A week of Welsh Proms gets underway at Cardiff's St David's Hall

Rebecca Evans

The Welsh Proms gets underway this weekend at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall with the awe-inspiring Verdi Requiem getting the week off to a classical start performed by the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and soprano Rebecca Evans tonight.

Sunday afternoon sees the family favourite A Day at the Movies from Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra return to the Hall. Panto star and comedian Mike Doyle will host a rollercoaster ride along the red carpet featuring themes from Star Wars, Frozen, Indiana Jones, Mary Poppins among others.

Richard Hills

Other highlights throughout the week are Richard Hills bringing his virtuoso skills to the Organ Prom on July 18, whilst the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme with an epic world premiere of Paul Mealor’s The Shadows of War on July 19 and The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra presenting the Classical Extravaganza on July 20.

On July 21, the Capital City Jazz Orchestra are joined by ‘The First Lady of British Jazz Claire Martin OBE for a celebration of the Great American Songbook, while Brass & Voices on July 22 will feature The Cory Band serving up a rousing evening of Welsh hymns.

Tiddly Prom

Also commencing this morning and continuing each morning from July 18 until July 22 will be the Tiddly Prom in which pre-schoolers are all invited for fun and games at Daphne’s birthday party in this brand new interactive show called Bert’s Magical Musical Kitchen.

For more information, times and booking details visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
or call the Box Office on 029 2087 8444.

Ross Leadbeater Takes Great British Songbook On Tour

Following his critically acclaimed West End concerts, Ross Leadbeater, the award winning Welsh singer-pianist and musical director, celebrates his musical favourites when he brings The Great British Songbook to Blackwood Miners Institute on May 18.

From Ivor Novello to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lionel Bart to Leslie Bricusse, with The Beatles, Take That, Coldplay and Gilbert & Sullivan - there is something for everyone in this not-to-be-missed opportunity to enjoy the massive hits and forgotten gems.

Ross shot to fame in 2008 with the Classical Brit Award winning group Only Men Aloud, having released two albums with Decca Records, achieving worldwide record sales of over 300,000 and performing alongside artists such as Shirley Bassey, Katherine Jenkins and Josh Groban.

He regularly appears on BBC Radio including BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio London and recently on the BBC Radio 2 music documentary Keep The Home Fires Burning. His television appearances include The Royal Variety Show, Proms in the Park, and The One Show.  Andy Howells recently put questions to Ross about the forthcoming show and his new EP.

You’re going out on tour with your debut EP, what does that feel like?
It’s amazing to be finally releasing my debut EP and taking my favourite British songs all around the country. Of course, it’s particularly great to be kicking it all off here in Wales.

Can you give us some background to the EP what's it called and what was the inspiration behind it?
It’s called Great British Songbook and it’s a very personal collection of some of the great British songs of all time including Pure Imagination, Keep The Home Fires Burning and Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. It all started with the music of Ivor Novello - I put together a concert in London two years ago and the project has just developed from there.

Of course, people will be familiar with you as a member of Only Men Aloud, so what can we hope to see when we see you live on stage?
Well, unlike the days of Only Men Aloud where we played to huge arenas and concert halls, this is a much more intimate experience - just me and my piano. It’s up close and personal with some special guests too.

You clearly have a love for great songs, who do you enjoy listening to?
I’ve always enjoyed great songs in all styles of music really, from classical to musical theatre, pop/rock to jazz. My mum and dad always enjoyed listening to music and we had a wide and varied record collection in the house so I guess I get it from them.

Are there any particular pieces you are looking forward to performing in the forthcoming shows?
Oh, thats a difficult one…there are so many to chose from but I guess I am looking forward to performing the new version of Novello’s Keep The Home Fires Burning and also an original song which was written for me called Piano For Sale. There is a real variety of songs in the show, and my personal favourites are the ones from the golden age.

What are you looking forward to most about touring?
It’s exciting to be meeting fans of my music all around the country. Since starting the concerts in London two years ago - I have been connecting with fans on social media so it’s finally a chance to get out on the road and meet them.

What other projects are you working on at the moment?
I guess I’m lucky in that I have a dual career as a musical director so I get to work with lots of talented and amazing artists and on a wide variety of projects. Anything from theatre productions to radio shows, television programmes to film. It’s good to be busy I guess- and this year I’m heading up to the Edinburgh Festival in August so that is exciting!

