensemble Cymru’s Anniversary Tour launches on November 2nd at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff and will call at venues across Wales including The Great Hall, Swansea (4 November), Aberystwyth Arts Centre (5 November), Neuadd Dwyfor Pwllheli (6 November), Capel Gad, Cilcian (7 November), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (9, 10, 11 November) Pontio, Bangor (12 November), Galeri Caernarfon (13 November), Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead (15 November). Please see www.ensemble.cymru/en/whatson for a full schedule of venues plus dates and concert times. Booking is advised.
Take a look at the Season Preview video below to what your appetite ahead of the November tour.
