We have four brilliant events this year to commemorate the centenary of the armistice at the end of the First World War.
Our first concert with local star soprano, Elin Manahan Thomas, draws a portrait of Morfydd Llwyn Owen, a Welsh composer and singer who died in 1918.
We are excited to invite Toby Thacker to give a fascinating lecture and the Swansea Bach Choir will perform music which will evoke the war. Our last event is The Armistice Suite, a new powerful multimedia performance piece with music composed by BAFTA winning, EMMY nominated Welsh composer Mark Thomas.
There is guitar music by the outstanding Australian guitarist, Andrey Lebedev, two piano concerts by Leon McCawley and Clare Hammond, a harp concert by the amazing Catrin Finch and a con-cert by the Sacconi Quartet, Britain’s leading young string quartet.
The Geoff Eales Trio take us on a musical journey of 100 years of jazz piano, plus there is an entertain-ing tribute to the Welsh comedy great, Ryan Davies.
We include outstanding young players from the Abertawe Festival for Young Musicians and the win-ner of the prestigious Menuhin International Violin Competition, Geneva 2018. Masterclasses will inspire local young talented players.
The Gower Festival invites you to amazing music in the superb acoustic of ancient Gower churches and in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It’s an experience to remember and offers a series of concerts for summer evenings which we are sure you will find attractive and most enjoyable.
Mon 2 July | 7.30pm £15
Elin Manahan Thomas and Brian Ellsbury (piano)
Morfydd Owen: Portrait of a Lost Icon
ST PAUL’S CHURCH, SKETTY SA2 9AR
Locally born Elin Manahan Thomas, one of the most exceptional sopranos of her generation, introduces the music of Morfydd Owen, the Welsh composer and singer who died, tragically young, in 1918.
Sponsored by D Andrew Davies
Tues 3 July | 7.30pm £10
Festival Talk by Toby Thacker
ST MARY’S CH, PENNARD SA3 2AD
‘Torn between Duty and Conscience: Elgar, Parry and their musical composition in the First World War’.
A talk, illustrated with recorded music, by the author of British Culture and the First World War.
Sponsored by Professor Neil Reeve and Mrs Cheryl Reeve
Wed 4 July | 7.30pm £15
Andrey Lebedev (guitar) and Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo-soprano)
ST CADOC’S CHURCH,
CHERITON SA3 1BY
An evening of guitar music and song, performed by candlelight in the ‘Cathedral of Gower’.
Sponsored by Arthur Llewellyn Jenkins
Thur 5 July | 3pm £10
Andrey Lebedev (guitar)
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH,
PENRICE SA3 1LN
An hour of classical guitar music, exploring the connections between Bach and the South American composers Villa-Lobos and Ginastera who were influenced by him.
Sponsored anonymously
Fri 6 July | 7.30pm £15
2018 Menuhin Competition Winner
ST CATTWG’S CHURCH,
PORT EYNON SA3 1NL
The UK debut of the first prize winner of the internationally renowned 2018 Menuhin Competition for young violinists. Accompanied by our Artistic Director Gordon Back.
Sponsored by Lark Insurance
Sat 7 July | 1pm £5
Abertawe Festival for Young Musicians
ST PETER’S CHURCH, NEWTON SA3 4RB
A concert by local talented young musicians.
Sponsored by David Goldstone CBE
Sat 7 July | 7.30pm £15
Leon McCawley (piano)
ST PETER’S CHURCH, NEWTON SA3 4RB
Leon McCawley pairs Mozart’s earliest piano sonata and Beethoven’s last with Schubert’s glorious late Sonata in G. Sponsored by Professor and Mrs Clarkson
Sun 8 July | 3pm £10
Swansea Bach Choir
ALL SAINTS CHURCH,
OYSTERMOUTH SA3 4BZ
Choral and organ music evoking the tragedy of the Great War, to be followed by a short presentation on the Mumbles Lifeboat memorial window in the church by its designer, Tim Lewis.
Sponsored by Swansea Building Society
Mon 9 July | 3pm & 7.30pm £5
A Tribute to Ryan
GOWERTON CHURCH HALL SA4 3EA
Two opportunities to hear a tribute to comedy great Ryan Davies by Mike Evans (his Manager), illustrated with visual and audio recordings.
Sponsored anonymously
Tues 10 July | 7.30pm £15
Catrin Finch (harp)
ST CENYDD’S CHURCH,
LLANGENNITH SA3 1HU
Our most accomplished harpist plays classical music by John Parry, Fauré and Britten, together with lighter pieces ending with an Argentine Tango. Sponsored by John and Susan Medwell
Wed 11 July | 7.30pm £15
Clare Hammond (piano)
ST HILARY’S CHURCH, KILLAY SA2 7DZ
An imaginative programme by this brilliant young artist, combining pieces by Schubert, Debussy and Stravinsky with the midsummer song of some
musical bumblebees.
Sponsored by Roger and Angie Taylor
Thurs 12 July | 7.30pm £15
Sacconi Quartet
ST RHIDIAN & ST ILLTYD’S CHURCH,
LLANRHIDIAN SA3 1ER
Britain’s leading young string quartet play masterpieces by Haydn (the ‘Emperor’ quartet) Debussy and Schubert (‘Death and the Maiden’). Sponsored anonymously
Fri 13 July | 7.30pm £15
The Geoff Eales Trio
LLANMORLAIS COMMUNITY
HALL SA4 3TZ
A breathtaking journey through one hundred years of jazz piano, from Scott Joplin’s classic ragtime to the Latin exuberance of Chick Corea.
Sponsored by Mike and Judy Thomson
Sat 14 July | 7.30pm £15
The Armistice Suite
REYNOLDSTON VILLAGE HALL SA3 1AA
A multi-media performance piece consisting of words, music and images to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War. Suitable for all ages – no graphic accounts of death or violence.
Sponsored by Swansea Timber & Plywood
MASTERCLASSES
Thurs 5 July
Guitar with Andrey Lebedev at Gowerton School SA4 3DL
Sponsored by Gowerton School and the Gowertonians
Tues 10 July
Harp with Catrin Finch at Ysgol Gyfyn Gwyr SA4 3DD
Sponsored by Mary Sylvester
PRE-CONCERT TALKS
at 6.30pm
Sat 7 July Leon McCawley
Wed 11 July Clare Hammond
The Gower Festival is sponsored by Mark Thomas and Sir Karl and Lady Jenkins
Tickets on sale NOW from www.gowerfestival.org or the Swansea Grand Theatre Box Office 01792 475715