Ross Leadbeater’s Great British Songbook is available for digital download on iTunes from May 18th and will be available in physical form on Amazon and on his UK Tour dates from 4th June. The tour kicks off in Blackwood on 18th May at 7:30.pm. Check out www.rossleadbeater.com for more details.

• A version of this Q&A appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on Friday May 13, 2016.

On Stage: The Snow Maiden, St David's Hall, Cardiff, 2015

If you are already tiring of the stressful clutter of the Christmas season be it present buying or Christmas parties and longing for some genuine magic then St David’s Hall’s ballet season featuring The Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia is an ideal place to start.

The season began on Saturday afternoon with a presentation of The Snow Maiden, a breathtaking re-adaption of Alexander Ostrovsky’s story set in freezing mid-winter which was ultimately the inspiration for the Disney film success Frozen.

Protected from the outside world by Father Frost, the exquisite Snow Maiden plays innocently amongst the dancing snowflakes in the mesmerising Land of Frost. The fantastical seasonal tale follows the beautiful girl as she dances from the wintry overtones of her snowflake world into the colourful village inhabited by the humans who live there. Venturing too far into her new territory and the Snow Maiden becomes swept away by feelings of both temptation and betrayal.

Anatoly Cherpurnoy conducts The Russian State Ballet of Siberia Orchestra to perfection as the atmospheric music of Tchaikovsky acts as the narrative for the unfolding drama on stage. Ekaterina Bulgutova heads the cast as the elegant and delicate Snow Maiden while Demid Zykov is both colourful and debonair as Mizgur.

There is strong support from Olesya Aldonina as Kupava, Yuriy Kudryavstev as Lel and Alexei Balva as Father Frost, but ultimately it’s the combined work of the dance ensemble can orchestra that make The Snow Maiden the ultimate in seasonal treats for the family.

The Snow Maiden runs until December 21, with further presentations of The Nutcracker and Swan Lake over the Christmas season. To book your seats, please visit stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on 029 2087 8444

In Concert: Family Prom 2015, St David's Hall, Cardiff

This years Welsh Proms family event upped its game incredibly from last years show. Held this time at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, it commanded a good turn-out from an audience of all ages eager to hear popular classics and film scores from the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Bell.

Compering the event was popular Radio Wales presenter and singer Wynne Evans who delivered a family friendly and fun presentation introducing many pieces in the style of an awards ceremony.

The awards on this occasion weren’t going to actors or performers but the instruments themselves, all of which create the sounds to form particular highlights of memorable themes. While the flute stole the Award for Contribution to Dance by a Woodwind Instrument on Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, (the piece itself complimented with flare and elegance by several ballerinas) the award for orchestral selection with the most melodies went to the strings following a performance of The William Tell Overture (famously used as the theme to The Lone Ranger).

The Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra performances were superb as well as educational, outstanding particularly were Hans Zimmer’s Lion King Suite, a beautiful performance of James Newton’s The Hanging Tree from The Hunger Games (which featured four leads on the stage complimented by members of the choir interspersed around the stalls) and John Williams’ Imperial March from Star Wars complimented by the appearance of Darth Vader and several Imperial Storm troopers on the stage.

The prom, lasting just over an hour, brought smiles to both youngsters and adults who attended and is clearly proving to be one of the most popular concepts of The Welsh Proms series.

• For more information on The Welsh Proms visit St David's Hall website.

Join Dame Kiri Te Kanawa And Kate Adie In Unique Show

Kate Adie (left) and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

One of the world’s best-loved opera stars, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will discuss her life and work with BBC news correspondent Kate Adie in a special event at Wales Millennium Centre on Cardiff Bay this Saturday.

Through a mixture of frank conversation, personal anecdotes and archive clips of Dame Kiri’s past performances, the event will offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of both women who have reached the top of their respective professions.

Dame Kiri’s career has spanned more than 45 years to become one of the most famous sopranos in the world. As well as her acclaimed performances at some of the leading international opera houses, she performed at the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer and more recently starred in Downton Abbey as Dame Nellie Melba.

