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Entertainment

St Davids Cathedral Festival 2024: A celebration of music and community

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THE historic and picturesque St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire played host to its annual music festival from 24th to 29th May, bringing together an impressive array of musical talent and an enthusiastic audience. This year’s festival featured a diverse lineup of performances, showcasing both established artists and emerging talents, all within the awe-inspiring setting of Britain’s smallest city.

A Grand Opening

The festival kicked off on Friday, 24th May, with a charming performance by The Children’s Chorus and Band, followed by a captivating candlelit concert featuring Vox Angelica, Vicars Choral, and Choral Scholars. This opening night set the tone for what would be a week of extraordinary musical experiences, combining the innocence and energy of youth with the profound beauty of choral music.

Highlights of the Weekend

One of the standout events of the weekend was the Saturday night concert by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW), conducted by the esteemed Martyn Brabbins. The orchestra delivered masterful performances of works by Brahms, Sibelius, and Mathias. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the breathtaking performance by violinist Inmo Yang, whose virtuosity left a lasting impression on all in attendance. The concert was beautifully captured by photographer Chris Limbert, whose images conveyed the cathedral’s majestic atmosphere and the musicians’ passionate artistry.

Earlier that day, the ‘Choristers Unplugged’ concert proved to be a festival favourite. This lively and whimsical event saw young choristers performing to a packed audience, dressed in costumes inspired by themes such as ‘Wonka’, ‘Barbie’, and ‘Six’. The concert not only highlighted the versatility and talent of the choristers but also their infectious enthusiasm for music of all genres. Special accolades were given to the Head Chorister for their excellent curation of the programme.

Celebrating Young Talent

The festival continued to spotlight young talent with a performance by Raphael James, the Young Musician of Dyfed. James delivered a fantastic programme featuring pieces by Schubert, Rachmaninov, Chopin, and Gershwin. This concert also provided an opportunity to showcase the cathedral’s Steinway Concert Grand piano, a generous bequest from the late Mary Evans, which added a rich and resonant tone to the performances.

A Week of Diverse Performances

Throughout the week, festival-goers enjoyed a series of diverse and memorable performances. Highlights included a moving celebration of Anthony Randall’s music by Trío Preseli, who traveled from Santiago for the event. Emma Johnson and the Orchestra for the Environment delivered a stirring evening of string and clarinet music with a poignant message about the climate crisis.

The Choir of Royal Holloway also graced the festival with a stunning performance of orchestral music arranged for choir. Their dedication and talent were evident in every note, leaving the audience in awe of their harmonious blend and powerful delivery.

Grand Finale and Reflections

The festival concluded with a sublime broadcast of Choral Evensong live on BBC Radio 3, followed by a festival finale featuring the folk group Alaw. This closing night was a fitting end to a week filled with musical excellence and community spirit.

Festival Director, in his closing remarks, expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the festival possible. He extended special thanks to his Assistant Director of Music, Laurence John, and to key supporters like Ben Richards, the festival’s Administrator, and Canon Leigh Richardson, the Chairman of the Festival. Their behind-the-scenes efforts were crucial in delivering a first-rate event.

As the festival drew to a close, the Cathedral Choir and all participants looked forward to a well-earned rest. The festival’s success was a testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved, from the performers to the organisers and the supportive audience.

Looking Ahead

The St Davids Cathedral Festival continues to be a highlight in the regional cultural calendar, celebrating the rich tradition of music in one of the UK’s most iconic and spiritually significant venues. Plans are already underway for next year’s festival, scheduled for 23rd-28th May 2025, promising another week of exceptional performances and cherished memories.

In reflecting on this year’s festival, attendees and performers alike will remember it as a joyful celebration of music, community, and the enduring beauty of St Davids Cathedral.

 

Entertainment

One Night in Dublin returns to the Torch with a brand-new show

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ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN is heading back to the stage at the Torch Theatre with a lively new production fronted by renowned Irish singer Danny Muldoon.

Tickets are already selling fast for the feel-good celebration of Irish music, which promises two hours of songs, stories and plenty of craic.

