Brecon Baroque Festival 

Inspired by the Georgian architectural heritage of Brecon, this four-day event features outstanding international performers, including violinist Rachel Podger, soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, countertenor Stephen Wallace, harpsichordist Gary Cooper, oboist Alexandra Bellamy, trumpeter Richard Fomison and cellist Alison McGillivray, as well as guest ensemble The Rare Theatricall. The annual Baroque Ball, where the revelry is led by dance expert Peter Brock, takes place this year at the recently refurbished country house Pen Pont. The Festival opens with a special Festival Evensong at Brecon Cathedral and concludes with a concert given by the Brecon Baroque Festival Orchestra, directed by Rachel Podger, which will include Bach's glorious Orchestral Suite No.4 in D major, a Concerto for 4 violins by Valentini, J.C.Bach's Sinfonia Concertante for violin & cello and some of Handel's finest operatic arias.

Friday 23^rd October 2009 at 5.45pm

Festival Choral Evensong at Brecon Cathedral

Beautiful choral and instrumental music by two of this year's anniversary composers, Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). The Cathedral Choir and the Brecon Baroque Festival String Ensemble (leader Rachel Podger) will be directed by Mark Duthie, with organist Meirion Wynn Jones. There will be a retiring collection.

The Rare Theatricall at Theatr Brycheiniog  ~  Plaints & Pleasures

A recital of intimate and engaging vocal and instrumental music by Purcell and Handel, including Trio Sonatas and famous songs and English arias given by our guest ensemble The Rare Theatricall - Sarah Barnes (soprano), Bojan Cicic (violin), Sabine Stoffer (violin), Caroline Ritchie (bass viol) and Christopher Bucknall (harpsichord). The Rare Theatricall is a young, London-based ensemble, committed to exploring the drama and theatre of seventeenth century music; their blend of musical integrity, visual beauty and drama has attracted considerable critical interest. They have been appointed to the Leverhulme Junior Chamber Music Fellowship at London’s Royal Academy of Music, where they have performed a series of concerts at The Royal Academy of Music to mark the 350^th anniversary of Henry Purcell’s birth. Plans for 2010 include a touring production of Charpentier, Les Plaisirs de Versailles.

Tickets : £12.50 - £10.00

Sunday 25^th  October 2009 at 7.00pm

Brecon Baroque (director Rachel Podger) at Theatr Brycheiniog

J.S.Bach                           

Rachel Podger (violin), Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), Alexandra Bellamy (oboe), Gary Cooper (harpsichord) and Richard Fomison (natural trumpet)

A wonderful programme of music for soprano, violin, oboe & oboe d'amore, harpsichord, trumpet and solo strings by J.S. Bach : the Cantatas “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” and “Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut”, the Violin Concerto in E major, the Harpsichord Concerto in F minor and the Concerto for Oboe d'Amore in A major. Following the huge success of last year's concert, violinist Rachel Podger is once again joined by the fabulous Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and other leading Baroque musicians, including oboist Alexandra Bellamy, harpsichordist Gary Cooper and trumpeter Richard Fomison.

Monday 26^th October 2009 at 7.00pm 

Brecon Baroque Festival Orchestra at Theatr Brycheiniog

Stephen Wallace (countertenor) ~ Alison McGillivray (cello)

Rachel Podger ~ Bojan Cicic ~ Johannes Pramsohler ~ Sabine Stoffer (violins)

Two Bachs, one Handel and a Valentini

High Baroque masterpieces, including Bach's Orchestral Suite No 4 in D major, sublime and dramatic Handelian operatic arias sung by internationally-acclaimed countertenor Stephen Wallace and a stunning Concerto for 4 violins by another of this year's “anniversary composers” Giuseppe Valentini (1680-1759). Cellist Alison McGillivray also returns as soloist in the Sinfonia Concertante in A major by one of Bach's many sons, Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) . Rachel Podger leads the final concert in this year's Brecon Baroque Festival as director of a specially assembled Baroque orchestra made up of young professionals, specialist music students from London and Cardiff, leading players from various local youth orchestras and local Baroque musicians.

Tickets : £14.00 - £10.00

Tickets : Theatr Brycheiniog Box Office on 01874 611622  

information : www.breconbeaconsmusic.com