Music Summer Highlights @ RWCMD

8 May 2018

This summer season brings a programme filled with exceptional music from the College’s talented artists and a host of special guests.

The Amser Jazz Festival is a four-day celebration of jazz in May, and this year the focus is on female performers, with performances from Dame Evelyn Glennie, Yazz Ahmed, and Nérija.

There’s also the chance to enjoy a host of free performances by Royal Welsh College students and graduates with sets throughout the festival, including the AmserJazzTime foyer sessions that week on week present the very best emerging jazz artists.

Dylan Thomas is a constant source of inspiration: Huw Warren brings his gorgeous jazz suite Do Not Go Gentle featuring narrated excerpts of the poet’s work.

In June the College hands over its venues to students for their annual take-over: REPCO festival is an exciting week of student-led productions as they gain experience running their own arts projects.

As part of the Vale of Glamorgan festival, the College welcomes one of the world’s most adventurous pianists Ivan Ilić as part of a very special Steinway International Piano Series recital. Paul Lewis returns to perform in June, as well as the College’s String Quartet in Residence, The Albion Quartet.

The College’s summer opera is The Magic Flute, directed by Martin Constantine, Hodge International Chair in Directing. One of the most popular operas ever written, it takes its audience to the heart of the human quest for love and wisdom.

Huw Warren: Do Not Go Gentle, Sat 12 May 7.30 pm

Swansea-born composer Huw Warren presents his jazz suite Do not go Gentle based on the poetry of Dylan Thomas. Commissioned by Brecon Jazz Festival for the Dylan Thomas centenary year, the work is the result of Warren’s lifelong interest in Thomas’ poetry and reflects the inherent musicality of the words.

Huw Warren will be supported by the talented jazz musicians of the Royal Welsh College who will perform an AmserJazzTime foyer session before the concert and an AmserJazzTime Late session following the concert.

Ivan Ilic – Sun, 13 May, 11 am

One of the world’s most adventurous pianists, Ivan Ilić likes to think outside the box and bring something new and fresh to the solo piano recital.

This concert sees him exploring the textural beauty and melodic elegance of Bent Sørensen’s musical world alongside deceptively simple but exquisite works from David Lang and John Metcalf.

Paul Lewis,  Sun 3 June 11am

Paul Lewis brings all his poetry and insight to music by Beethoven, Haydn and Brahms. As one of our most perceptive living pianists, Lewis understands the unspoken connections between great masterpieces.

But his performances are always intensely personal too, and in this beautifully-chosen programme he contrasts Haydn’s rapid-fire wit with Brahms at his darkest and Beethoven at his most playful.

Albion Quartet– Tues, 5 June, 7.30pm

‘A shared belief in the visceral, communicative power of the string quartet’ unites the four superb young players of the Albion String Quartet. Which is one way of saying that this Royal Welsh College resident ensemble simply loves playing together – and you can feel it.

Their favourite composer, Dvořák, opens this concert, but in Debussy’s centenary year the passion and sensuality of his only String Quartet has lost none of its power to send tingles down the spine!

Amser Jazz Festival, Thurs 7-Sun 10 June

A four-day celebration of jazz, this year the focus is on women performers, featuring a unique collaboration between ensemble Trio HLK and world-leading percussion soloist, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Yazz Ahmed and her all-star Halfa Band, and all-female collective, Nérija.

There is also a chance to enjoy a host of free performances by Royal Welsh College students and graduates with sets throughout the festival, including our AmserJazzTime foyer sessions that week on week present the very best emerging jazz artists. Check the website for a full timetable.

Celebration of Gershwin and Bernstein, 

Wed, 27 June, 7.30pm 

Royal Welsh College Symphony Orchestra

David Jones conductor
Samuel Hau violin

George Gershwin salsas the night away under a Cuban sky, while on the backstreets of New York, teenage gangs clash to the sound of electrifying dance rhythms.

Whatever the weather in Cardiff, the temperature at St David’s Hall will be rising in this sizzling, swinging programme from the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra – with rising star Sam Hau as soloist in Szymanowski’s rapturous dream of a violin concerto.

Venue: St David’s Hall
St David’s Hall Box Office: 029 2087 8444
http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/

Magic Flute Mon 2- Wed 4 July, 7.00pm

Martin Constantine director
Gareth Jones conductor

Mozart’s famous fantasy follows Prince Tamino and bird-catcher Papageno on a quest to rescue the Queen of the Night’s daughter, Pamina. An adventure that takes us to the heart of the human quest for love and wisdom.

The singers and musicians of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama bring their unique exuberance to one of the most popular operas ever written.
Sung in English.

Venue: Sherman Theatre
029 2064 6900

All performances are in the Dora Stoutzker Hall unless otherwise stated.

For more information & press tickets contact press@rwcmd.ac.uk