For more than forty years the Gower Festival has been bringing music of the highest quality to this area of south west Wales. Once again, during the first two weeks in July, at a different venue each evening, we are inviting internationally acclaimed musicians to play in the superb acoustic and atmosphere of our ancient churches.
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“Following a highly successful 2019 Festival, we have a new and exciting programme for 2020. We have music for everyone from Poetry and Jazz, to the outstanding Menuhin School Orchestra and the celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary with four concerts from internationally acclaimed artists. I look forward to seeing you!”
gordon back
2019 Festival Review Video
“It is a privilege for me, as President, to be able to welcome you to the Gower Festival, my ‘local’ festival, having been raised on the beautiful Gower Peninsula. There is an exciting programme for you to enjoy, with concerts in the historic churches of Gower.”
Sir Karl Jenkins CBE
“The Gower Festival represents the best of the British summer festival tradition, great music for friendly and appreciative audiences in the most beautiful surroundings. I always look forward to returning with much anticipation.”
Llŷr Williams
“Performing at the Gower Festival on many occasions has always been a special experience for me. I am therefore thrilled to be invited to be a Patron of this outstanding Festival.”
Catrin Finch
A Viennese evening
In the first concert of their three-day residency in Gower, the acclaimed London Conchord Ensemble play Brahms’s marvellous Piano Quintet in F minor alongside Viennese music by Johann Strauss and Alexander Zemlinsky, a late romantic composer whose style has been increasingly admired in recent years.
Baroque music
The Conchord Ensemble are noted for their versatility. For today’s lunchtime concert we move back in time to the Baroque period; an opportunity to enjoy the contrasting styles of two of its greatest masters J.S. Bach and Henry Purcell.
Mozart at the Glynn Vivian
Honouring the ninety-fifth birthday of the artist Glenys Cour, the London Conchord Ensemble play in the beautiful surroundings of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. Their concert of music by Mozart includes the much loved Clarinet Quintet in A. The ticket price includes a pre-concert drinks reception at the Gallery.
Christian Li came to international attention in 2018 when he shared the Junior 1st Prize at the Menuhin Violin Competition in Geneva - their youngest ever winner. Tonight’s concert is his UK debut and the start of a European tour. Accompanied by Gordon Back, our Artistic Director, their programme includes Dvořák’s delightful Sonatina and the sparkling Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saëns.
Cream Tea … and crime!
An intimate and indulgent event with crime author Cathy Ace.
Born and brought up in Swansea and now based in Canada, the best-selling writer talks about her life and work and invites questions from the audience.
Ticket price includes Cream Tea.
Cathy will sign copies of her new book, the #1 Amazon bestseller The Wrong Boy.
Pupils from Gowerton School and Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr present music for a summer afternoon. Don’t miss the chance to hear these inspirational young musicians.
At the request of Sir Karl and Lady Jenkins, all proceeds from this concert will be donated to Save the Children.
One of the most admired musicians of his generation, and a patron of the Festival, Llŷr Williams makes a welcome return to Gower. His programme includes works by Chopin - a waltz, two mazurkas and the Barcarolle in F sharp - alongside pieces by Poulenc and Ravel. He ends with Liszt’s B minor Ballade and two of the composer’s Transcendental Studies.
Cymru Fach
A journey through the Welsh Art song. Works by Morfydd Llwyn Owen, Meirion Williams, E.T. Davies and David Richards.
An afternoon concert with
Jessica Robinson (soprano) and Llywelyn Ifan Jones (harp).
Following their acclaimed concert at the 2017 Festival, gifted singers from Dennis O’Neill’s International Academy of Voice perform arias and songs, including some associated with the great soprano Adelina Patti, who died one hundred years ago. An informal talk about Adelina Patti, free to ticket holders, will be given at 6.00pm in Llangennith Village Hall.
Drawing on the ancient Chinese philosophy of the five elements, the brilliant pianist Ji Liu plays pieces evoking fire and water. The concert includes music by Debussy and Ravel, Scriabin’s Sonata Fantasy and movements from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
A welcome return visit to Llanrhidian Church by one of the liveliest of British chamber groups. Alongside two masterpieces of the quartet repertoire - Beethoven’s Op. 95 in F minor and Ravel’s Quartet - they play a tango by Piazzolla and a newly-commissioned piece, ‘Barrelhouse’, by Karl Jenkins.
“A seemingly unlikely combination of instruments that works real magic.” Award-winning instrumentalists Oliver Wass and Huw Wiggin lead us on a magical journey from Bach to Chick Corea, taking in Debussy along the way, besides songs by Manuel de Falla and George Gershwin, and a brilliant fantasy on themes from Bizet’s Carmen.
A birthday Gala celebration for the last night of the Festival, with music composed and conducted by Festival patron Sir Karl Jenkins. Featuring Côr Caerdydd, the Chamber Orchestra of Wales and soloists including the harpist Catrin Finch. A spectacular finish to the 2019 Festival.
The Conchord Ensemble will attend Parkland Primary School, Sketty to perform a short concert and have a follow-up interaction with students of the school.
Festival Friends have priority booking from 1 April 2019.
Tickets will be on sale to the general public from 1 May 2019. You can purchase your copy of the Gower Festival 2019 Festival souvenir programme book when you attend a concert at any of our spectacular venues.
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The Gower Festival has its roots in the long, hot summer of 1976 when Jonathan Beecher, an Oxford cellist, brought a student orchestra and a handful of professional soloists to perform an astonishing series of thirty-one concerts in Gower churches during the last two weeks of August. So many events packed into a fortnight may have been over-ambitious. But the idea of holding a music festival in Gower churches was such a good one that it led to the formation of the Gower Festival Society and in due course to the appointment of John Fussell MBE, Swansea's Director of Music and City Organist, as Artistic Director of the enterprise. More than anyone else, it was John who established the high standards of musical performance and well-chosen repertoire which have characterised the Gower Festival ever since.
We have some wonderful concerts arranged for the 2020 Gower Festival.
Festival Friends have priority booking.
➢ Advance booking for concerts. This benefit is much appreciated by Friends as many concerts, particularly at smaller venues, sell out quickly.
➢ Regular Festival email updates.
➢ Acknowledgement in the Festival programme.
➢ Invitation to any masterclasses held during the Festival.
➢ Opportunities to help with the running of Festival events and to participate at the Society’s Annual General Meeting.
Annual Membership costs: £15 per household.
You can join in one of four ways:
♦ Contact Mrs Anne Pope, 10 Vowley View, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8HT
♦ Email: friends@gowerfestival.org
♦ Download a Gower Festival application form
♦ Pick up an application form at any festival venue.
Don’t miss your chance to support the Gower Festival Society and win cash prizes for yourself!
There are three prize draws per year - July, November and March.
➢ 1st Prize per draw £100
➢ 2nd Prize of £50
➢ 3rd Prizes of £25 (the number of 3rd prizes is dependent on the number of tickets sold per year).
Last year the 100 Club raised over £600 for the Gower Festival - a significant contribution towards the cost of a concert.
The cost of a share is only £12 per year - that’s just £1 per month. You may take out more than one share if you wish.
You can join in one of three ways:
♦ Contact Mrs Anne Pope, 10 Vowley View, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8HT
♦ Email: friends@gowerfestival.org
♦ Pick up an application form at any festival venue.
Gower Festival secretary at info@gowerfestival.org
Friends of Gower Festival secretary: friends@gowerfestival.org
Information about Swansea and
Gower including, walks, what's on, accommodation: www.visitswanseabay.com/
destination/gower-peninsula
Swansea Classical Guitar Circle: www.swanseaguitars.co.uk