Journalist, broadcaster and best-selling author Kate Adie was the BBC’s chief news correspondent for more than a decade, frequently reporting from the front-line of conflict zones around the world. She has since written about women and war, the history of foundling children and people who risk their lives for work. She is also a public speaker and currently presents From Our Own Correspondent on BBC Radio 4.

• ‘Kiri and Kate – In Confidence’ takes place on Saturday 13 June at 7.30pm in the Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre and is a fringe event for this year’s BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition of which Dame Kiri is the patron. Tickets cost £20 and can be booked online at wmc.org.uk or by calling the box office on 029 2063 6464.

Laura Wright To Commence Headline Tour In Cardiff - Interview

Following her sensational performance at the Opening Ceremony of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games last year, sporting soprano Laura Wright begins her first headline tour in Cardiff on March 20.

The 24-year-old mezzo soprano who shot to fame with classical choral group All Angels has sold over a million albums, and has become one of Britain’s best selling classical artists. As the first mezzo-soprano to perform at the Olympic Stadium, Laura has toured with tenors Alfie Boe and Russell Watson and opened the iTunes Festival for Andrea Bocelli.  A firm fixture at sporting events, Laura sings regularly at the International rugby matches for men and women, The Six Nations at Twickenham and is the England Rugby team’s first ever-official anthem singer.

Classically trained at the Royal College Of Music, for which she received a First Degree, for her first headline tour, Laura will perform some uplifting and classical favourites from her past albums, as well as songs from her recently released album ‘Sound of Strength’ which not only shows off Laura’s classical singing prowess but also fuses together more popular, mainstream works too.

Among the songs Laura will sing in Cardiff on March 20 will be World in Union, Swing Low, Jerusalem, Nessun Dorma and Invincible, which stole the show at the Opening Ceremony of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.

Andy Howells recently spoke to Laura about the forthcoming concert.

What’s life been like since the release of The Sound of Strength?
Since the album came out and up until Christmas it was mad. I love that kind of lifestyle where you’re going to different places everyday and different performances.  It’s really exciting.

How was the album received?
Really well, there's been a really positive reaction. There's always going to be the sense that it’s a different kind of vibe, a different idea. People I've spoken to have really embraced it. It’s reached a younger generation as well, which for me is really exciting. It’s exactly how I wanted it to be but there’s still more to be had there, more development and change for something that was quite new as an idea but something that was very natural to me as a progression. I’m very proud of it.

What can you tell us about your live shows?
I’ll be performing with a guitarist, violinist and a cellist and backing tracks and singing music from all three of my albums.   For me this tour is a family tour, I want young and old, children, parents and grandparents   and everyone to come along and enjoy the music that I’ll perform. I've chose music that are not only peoples favourites but music that has a story and you can talk about on stage.

How much have you been involved in the creation of your own music and what inspires you?
I actually arranged and wrote quite a lot on the new album as well as Invincible which I performed at the Invictus games. It’s really been developed and its something that I'm so excited about, it allows me to open a lot of doors and to have a lot more creative freedom. Its kind  of become about creating something that takes you somewhere else, creating a sound that I have in my head that transports me somewhere with a particular emotion in mind. Normally it seems to be the idea of conquering, defeating or overcoming something. It really is that idea that's motivational and it comes from my other passion which is sport, fitness and exercise, bringing that together in the sense that I need that motivation in my sporting life as well.

How are you feeling about taking your music out on tour?
I am a little apprehensive but I see that as a positive thing. I am eager to meet people and to talk to people and have that face to face relationship about my music which I'm passionate about. It will be the new stuff that I'm most nervous and excited about. There's one track (O Euchari In Leta Via), the very first track on the new album which I’ll sing at the beginning of the concert. It’s so magical, it’s just my voice alone and I think that creates a nice atmosphere.

Was it difficult to select a right balance of music for the concerts?
There's been a lot of to and fro via email as to how we'll put the set list together but it’s been very carefully chosen.

Beyond the concert tour, do you have plans for new recordings?
We are talking about that at the moment actually but for me, definetely. I’m writing new music already and obviously with the Six Nations and the rugby coming up as well there’s lots of things in the pipeline.

