Spectacular festival of music (From South Wales Guardian)

Spectacular festival of music

10:22am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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FOR one week every summer a small hill-top Welsh town comes alive to the sound of music as some of the world’s top international artists perform in what is now a major event on the musical calendar.

Delightful, rural Llandeilo with its twisty streets and quaint country appeal has found itself thrust on to the world stage, attracting some of the biggest classical names in the business.

Every July, instrumentalists, singers and choirs of truly international repute appear on the bill at the Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music & Flowers, drawing huge crowds and reaffirming the town’s new standing as the musical Mecca of the west.

Big names such as Emma Kirkby, Sir Thomas Allen, The King’s Singers, Nikolai Demidenko, Clare Teal, Rebecca Evans, Tasmin Little and Jamie Cullum have all performed here and outstanding Welsh trumpeter Huw Morgan got his first platform here before establishing himself as one of Britain’s leading young brass players. Now in its ninth year, the following for this marvellous mix of music and magnificent floral displays is such that the event has become a permanent fixture on many a music lover’s calendar.

The week is packed with opera, lectures, lunchtime recitals, choirs and cabaret set in spectacular surroundings.

The festival is the brainchild of local businesswoman Julia Jones, herself a talented singer with a huge passion for classical music. As the event’s artistic director she single-handedly books the acts, plans the schedules, arranges the venues, and markets the whole affair with staggering organisational flair.

“The idea behind the festival was to bring people into town,” says Julia, who runs Llandeilo’s chic shoe shop Heel Appeal. “It was 2001, the height of the foot and mouth crisis and although we didn’t have the disease in Llandeilo, no-one was visiting.

“Because of my musical background, I had a germ of an idea – music, flowers, a beautiful setting. I knew it would work but couldn’t foresee then how prestigious the event would become. We put it on again the following year and managed to get the Kazakhstan violinist Marat Bisengaliev, one of the world’s most renowned virtuosi.

“He was simply amazing and reduced the audience to an awe-struck silence. I knew then we could achieve something really special.

“From then the festival has gone from strength to strength and we aim higher every year. Everyone benefits. The artists love coming to our beautiful town and Llandeilo gets international recognition.”

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that the festival is staged without a penny of Arts Council money. Funding from Carmarthenshire County Council, Llandeilo Council and local sponsorship help keeps the show on the road.

This year’s festival runs from July 11-18. For brochures, tickets, accommodation, places to eat and further information go to www.llandeilomusicfestival.co.uk or www.visitcarmarthenshire.co.uk. You can also phone Heel Appeal on 01558 823294 or Peppercorn 01558 822410. The Plough Inn, Rhosmaen are offering accomodation and meals.

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