Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The Swansea Bach Choir, The Singhs violin trio and pianist Guillaume Mathias. Loud Applause productions Midsummer Music concert held at St Elli Parish Church, Llanelli. As you’d expect from a concert in the wonderful surroundings of St Elli Parish Church, this was a ‘heavenly’ occasion. It was music to stir the soul; choral singing at its very best, blended with virtuoso musicianship. The packed audience at Llanelli’s Parish Church can consider themselves well blessed in being allowed to sit in on such a musical masterclass. The Swansea Bach Choir has made its mark down the years in performing Baroque classics, the major works of Bach and, basically, most of the great choral works of the last five centuries. There was no Bach on the programme, but no-one was complaining as conductor Greg Hallam carefully chose a repertoire designed to showcase the very best of the choir. Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia set the standard for the evening and was followed by Walton’s A Litany and two works ...

Llanelli is set to welcome Christmas in big and dramatic style as the town presents a full-scale re-enactment of the Nativity with massed choirs, orchestra, narration, actors and even livestock – all at the heart of the town. Under the creative baton of conductor John Hywel Williams, the massed voices of the Llanelli Choral Society and Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers and the new Hywel Octet will join forces with the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra, award winning soprano Rhiannon Llewellyn, organist Huw Tregelles Williams, narrator Jeremy Hywel and members from the town’s acclaimed Llanelli Youth Theatre. ‘The Miracle of Christmas’, a unique first-of-its kind performance for the town, will be held in and around the spiritual heart of Llanelli in the beautiful candle lit St Elli Parish Church on Saturday 28th November as the town’s official civic welcome to the Christmas Season. The wonderful music of Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Albinon...

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 w...

It was Llanelli’s turn to pay tribute to the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. It did so with pomp, style and dignity as hundreds flocked to St. Elli Parish Church. Hosted by the Llanelli Choral Society and under the much loved musical leadership of John Hywel and Jean Hywel, members of the armed forces, veterans, dignitaries and the public gathered for the town’s commemoration of VE Day. This was no remembrance concert but an experience which stimulated the memories and the emotions as the event saw proud veterans from WW2 join in song and commemoration with a host of the town’s artists. The church was theatrically presented in tribute with smoke and lights. Candles burned throughout the historic spiritual heart of the town as the oversubscribed event saw the Church stretch to accommodate the excited audience. Artists included the Llanelli Choral Society, the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, soprano Gwawr Edwards, symphony percussionists Gareth Hamlin an...

As the country prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe this year, local choirs will lead the town of Llanelli in two poignant commemorations. The Llanelli Choral Society and conductor John Hywel Williams will present “We Remember”, a civic commemoration concert, on Saturday 9th May at the spiritual heart of the town at St. Elli’s Parish Church. “We Remember” will feature the Llanelli Choral Society, guest choir Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, gust artists, patriotic music and poignant marches by serving personnel and veterans of HM Armed Forces. On Saturday 6th June at Y Ffwrnes, the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Signers will pay special tribute at their landmark “Last Night of the Proms” with the 275 massed voices and musicians of the Hywel Choir, Pontarddulais Male Choir, Llanelli Choral Society, TV tenor Aled Hall and the acclaimed British Sinfonietta Orchestra. Veterans from all conflicts will be invited on stage to join the giant cast for a...

Further to a fun ABBA Challenge Performance Workshop at the Ffwrnes, Llanelli, last weekend with participants from 13 schools across the region, the Hywel Choir look forward to presenting The Town Remembers at St Elli Parish Church, Llanelli on Saturday 4 October where they will be joined by the Llanelli Choral Society and tenor Aled Hall for the WW1 Centenary event. Highlights of the event will include 100 remembrance lanterns scattered around the grounds of the church and 100 candles burning inside the church as well as the church internally theatrically lit for the event. A central simple shrine will see six candles, each representing the millions of lives lost, periodically extinguished by young choristers as the night progresses. Narrations will be given by Nia Griffiths MP, The Hon. Robin Lewis OBE, The Town Mayor Roger T Price, Warrant Officer Stuart Millson 10 year old Chloe Millson and speaker Jeremy Hywel. Musical highlights will include favourite WW1 singalongs with the Hy...