• Catch Laura Wright at the Royal Welsh College Of Music and Drama on March 20. Visit ticketmaster.co.uk for details.
• For more information on Laura and her music visit her official website.
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on Match 13, 2015
• Laura Wright Discusses The Sound Of Strength

Julian Lloyd Webber Embarks On Unique Concert Tour - Interview

Julian Lloyd Webber, one of the world’s finest and most influential classical musicians has announced a special series of concerts. For the first time, Julian will take his audience on a historical and musical journey by presenting a unique insight into his extraordinary life, with music performed by himself, his wife and fellow cellist Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, together with pianist Pam Chowhan.

As a member of arguably the most influential musical dynasty of modern times, Julian will recount stories and anecdotes of touring, recording sessions, concerts and TV shows to link with a new presentation of rare video footage of him talking and performing. “We'll be showing lots of video clips of me working with people like Stéphane Grappelli, Cleo Laine, Yehudu Menuhin but also composers like Joaquin Rodrigo,” says Julian, “ interspersed with all this, my wife will be playing pieces that have been very important in my career. I’ll be reading from my book Travels With My Cello and at different points doing a question and answer from the audience.”

Julian is keen that the show will be a very interactive experience for the whole family and will be inviting a member of the audience to get a unique Cello master class on stage. “What I thought of originally was doing an encore with my wife. As we are travelling by car all the time, we literally cant get an extra cello in,” Julian laughs before continuing, “if some young cellist wants to come I’ll play an encore on their instrument and they can have a few minutes on stage and maybe I can give a few little tips. I want the evening to be totally appropriate for children like an introduction to classical music, a celebration!”

Julian’s passion for music education will spill over into the show and he hopes his lifelong musical experiences will serve as an inspiration to younger members of the audience.  “ I just never knew anything else,” he says as he recalls growing up in the Lloyd Webber home. “ I took it for granted, there was all kinds of music going on, musicians dropping into our flat. My father was a composer and organist while my mother taught young children the piano and Andrew would be composing his latest tunes. Music sort of grew out of it for me, there was no particular pressure to do it and I found the cello. There'd never been a string player in the family and that’s one of the reasons why I’m so passionate about music education. Had I not been in that kind of background I don't know if I'd have discovered music or not, it’s just that it was always there.”

The show will see works performed from Faure's Elegy, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Music of the Night, Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata through to composers William Lloyd Webber, Frank Bridge, JS Bach and Philip Glass, “There’s almost too much going on, I think it could overrun a bit!” says Julian when discussing the show which also features a comedy clip of him appearing on TV with the legendary Kenny Everett.

Looking back over a career which spans some five decades, does Julian have any favourite moments? “There are so many things,” he responds, “I loved working with Yehudi Menuhin. I thought he was a great man and a great musician that was just a wonderful experience. More recently I've really enjoyed working with my wife, we've made two CD's and I'm really glad we've been able to do that because it’s something to look back on. We've got a young daughter who’s three and a half and she'll be able to say: "That’s Mummy and Daddy!"”

• An Evening with Julian Lloyd Webber will take place at The Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl on April 9. Visit grandpavilion.co.uk or call box office on 01656 815995 for ticket details.
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 27, 2015.

Laura Wright Discusses The Sound Of Strength

Laura Wright

During July 2014, Andy Howells chatted to Mezzo Soprano Laura Wright about her EP The Sound Of Strength.

Earlier this year, 24-year-old mezzo soprano Laura Wright - one of the biggest selling classical artists in the UK combined her love of music and sport when she was taking part in the London Marathon.  

"I stopped halfway around Tower Bridge and sang Jerusalem live on the BBC which was quite daunting," she laughs. Laura completed the run in 4 hours, 20 minutes "I was pleased with my time," she continues, “I felt pretty exhausted at the end, it was the third time I'd done it and that’s why I wanted the added challenge." 

Laura is the first to have taken on this remarkable feat of music and sports fusion, and it was to coincide with the release of her stunning EP The Sound of Strength, recently released on Decca. The concept behind The Sound of Strength EP is the body as the ultimate instrument. There are plenty of similarities between athletes and classically trained singers – the need for dedication, being healthy and being prepared to challenge yourself. Laura has taken this desire to always challenge herself as an inspiration for the EP. "We love the kind of music that goes with sport which tends to be classical," Laura continues, "You look at The Three Tenors and The World Cup and I've tried to bring that (music) and my sporting passion together. I wanted something I could listen to in the gym because I see my body as an instrument and my voice as a muscle." 

