Ensemble Cymru, Resident Ensemble at Bangor University and Venue Cymru (Llandudno), is the leading chamber music performing group in Wales. It has a core membership of 20 instrumentalists and singers. Established as a charity in 2002, its mission is to champion Wales’ heritage and contemporary chamber music culture alongside chamber music from across the world to audiences in Wales and internationally.
During 2019-20, Ensemble Cymru toured Wales
During its 2017-2018 Season, Ensemble Cymru toured with Mid Wales Opera in their production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and with OPRA Cymru on its award-winning production of Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd by Gareth Glyn and Mererid Hopwood. The Ensemble performed with internationally celebrated French harpist Isabelle Moretti at the International Harp Festival in Caernarfon and undertook two national tours in the culmination of a two-year project of chamber music featuring the harp co-curated by the Ensemble’s principal harpist, Anne Denholm (Royal Harpist) and its Artistic Director, Peryn Clement-Evans.
Ensemble Cymru’s International Cultural Exchange Programme was established in 2015. Following the launch, the Ensemble performed at the British Embassy in Berne, and in venues in Davos, Chur and Valais. The organisation is developing links with China and performed in Shanghai and Hong Kong as part of Welsh Government Culture and Trade Mission in February 2017. In 2014, Ensemble Cymru’s production of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf reached more than 15,000 people through its national tour and S4C broadcasts. The production and CD recording featured Welsh language narration by Hollywood actor, Rhys Ifans.
During 2019-2020, Ensemble Cymru will: tour performances of Schubert’s masterpiece the Octet and a new commission by Welsh composer John Metcalf; will work with Dyfed Young Composers; tour with Mid Wales Opera (Tosca – Puccini) and Opra Cymru (Un Nos Ola Leuad – Gareth Glyn). The Ensemble is looking forward to being part of a major 3-year project Canfod y Gân / Discover the Song led by the William Mathias Music Centre which will bring disabled and non-disabled people together to make music.
