Sinfonia Cymru is launching its 2020-21 season with a brand-new website, an online talk show series, and the orchestra takes its first steps back to live concerts in 2021 with performances across Wales to celebrate 25 years.
Chief Executive Peter Bellingham says “There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most challenging period for our industry. One of the positive things to come out of it, though, is that people have rediscovered the importance of communities. At Sinfonia Cymru, we’ve always valued our work in rural communities – for example, our regular orchestral concerts in Pontyberem. To mark our 25th year, and as a professional orchestra for Wales, we are stepping up that element of our work with a series of 25 free mini concerts in rural settings across Wales in ‘The Mainly Village Halls Tour’.”
He continues “In the run up to our celebrations next year, we have also launched a new website, which enables an array of digital performances for people to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes, a look back at material from our archives, and lots of ways to find out more about our talented young musicians.”
Sinfonia Cymru Launch New Online Series – In Conversation
This autumn, Sinfonia Cymru presents a brand-new online series called In Conversation [starting 22 Sept 2020] – a first-hand insight into Sinfonia Cymru’s musicians, artists and friends. Orchestra Leader, Caroline Pether, turns talk show host in a series of conversations with conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy [3 November 2020], Sinfonia Cymru musicians Simmy Singh [24 November 2020] and Roberto Ruisi [22 September 2020], and board member Simone Willis [13 October 2020].
The online series Musicians in Lockdown continues, where members of Sinfonia Cymru have created digital performances from their own homes celebrating some of the most iconic artists in music as well as some of the best music from Wales. Following the success of Can’t Stop – a Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cover, our musicians celebrate another musical icon, with I Say a Little Prayer from the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, as well as the Welsh classic Sospan Fach.
Sinfonia Cymru Schedule Live Performances For 2021
Sinfonia Cymru’s orchestra will take its first steps back to live performances in 2021. The events will include a 25th anniversary celebration with The Mainly Village Halls Tour [Summer 2021], where Sinfonia Cymru musicians will perform 25 free mini concerts in towns and villages around Wales.
In March, Sinfonia Cymru will perform in RWCMD (Cardiff), Pontyberem Memorial Hall, Hafren (Newtown) and Theatr Clwyd (Mold), with the trumpet sensation Lucienne Renaudin Vary. Orchestral virtuosity meets the jazz influenced streets of France in Tales from a French Trumpet [18-21 March 2021]. Twenty-one-year-old Lucienne leads Sinfonia Cymru with a vivacious programme, encompassing both classical and jazz inspired music, from Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto to Weill’s Je ne t’aime pas.
Curate, a series which sees Sinfonia Cymru musicians create their own concerts, takes up residency in Cardiff’s Chapter. Caroline Pether’s concert Spiritual Borderlands [25 March 2021] invites you to take time out and embrace the spiritual, whilst Ali Vennart explores the Endangered [29 April 2021]. Enjoy the simplicity in life with Steph Tress’ Enchant [20 May 2021] which forms part of Vale of Glamorgan festival. The final part of the series created by Gideon Brooks & Danny Vassallo, celebrates relationships with Two Nations Tango [1 July 2021].
Sinfonia Cymru will also join with the National Museum Cardiff to present A Day at the Museum [8 April] – a perfect day for the family to discover music and art together. There will also be a continuation of the lunchtime concert series at The Riverfront (Newport), with The Piano Quartets [3 February 2021], The String Quartets: Schumann & Haydn [7 April 2021] and Music for Friends: Celebrating Stravinsky [7 July 2021].
The next step will be working with venues and following government guidelines closely to make the 2020-21 season events a reality. Information about tickets will be released in due course.
- For information and to see the latest digital performances, visit www.sinfonia.cymru. Follow Sinfonia Cymru: @sinfoniacymru or facebook.com/sinfoniacymru.