Laura has taken her classical music to a new level with tracks including Puccini’s Nessun Dorma and Barber’s Adagio for Strings, arranged herself and melded to driving beats, with the help of producers Starkey (who has worked with composer Einaudi), Killahurtz and Dan Vinci (who has worked with everyone from Skream, Snoop Dogg and Jesse Ware). Doing so, she has created a new sound which melds beauty and power to startling affect. She is currently working on her forthcoming album, due for release in September. 

"It’s been quite exciting writing and arranging music with my producer," says Laura, “I can’t wait for people to hear the music and see that there’s a real story behind it." Laura fells that her approach will also help Classical music be more accessible for younger people. "We've recently done a video (Barber's Agnus Dei) for the lead track.  I think the video shows this is not just classical music, it’s a new way of listening to things. I don’t want people to write it off just because they hear the words classical music. Classical music is for everyone and it’s a matter of how you use it and produce it. I feel I want to be someone who presents it in a different way, I'm 24 years old and I listen to Coldplay, Drum and Bass and Dub step when I go to the gym, but I also love performing classical music. It’s the power that classical music has that I think people love, the feeling that you want to be a superhero!" 

Laura says the release of her forthcoming album will likely be followed by a tour. "Early next year is the idea, I don't have any involvement in the Rugby World Cup yet, but I'd love to be involved in some way!" I suggest that maybe Laura should come to Wales and sing at one of our matches. "I'd love too," she says enthusiastically, "I've never performed in the Millennium Stadium, so I'd love too!" You read it here first! 

• Visit laura-wright.co.uk for more information on Laura.
• A version of Andy Howells' interview with Laura Wright  was published in the South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during August 2014

CD Review: The Sound Of Strength By Laura Wright

Laura Wright

Soprano Laura Wright's album The Sound Of Strength certainly breaks down barriers when fusing the classical music genre with the driving beats of drum and bass.

Her powerful  rendition of Barber's Agnus Dei sampling sections of Rudyard Kipling's poem If was released with a Hunger Games stylized video earlier this Summer and succeeded in securing the attention of a diverse range of music fans.

"Classical music is for everyone," Laura recently told Andy Howells," and it’s a matter of how you use it and produce it. I feel I want to be someone who presents it in a different way."

Laura certainly achieves that objective here, giving an energetic twist to the compositions of Puccini, Caruso, Beethoven and of course, Barber challenging the listener both mentally and physically.

The fusion of familiar tunes such as Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and epic production values make this album incredibly accessible and with the accompaniment of a sequenced workout playlist devised by Sport Psychologist Dr Costas Karageorghis bring The Sound Of Strength like a breeze into the world of health and fitness.

• Laura Wright will tour the UK in early 2015. Visit laura-wright.co.uk for further details.
• A version of this review appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during October, 2014

CD Review: The Theory Of Everything (OST) - Johann Johannsson

Soundtrack albums can be a curious breed. In an age where every film now possesses its own unique soundtrack, an album of music to accompany a film release has become a necessary piece of marketing.

In the case of The Theory Of Everything, the forthcoming biography of Stephen Hawking, the accompanying soundtrack features no less than 27 pieces of music from Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson.

Releasing the album ahead of the films release gives listeners a chance to appreciate the music on its own merits and without the intrusive imagery of an accompanying film. As much as I enjoyed the intricate orchestrations I did find them incredibly short in length, but maybe thats more the limitation of CD space than Johannsson's impeccable compositions.

• This review by Andy Howells was featured in the South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on December 19, 2014

Katherine Jenkins Heads Home Sweet Home On 2015 Tour

Katherine Jenkins

Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins recently announced her return to the live arena with a full 21 date UK tour for 2015, culminating with a homecoming show at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on Saturday 14th March. The new tour follows the recent release of her latest album Home Sweet Home.

The tour ending in Wales means Katherine will really be pleased to be Home Sweet Home as she recently told me. “It’s well planned this time. It means I get all the family and friends in as well as get to relax after the last night.”

“Touring can be quite grueling at times, you get to the end of a tour and it can be quite sad and emotional that it’s coming to an end. The fact that this last night is a home crowd which is always my favourite and makes me up my game is going to be a really nice end to the tour.”

