2008 Eisteddfod Launch
14/01/08
ELAINE PAIGE
ALL ANGELS, ALFIE BOE AND ONKE OSE
HEADLINE HOT TICKET LINE-UP AT
LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL EISTEDDFOD
~ 2008 ~
THE LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL EISTEDDFOD, one of the world’s biggest global celebrations of music and dance is to again play host to a glittering array of new and established international stars at this year’s annual festival in July.
Elaine Paige, the First Lady of British Musical Theatre, chart-topping classical sensations, All Angels, Alfie Boe, Elin Manahan Thomas, Chirk tenor, David Kempster, and for the first time, the legendary African dance performance, Onke Ose, are all confirmed in the line-up for this season’s hot ticket concerts at the 62nd Llangollen International Musical Festival.
Ms Paige, one of the biggest stars in the history of Broadway and the West End, and renowned as the lead in Evita, Cats, Chess and many other worldwide hit musicals, is to open this year’s festival on July 8th with a special evening entitled “Elaine Paige: The Anniversary Concert”. Celebrating some 40 years of stardom this year, Ms Paige is to feature many of the fantastic show-stopping songs from her much-loved hit musicals and her eight gold and multi-platinum selling albums, in what promises to be an enthralling evening of music.
Llangollen’s outgoing CEO Gwyn L Williams comments: “The ability Llangollen has continually to attract the very best of international performers, such as Elaine Paige, is a true recognition of the festival’s reputation, both here and abroad, and keeps the Eisteddfod in a strong position to face the challenges of the future. I am delighted to have been associated with this great festival for the last six years!”
All Angels, the sensational all-girl super-group, are to headline the Friday Evening Concert (July 11), bringing their fresh new sound and bright new look to the Eisteddfod for the very first time.
Their repertoire, a wonderful mixture of classical, choral, opera and pop music has seen them totally mesmerise UK classical music lovers in just under 18 months, won them a nomination for Best Album of The Year at The Classical Brits, and seen their self-titled debut CD become the fastest Classical selling debut CD of all time, notching up 300,000 sales, and reaching platinum status. Expect favourites such as Schubert’s Ave Maria, Delibes’ Flower Duet and even Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U to captivate the hearts of the Llangollen faithful!
All Angels collectively commented: “Our wonderful friend, Hayley Westenra, played Llangollen last year and told us how amazing the whole event is and how the Eisteddfod continues to bring new music, dance and competitors from around the world to this beautiful corner of Wales in the name of friendship and unity. We look forward to adding our names to that honoured list and to a very special evening with friends old and new at the concert”.
Llangollen’s traditional season-ending Opera Gala Evening, on Sunday July 13, features three brilliant young soloists, Alfie Boe, Elin Manahan Thomas, and David Kempster performing with the acclaimed Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera.
Alfie Boe has had many highlights in his career but the last 12 months have been exceptional. Alfie has enjoyed two chart topping classical albums, been nominated for a Classical Brit Award for ‘Best Album’ and toured the length and breadth of the country and appeared at the Royal Albert Hall with Lesley Garrett and Sir Willard White. He performed in a sell-out run of the English National Opera’s production of Kismet alongside Michael Ball and performed at Clarence House where he graciously accepted the role as Ambassador for HRH’s Arts & Kids Foundation.
Elin Manahan Thomas, the young Swansea soprano, has also had an amazing year reaching #2 in the charts with her debut CD, Eternal Light, receiving massive critical acclaim from classical music tastemakers far and wide. Radio 3 said of Eternal Light, “Its sure to be one of the albums of the year”, while Radio 2’s Howard Goodall declared over Xmas that Elin had “one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard”.
Elin commented: “I’ve been going to the International Eisteddfod since I was kid, and actually presented the event for S4C last year along with Rhodri Owen. So this year is going to be great fun, and a very special evening for me as it’s both my Eisteddfod debut, and the first time I’ve sung with either Alfie and David. Music-wise there will be something for everyone with something old, something new and not a few surprises planned too!”.
The honeyed baritone, David Kempster, brings a special element to the evening’s proceedings, as he’s a true local boy made good. Born just a few miles away from the Eisteddfod grounds in Chirk, this is, surprisingly enough, Kempster’s grand debut appearance at the International Eisteddfod. David studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, represented Wales in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition, was the Young Welsh Singer of the Year in 1998, before joining the English National Opera as Principle Baritone in the same year.
The incredible Onke Ose bring their own joyful celebrations and high energy dancing to the International Eisteddfod for their first ever concert on July 10. Ghanaian Djembe meets Zimbabwean Ngoma music complimented by superb rhythms and sweet harmonies. A remarkable evening with 17 singers and dancers tracing the history of the continent’s black music from Zulu dancing via township music to the dancing of the mining communities and à cappella singing.
The line-up for the hugely successful World Music @ 6 Concerts together with details of all the themed days, The Llangollen Choir of The World Competition and prestigious Pavarotti Trophy evening, The Window On The World Evening, and the daily field programmes will follow in the coming weeks.
The International Eisteddfod provides a platform for people of all nations to meet and communicate through the international languages of music and dance, thereby promoting peace, harmony and a greater understanding of world culture.
The festival has very strong links to the United Nations and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. The International Eisteddfod’s Patron is H.R.H. Prince Charles and Terry Waite CBE is the current President.
For tickets and/or further information call 01978 862001 or go to www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk
For further media assistance please contact:
Joe O’Neil PR
The Welsh Office
Gercoed, 1 Park Henry Lane
Bonllwyn SA18 2EH
tel: 01269 595998 / 0 7831 482177
email: joeoneil@aol.com