Crickhowell Music Festival

Crickhowell Choral Society

After our long two-year Covid silence we are so very glad to be back with the much delayed Crickhowell Music Festival. The 60-strong Choral Society has proved resiliant; there have been outdoor rehearsals that brought a whole new meaning to Singing in the Rain, and the indoor trials of Zoom practices across patchy rural broadband. Finally it concludes in a glorious programme brought together under the theme of A Song for Mary featuring The Festival Baroque Orchestra and a star line-up of soloists often to be found on prestigious globally renowned stages, but who can't resist returning year after year to our small Welsh town. Undoubted highlights will be one of the first modern performances of Scarlatti's Salve Regina by Catherine King and a motet by Venetian courtesan Barbara Strozzi sung by Grace Davidson. 

The festival opens on April 29 with the multi-talented Carnival Band, one of the most original acts on the folk and early music scene. A kaleidoscope of sound and song, Carnival delivers a wonderful blend of folk, contemporary and early music. Expect a dazzling variety of instruments and vocal colours from the vibrant blare of shawms and electric guitar to the seductive tones of Turkish clarinet and fiddle.

Saturday 30th sees Mary take centre stage in Bach's exuberant setting of her song, The Magnificat. Mozart's Regina Coeli and Purcell's birthday ode to his patron, Queen Mary II, Come ye Sons of Art continue the theme. Grace Davidson and Ben Davies are the soloists

With our closing recital we intend to celebrate as we mark the choir's fortieth anniversary with yet more singing courtesy of our talented choral scholars.