Cherished as one of Britain’s favourite singers, Katherine has achieved meteoric success as the world’s most prolific classical crossover artist. Her albums have sold in excess of eight million copies and gone platinum all around the world. She has received numerous accolades for her recordings, including two Classical BRITs for the coveted Album of the Year Award.

In 2013, Katherine headlined the Queen’s Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace and was awarded an OBE at the 2014 New Year’s Honours List for her services to music and charity. She also cemented her position as one of the UK’s greatest exports and in 2013 toured South Africa, the US, China, Abu Dhabi and Europe.

Katherine admits though that touring is a “learning curve.” “I take a few home things with me or I try to have family and friends on the road sometimes. I have my own little family on the road in my orchestra which is conducted by Anthony English. They have been there from the start so after ten years of performing we all get on quite well. You get used to building a team of people you like and get on with. If you’re away from your loved ones and they can’t be with you then you need your network there as well.”

Katherine married American artist and film actor-director Andrew Levitas in September this year and hopes to show her new husband some of the UK on her next tour. “The way we'll probably work it is when I’m on tour he'll come with me and when he’s making a film next I’ll make sure I’m working in the area that he’s in”

Katherine’s new album Home Sweet Home is her tenth album since Premiere a decade ago and includes a variety of familiar songs including Land of My Fathers, Barcelona (recorded with Alfie Boe) and Sanctus (Elgar’s Nimrod).

In selecting material for Home Sweet Home, Katherine says “We had the luxury of time which was brilliant, so we could consider the songs very carefully. I basically wanted to go back to my classical roots and find music which would crossover and be the kind of songs that people would recognise rather than the bog standard things that people keep churning out time and again”.

Katherine is keen that her fans enjoy the music, particularly in her live shows and recently went to the point of communicating it through social media, “I actually went out on Twitter and said “Okay guys, what would you want me to sing?” I really appreciated the response. There are favourites like Hallelujah, Time to Say Goodbye and Angels, but I’m also going to be singing the Welsh national anthem Land of My Fathers, Dreaming of the Days and Nimrod from the new album. There’s going to be a mix of all kinds of classical crossover.”

Prior to the tour Katherine, will be coming home to Wales with her new husband for Christmas; is there anything she’s particularly looking forward to over the festive season? “I just want to go home and have some time with the family,” she says, “ my sisters got a little boy called Rhys so I just want to have cuddles with Rhys.” Home sweet home indeed!

• Tickets for Katherine Jenkins at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on March 14, 2015 are available at www.gigsandtours.com /www.ticketmaster.co.uk
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in the entertainment supplement The Guide in The South Wales Argus on December 19, 2014

Review: The Nutcracker, St David's Hall, Cardiff

Christmas stories don’t come much more traditional than The Nutcracker currently presented by The Russian State Ballet of Siberia at St David’s Hall as part of their ballet season.

The ballet, set in the 19th Century Germany focuses on the magical events surrounding a Christmas party at the Drosselmeyer House on Christmas Eve and how an eccentric inventor and toymaker gives the gift of a toy called The Nutcracker to the party host’s young daughter, Marie.

As the clock strikes midnight, Marie goes to the living room to look in on her new toy but the inventor appears Marie is whisked away into a magical land which sees her doing battle with an army of mice and fighting alongside her Nutcracker who has transformed into a handsome prince.

It was not to difficult for audience members of all ages to be pulled into the action  of this  dramatic presentation with Tchaikovsky’s music provided with plenty of  charisma by The Russian State Ballet Orchestra.

Vasily Vainonen and Sergei Bobrov’s exciting choreography is brought to life by a magnificent cast of dancers lead by Maria Kuimova as Marie,  Kiril  Litveinenko as The Prince and Alexey Zevin as Dr Stahlbaum. The chemistry created between Kuimova and Litveinenko on stage is as elegant and magical as the characters they portray. The production is further enhanced by Christina Fyodorova’s colourful and vibrant costumes including flowing gowns, dresses, uniforms and mouse costumes.

As traditional as the tale is, The Nutcracker still remains very contemporary, its story displaying elements of heroic battles and fantastical escapism. A production for all the family to enjoy The Nutcracker runs until December 24.

• To book tickets for St David's Hall's ballet season visit St David's Hall's website.