Backed by an award-winning five-piece band, Muldoon leads audiences through a packed set of sing-along favourites including Galway Girl, Tell Me Ma, The Irish Rover, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar, The Wild Rover and The Galway Shawl, along with many more well-loved classics.

The show recreates the atmosphere of a bustling Dublin pub, complete with fiddle, whistle, guitars, banjo, bodhrán, accordion and driving drums, transporting the audience straight into “Murphy’s Tavern” for an unforgettable night of live entertainment.

Fans can also expect hits from Irish legends including The Pogues, The Saw Doctors, The Dubliners, The Fureys, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.

One Night in Dublin comes to the Torch Theatre on Thursday, March 26 at 7:30pm.

Tickets cost £26.50. Visit the theatre website or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267 to book.

 

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Entertainment

New appeal in search for missing Manic Street Preachers musician

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Family and charity issue fresh appeal for information about guitarist 31 years on

THIRTY-ONE years after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, a new public appeal has been issued urging anyone with information to come forward.

Edwards, guitarist and lyricist with Manic Street Preachers, vanished on January 31, 1995, in a case that has become one of the most enduring mysteries in British music history.

Missing for over 30 years: Richey Edwards

The then 27-year-old was last seen at the Embassy Hotel Bayswater in west London, where he had been staying ahead of a promotional trip to the United States. He checked out of room 561 but never reached his destination.

Despite numerous reported sightings over the years, none have ever been confirmed. Edwards was officially declared presumed dead in 2008, though his family continue to mark the anniversary of his disappearance and keep hope alive that answers may still emerge.

Anniversary appeal

The charity Missing People has released a statement in collaboration with Edwards’ sister Rachel, asking the public to remember the case.

In a social media post, the organisation said: “It is 31 years since Richard went missing, please keep his family in your thoughts.”

They also repeated key identifying details from the time he vanished. Edwards was described as white, around 5ft 7in tall, slim, with brown eyes and a shaved head. He had several distinctive tattoos, including a rose with the words ‘Useless Generation’, the phrase ‘I’ll surf this beach’, and a scar on his lower left arm where he had scratched the words ‘4 REAL’.

Unanswered questions

His car was later found near the Severn Bridge services, close to the Welsh border, prompting widespread searches but yielding no firm clues about what happened next.

At the time of his disappearance, the band were on the brink of international success. Edwards’ intense, literate songwriting and striking image had already made him a defining figure in Welsh rock music. More than three decades later, fans still hold vigils, create murals and share tributes across Wales and beyond.

Police say the case remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Service on 101 or use their online reporting service, quoting reference CONNECT REF 01/764429/24. Missing People also operates a free, confidential helpline on 116 000.

 

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Entertainment

Turner and Constable brought to life on the big screen at the Torch Theatre

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ART lovers in Pembrokeshire will have the chance to experience the lives and rivalries of two of Britain’s greatest painters when a new documentary, EOS: Turner & Constable, arrives at the Torch Theatre this March.

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, the film explores the intertwined stories and enduring legacies of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable alongside Tate Britain’s major new exhibition. Exhibition on Screen has been granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access, bringing their extraordinary art and personal histories vividly to the cinema screen.

Born just a year apart, Turner and Constable helped redefine landscape painting in Britain – and were fierce competitors. Both captured a nation in transition, yet their styles could not have been more different. Turner’s dramatic skies, blazing sunsets and atmospheric scenes from his travels contrasted sharply with Constable’s gentle, nostalgic portrayals of the English countryside and familiar rural life.

Their opposing visions divided critics and audiences alike, famously described at the time as a clash of “fire and water”.

The documentary offers rare, intimate access to sketchbooks, letters and personal artefacts, alongside insights from leading curators and art historians. It also ties in with Tate Britain’s landmark exhibition, running in London from November 2025 to April 2026, which reunites the two masters’ works side-by-side.

This cinematic event gives audiences the chance to see their masterpieces in stunning detail and discover unexpected sides to two artists whose rivalry shaped British art history.

Turner and Constable will be screened at the Torch Theatre on Sunday, March 15 at 4:30pm.

Tickets are £13. For bookings, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01646 695267.

 

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