2015 Vale of Glamorgan Festival

St Illtud's Church, Llantwit Major

The Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music takes place this year from 12 to 23 May 2015. The festival is now in its 47th year and was founded by the composer John Metcalf and focuses on the work of living composers. This year's festival has its focus on the works of three composers, the Estonian composer Arvo Part who is 80 this year, Amsterdam-based British composer Richard Ayres whose opera Peter Pan is being performed by Welsh National Opera this year and the young composer Dobrinka Tabakova (who was recently appointed Resident Composer with the Orchestra of the Swan)

Premieres at this years festival include three festival commissions, from the young British composer Tom Green and from two young Chinese composers Ying Xiao and Yanche Ye. Welsh-based composers Ben Lunn and Andrew Wallace also have premieres in the festival and Estonian composer Helena Tulve has a UK premiere.

The pianist Robin Green is the festival's 2015 Young Artist in Residence and he will also be playing the hurdy gurdy (!) accompanying violinist Sarah Trickey. Other artists include the viol consort Fretwork as well as visits from the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. These latter two will each give individual concerts as well as providing the festival finale which includes Arvo Part's Stabat Mater and music by Dobrinaka Tabakova.

As usual the festival utilises a variety of venues in and around the Vale of Glamorgan including major concert halls in Cardiff, plus the Pier Pavilion in Penarth, Dyffering House and St Illtud's Church in Llantwit Major.

Further information from the festival website, you can also read my coverage of last year's festival on this blog.