Only Men Aloud Need A Little Christmas - David Fortey Interview

Only Men Aloud
Picture: James Davies

The celebrated male vocal ensemble Only Men Aloud will bring there 2014 We Need A Little Christmas UK Tour to St David’s Hall on December 14. Since winning BBC’s Last Choir Standing in 2008, the Welsh vocal phenomenon have enjoyed huge success selling hundreds of thousands of albums, nine sell out UK Tours, multiple TV appearances and numerous standout live performances including the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“If we turn back 6 years or so we were doing it as a hobby, so to speak.” OMA’s first tenor David Fortey recently told Andy Howells, “I guess it’s an old cliche but entering and winning a BBC talent competition absolutely changed everything. It changed all of our lives and a lot of us, myself included, had a chance to focus on music as a full time career and it hasn't stopped since.”

David and other members of OMA split their time between performing and mentoring younger choir groups including Only Boys Aloud and Only Kid’s Aloud. “The male choir tradition stems back centuries in Wales and OMA is part of that tradition with a slightly more modern twist,” David continues “the key thing is these days we're hearing more stories about the more traditional groups who have to close down because they are maybe elderly and can’t carry on. We are immensely proud to give something back to the community and to the tradition of male voice choirs, so they can continue for another hundred years or so. For us it does get hectic at times, we find ourselves on the road performing and singing and then we might be back teaching - it offers variety.”

Variety is also the order of the day as Only Men Aloud prepare for their forthcoming Christmas concert at Cardiff's St David’s Hall. The Classical Brit award winners will showcase their eight piece vocal harmonies as they add their magic touch to Christmas classics and best loved songs from the musicals, among them standards such as White Christmas and O Holy Night and dazzlers including Putting On The Ritz from Top Hat and Razzle Dazzle from Chicago.

“The good thing about the OMA repertoire, Tim Rhys Evans who is the musical director puts his mark on all of our music. Every single one of us loves Christmas so you get the traditional right up to the present day. Everything is given the OMA razzle dazzle as it were and really makes one great show. We have fun doing it, the audiences enjoy it and it puts them in the right spirit for Christmas.”

“The last year or so we’ve been an 8 piece ensemble,” continues David, “Tim is writing and arranging music for the group which is almost one and a part so each one of us has our own individual line and are kind of responsible for making the whole thing tick. Everything has its challenges because the repertoire is diverse, we kind of have the traditional which you'd have the choir to sing and then it branches out to endless possibilities which offer its own challenges. You’re always switching styles and going from one thing to the next the good thing is all the guys are accomplished singers and musicians so it’s a good challenge to have.”

David also says there will be a few surprises in the show, “We have got a few new songs and some good Christmas medleys which I won’t spoil. I’m looking forward to a few of those they are going to be good fun.”

• Tickets are available from the box office on 02920 878 444 or online at stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
• Extracts from this interview appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during November and December 2014.

CD Review: Cole Porter In Hollywood - The John Wilson Orchestra

Conductor, arranger and musical scholar John Wilson has brought together 15 Cole Porter classics for Cole Porter In Hollywood including Begin The Beguine ( from Broadway Melody of 1940), Love Of My Life (from The Pirate), and the albums grand opener Stereophonic Sound (from Silk Stockings).

In many cases, these recordings have been painstakingly recreated from the original film scores by Andrew Cottee and John Wilson and add to the records authenticity.

Fans of golden Hollywood musicals will love this gem of a collection which features Anna-Jane Casey, Kim Criswell, Matthew Ford, Sarah Fox and Richard Morrison providing vocal leads to these newly recorded orchestral arrangements.

• A version of this Compact Disc review by Andy Howells previously appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement, The Guide on October 24, 2014.
• For more information on The John Wilson Orchestra visit their official website.
• Recreating Cole Porter's Hollywood Classics - John Wilson Interview

Recreating Cole Porter's Hollywood Classics - John Wilson Interview

The uniquely glamorous sound and the daredevil skill of the John Wilson Orchestra playing Hollywood and Broadway’s most scintillating scores has made them one of the UK’s most beloved group of musicians. Their annual sell-out Prom concerts and national tours – and their first three releases for Warner Classics – have enchanted listeners and won them fans around the world.

Their new album Cole Porter in Hollywood basks in the big-screen glow of the hits Porter wrote for the movies and is a continuation of John Wilson's work of restoring lost film soundtracks to their original glory for music fans.

