Welcome to the Gower Festival

Recognised world-wide as one of the leading singers of his time and as a brilliant actor, Bryn Terfel returns to Gower to celebrate the Festival’s fiftieth anniversary. He will be joined by harpist, Hannah Stone and pianist Annabel Thwaite. People still recall Bryn’s first appearance here back in 1989. We can be sure that this evening’s concert will be every bit as memorable.

With pianist Jâms Coleman and bass-player Sam Becker, star saxophonist Jess Gillam weaves a fantastic programme from jazz favourites by Gershwin and Sidney Bechet to the musical energy of the baroque. Shades of folk too. Something for everyone to enjoy.

One of the UK’s leading quartets, admired for the precision and vitality of their playing, the Carducci play quartets by Mendelssohn – the young composer’s tribute to Beethoven – and Debussy. A fascinating contrast in style.

Champions of Shostakovich’s music, the Carducci play his Third Quartet, written in the shadow of the Second World War. They are joined by cellist Thomas Carroll for Schubert’s sublime Quintet in C major.

Acclaimed Welsh pianist Llŷr Williams returns with an inspired programme. Mozart’s late Sonata in F is followed by Schumann’s romantic fantasy Kreisleriana and Brahms’s masterful Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel.

First prize-winner in the Paganini and Menuhin Competitions, Simon Zhu plays Bach’s famous Chaconne for solo violin and a group of Caprices by Paganini. He is joined by Gordon Back in Ravel’s jazz-inspired Sonata for Violin and Piano and works by Schubert and Wieniawski.

Following an illustrious international career spanning over 60 years, Gordon Back has decided to end his performing career this evening in Wales, at the Gower Festival.

‘A leading force in the global jazz scene.’ With Will Sach (bass) and Sam Jesson (drums), pianist Joe Webb takes inspiration from ’90s guitar bands and his own cultural roots in Wales, creating a sound both familiar and refreshingly original.
Not to be missed.

Mexico’s leading guitarist and an ambassador for his country’s culture, Morgan Szymanski is already a firm favourite with Gower audiences. He has a wide repertoire, from European music old and new to the music of Latin America, including pieces written for Morgan himself.

The venues for Morgan Szymanski’s concerts, St Mary’s Pennard and St Teilo’s Bishopston, are two of Gower’s most beautiful small churches, ideally suited to the intimate sound of the acoustic guitar. For all who love the instrument and its music, these will be magical occasions.

Wales’s leading harpist, Catrin Finch is also a gifted composer. Her programme this evening includes pieces from her brand-new album, Notes to Self – music, she says, that comes ‘deep from my heart’. Perfect for a summer’s evening.

Brilliant Chinese pianist Ji Liu makes a welcome return to Gower. Besides music by Prokofiev and Scriabin, he will play Chopin’s Twenty-Four Études, Opp. 10 & 25 – the first time that these wonderfully poetic pieces have been performed here.

Join with chapel, church, male-voice and community choirs for hymn-singing in Dunvant Chapel, home of the Dunvant Male Choir. Jonathan Rogers conducts, with soprano soloist Rebecca Evans and organist D.Huw Rees. ‘A foretaste of paradise.’