Stand With Us

Thanks to all the choristers and their MD’s and accompanists who had worked incredibly hard and to the unbelievable talent of our Musical Director and Festival Conductor, Edward-Rhys Harry, who never fails to impress with his ability to get the very best out of choristers. I was honoured and proud to share the stage with my son Danny McCann-Williams, a violinist with the Ulster orchestra, who had accepted Edward’s invitation to be Guest Leader of the Festival orchestra. Our choice of repertoire, although demanding, was very well received by a warm and appreciative capacity audience. Included was Edward’s beautiful arrangement of Gweddi’r Arglwydd (The Lord’s Prayer) and his composition The Man We Never Knew adapted from an anonymous poem about an unknown soldier, especially appropriate this year as we commemorate the centenary of the start of WW1. Another centenary was celebrated in 2014: that of the birth of Dylan Thomas, regarded as one of the great Welsh poets. We were delighted that Trefor Ellis, husband of Dylan’s late daughter, Aeronwy, agreed to join us on stage to recite an extract from Dylan’s work. For this Festival choirs came from England, Wales and South Africa and for the first time from Norway and Sweden. We were joined by two young Welsh soloists, soprano Rhiannon Llewellyn and tenor Trystan Llyr Griffiths, fulfilling one of the Festival’s original aims to give prominence to up and coming Welsh musical talent. Joining us also for the first time, was the British Sinfonietta, one of the UK’s leading independent professional orchestras. The superbly talented Annabel Thwaite worked tirelessly as pianist throughout the evening, accompanying both choir and soloists, and Robert Nicholls was the ‘Master’ of the Grand Albert Hall organ. If after hearing this recording you’d like to join us again, then please check the choir website (www.londonwelshmvc.org) for updates on our 25th Festival in October 2016. In the meantime, mwynhewch – enjoy!
DAVID WILLIAMS FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN

CD1)

1. Gwinllan a Roddwyd i'm Gofal
2. Divine Brahma
3. Anfonaf Angel
4. Mai - RHIANNON LLEWELLYN
5. Rule the World
6. Ar Hyd y Nos
7. Working Man
8. Arafa Don - TRYSTAN LLYR GRIFFITHS
9. Morte Criste
10. Can You Hear Me?
11. Sarah

CD2)

12. Palladio - BRITISH SINFONIETTA
13. Prayer
14. Steal Away & TRYSTAN LLYR GRIFFITHS
15. Into the Fire
16. Gweddi'r Arglwydd & TRYSTAN LLYR GRIFFITHS
17. Love Unspoken - RHIANNON LLEWELLYN & TRYSTAN LLYR GRIFFITHS
18. The Man We Never Knew
19. Extracts from 'Under Milk Wood' - TREFOR ELLIS
20. Sunset Poem
21. An American Trilogy
22. Cadwyn o Emynau Cymreig (Price/Ellers/In Memoriam)
23. Rachie
24. Calon Lân
25. Hen Wlad fy Nhadau

Unless noted otherwise: Choir