News
Sir Bryn Terfel to lead BBC Cymru Wales’ St David’s Day celebration
Celebrate a St David’s Day like no other with the world renowned singer and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on Monday 1 March at 7pm on BBC Two Wales along with a host of other programmes on the BBC.
The Grammy Award-winning opera singer, Sir Bryn Terfel, has performed all over the world and this St David’s Day the Welsh bass-baritone will be celebrating in the Welsh capital. He’ll be joining the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff for a special concert packed-full of Welsh classics and favourites that will be broadcast on BBC Two Wales, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
Looking ahead to the concert Sir Bryn Terfel said: “Singing is in my people, as sight is in the eye” is a quote from “How Green Was My Valley”. It costs us nothing to sing along and even though there are only three million of us, we are certainly not afraid to use our voices. This concert has many of our cherished songs and folk tunes and to perform live again with our incredible BBC National Orchestra of Wales fills my heart with gladness”.
The special concert is just one part of BBC Wales’ extensive range of output on St David’s Day. A brand new series The Story of Welsh Art with Huw Stephens will take viewers on a breath-taking visual tour of the nation, from stunning bronze-age artefacts to award-winning cutting edge contemporary pieces.
Comedian and presenter Tudur Owen takes a look at how the people of Wales have celebrated the day over the years – from delicious dishes to questionable dancing – as he explores the BBC archives for a St David’s Day special of Tudur’s TV Flashback.
St David’s Day at the BBC celebrates with classic performances drawn from the BBC’s music archives and includes performances from Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Feeder, Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones.
In addition to broadcasting the St David’s Day concert with Bryn Terfel, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru will be asking listeners what little things they’ll be doing that bring them joy this St David’s Day, as well as celebrating the day with a host of special guests and content.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Cymru Wales said:
“Despite the challenging circumstances for everybody, St David’s Day is always worth celebrating and this year we’re pulling out all the stops.
“We’re thrilled that Sir Bryn Terfel is joining the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for what will be a rousing concert of Welsh music and song, and who better than Huw Stephens to share the Story of Welsh Art with audiences right across the UK. It promises to be a day – and a night – to remember and a timely reminder of the extraordinary talent Wales produces.”
BBC Four will be kicking off the celebrations early with a Friday night of Welsh music icons on Friday 26 February. Programmes include Katherine Jenkins at 40, St David’s Day at the BBC, Tom Jones’s 1950s: The Decade That Made Me, Electric Proms featuring Shirley Bassey and Radio 2 in Concert featuring The Stereophonics.
Crime
Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest
HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).
Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.
Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.
News
Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod
Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.
The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives. None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.
But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.
With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.
Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar. She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage. As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.
The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.
Crime
Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl
THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.
An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.
James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.
The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.
Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.
He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.
The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.
Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.
The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.
Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.
Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.
He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.
She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.
“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.
“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”
Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.
He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.
-
Crime6 days ago
Pembrokeshire man charged with sexual penetration of seven-week old baby
-
Crime7 days ago
Dock man collapses when sentenced for throwing hot meal over his wife
-
Crime6 days ago
Drink-driving Neyland rugby player drove Discovery into two cars
-
Crime7 days ago
Suspended sentence following serious threats to a 14-year-old child
-
News6 days ago
£1.7bn boost for Welsh Government in UK Budget
-
Health6 days ago
RAAC problems to persist at Withybush General Hospital
-
Crime6 days ago
Man sentenced following police chase through broken window
-
Crime6 days ago
Man admits punching woman ‘forcefully’ causing her to fall to ground