Tickets going fast for 'Midsummer Music' treat at Llanelli's Parish Church

It’s being billed as Midsummer Music – and tickets are going fast.

The evening promises to be one of ‘must attend’concerts of the summer in Llanelli.

The date is Saturday, July 11, and the occasion sees the visit of the acclaimed Swansea Bach Choir to Llanelli.
The concert is being organised by Llanelli-based promoter Cerith Owens, of Loud Applause Productions and sees the Swansea Bach Choir performing at Llanelli’s Parish Church.
The choir will be joined by The Singhs, three outstanding violinists from the famous Singh family in West Wales, and pianist Guillaume Mathias.
“It is a very atmospheric setting for a classical concert and we hope to give the Swansea Bach Choir and The Singhs a very special welcome to Llanelli,” said Mr Owens.
The programme is varied and is designed to showcase the very best of the Swansea Bach Choir, The Singhs and pianist Guillaume Mathias.
"These are musicians and singers of the highest calibre and the setting of St Elli Parish Church will provide the perfect backdrop to a wonderful 'Midsummer Music' occasion," said Mr Owens.
The programme includes the following from the Swansea Bach Choir -

Hymn to St Cecilia by Benjamin Britten; Walton's A Litany; Lux Aurumque (Whitacre); Miserere Allegri and The Turtle Dove by Vaughan Williams.
Items from The Singhs include -

Y Bore Glas; Clair de lune; Llongau Caernarfon; Hiraeth; Sospan Fach; Myfanwy and Khatchaturian's Sabre Dance.

Pianist Guillaume Mathias has a programme which includes -
The Chopin Mazurkas, Schubert's Hungarian Melody and Czardas Obstiné by Liszt.

The Swansea Bach Choir was formed in 1965 with the aim of presenting the very best choral works from the past five centuries, to as wide a public as possible, and in as professional and authentic a manner as possible.
Many of the choir’s 40 members are trained singers, music students, and teachers of music.
The choir is renowned for its performances of Baroque music, in particular the major works of Bach.
Its performance of the Matthäus-Passion, given with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, was the first time this great masterpiece had been heard in Wales accompanied by a period orchestra.
Other such ‘firsts’ include performances of Bach’s Johannes-Passion and Mass in B Minor, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, Purcell’s King Arthur, Messiah, and several of the late masses of Haydn, all accompanied by London-based period orchestras.
At the other end of the historical spectrum, the choir's performance of the Rachmaninov Vespers, the first by a Welsh choir, was highly acclaimed.
It has also performed many 20th Century works, including major compositions by Pizzetti, Frank Martin, Howells, Britten, Duruflé and works by several Welsh composers.
One of the members of the Swansea Bach Choir is Claire Mansel Lewis, of Stradey Castle, Llanelli.

The Swansea Bach Choir’s conductor is Greg Hallam.
Following his education at Chetham's School of Music, Greg gained his bachelor degree from the Royal College of Music where he studied voice with Ashley Stafford. He went on to study Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded MA and LRAM qualifications, both with distinction.
Greg balances his life conducting, singing and adjudicating. He is Musical Director of Swansea Bach Choir, Bracknell Choral Society and London Youth Boys' and Training Choirs. He teaches singing at Wellington College and Christchurch Cathedral School, Oxford.
Greg is Artistic Director of the Penkhull Festival of Music and Art in Staffordshire and Assistant Musical Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.

The Singhs are three violinists of Welsh–Indian heritage who come together as a family to play classics that they love and music they’ve created based on their heritage and experiences.
All three violinists are international prize winners and as individuals have performed in all corners of the globe.
Rakhi was the leader of the Barbirolli Quartet and is now is assistant leader for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and guest leads the CBSO.
Davinder Singh is a member of Graffiti string quartet and Simran Singh is a member of the young prize winning Zelkova quartet.
Between all three they have studied at the RNCM, RAM, Guildhall and Lizst Academy in Budapest and Tanglewood Institute USA.
As well as completing intensive classical training they all believe music should have no boundaries and as a result decided to create an evening performing music that speaks directly from, and to the heart.
Having both studied in Budapest, violinist Davinder and his mother Dorothy run the Kodaly Society of Wales which they founded two years ago to promote music education in Wales.
As well as their classical repertoire they present new pieces created by Rakhi and Simmy based on the folk music of Wales, Hungary, Bulgaria and India.
They are also in the process of commissioning pieces from Ian Stephens and Joe Cutler.

By purchasing a ticket for the concert, you will also support the Kodaly Music Society of Wales, which develops talented young musicians by providing tuition from performers of international stature.
Tickets: £25 to include a pre-concert reception with wine and canapes in the historic setting of the restored Llanelly House and reserved seating.
£15 for concert and unreserved seating.
Interval refreshments may also be purchased at Llanelly House.
Tickets are on sale via Carmarthenshire Theatres Box Office 0845 226 3510.

Website –
http://www.loudapplauseproductions.co.uk/