"We try to get the style absolutely just so," John recently told Andy Howells, "That's what you have to do, whether it be a Beethoven symphony or Cole Porter number, you have to get the style right. So we made a conscious effort to get as close as you can to that periods style."

The 15 songs on the album feature world premieres of newly-reconstructed orchestrations from original movie soundtracks, nearly all of which had been lost. The album is a glorious return to the resplendent sound that cushioned and encouraged Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby in films such as Can-Can, The Pirate and High Society. The energy, dynamism and detail of the playing is captured in the ideal acoustic of London’s famed Abbey Road studios. "A lot of this material was destroyed in the 1960s," says John, "when people didn't realise the value of it. I guess it had been used for the movies and they thought,"well we've made the movie nobody's going to want these bits of yellow paper.""

With the enormity of taking on such a task, does John face a dilemma when selecting material for the albums? "There things I'd have loved to have been on the album, but we didn't have space for them, because of the constraints of recording time and the amount of available time on a CD its like choosing your favourite children, its difficult. I wanted to represent all of Cole Porter's different styles and give all the singers a good chance. To put all those factors together at the end of the day, I suppose it all comes down to personal choice but a lot of thought goes into it."

The John Wilson Orchestra will be touring Cole Porter in Hollywood in November with a nationwide 13 date UK tour which brings them to both Bristol and Cardiff. A hand-picked ensemble of leading instrumentalists from Europe’s finest orchestras, these virtuoso players will be joined by guest singers Anna-Jane Casey, Kim Criswell, Matthew Ford, Sarah Fox and Richard Morrison, their trademark mix of sparkling authenticity and knock-‘em-dead gusto has been described as “Technicolor for the ears.”

"The stuff we didn't have time to put down on the album we'll perform live on the tour," says John, "big hits like Night and Day, I've Got You Under My Skin and more numbers from High Society."

John is keen to point out that the live experience will be very different to that captured on the album. "You get something completely different, more raw excitement. Not that we play it safe in the studio. When we are on the road, we really get stuck in, everyone gives their best night after night."

Are there any particular performances John is looking forward to presenting? "Obviously the ones when they are instrumental, when there aren't many singers in there, " he responds, "That's our moment to go to town. A lot of the numbers with the singers have got extended dance routines. Obviously we don't have any dancing because its a concert but they were written for the likes of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly so you get these moments where the orchestra can let themselves go."

• The Cole Porter in Hollywood National Tour visits Cardiff's St David's Hall on November 14.
• For further details on The John Wilson Orchestra visit the official website
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on October 24, 2014.

Il Divo Rooted In Musical Theatre - David Miller Interview

Andy Howells chats to David Miller of Il Divo

"It’s been an amazing journey full of highs and lows," says David Miller of his decade with Il Divo, the world's first and most successful classical crossover group. 

The foursome have sold over 26 million albums worldwide, achieved over 50 number one records, received 160 gold and platinum sales awards in over 33 countries and staged four ground-breaking world tours. The international quartet comprises of tenor Urs Buhler of Switzerland, baritone Carlos Marin of Spain, pop artist Sébastien Izambard of France and tenor David from the United States. 

As Il Divo first came to fruition in 2003, their current world tour which comes to Cardiff this week marks a milestone for the four singers as they commemorate the success of over a decade together.  

"The beginning was a full on experiment," continues David, "four guys in a room and see what they can come up with. We all had to kind of get over ourselves and each other and push past barriers and commit ourselves to one single goal which is making one track a time literally something we can all be proud of." 

Il Divo’s last album, A Musical Affair, a homage to the world of musical theatre, was released in 2013, "We started thinking to ourselves that we needed to focus in on something," David tells me,” We realised looking back over our tours the most popular songs we had the most freedom on was the musical theatre songs as they connected with everyone. The way we arranged them had a very powerful impact and we started to get into creating an entire album of musical theatre." 

Realising Il Divo had something special, Broadway producer James Nederland invited the boys to premiere their latest tour at The Marquis Theatre in November 2013, "it was met with great success," says David, "We thought this was the kind of thing we can bring to the world and so that’s pretty much what we are doing." 

The show will be very different to other Il Divo shows as David explains, "It’s going to be a very technologically heavy. This is musical theatre so every song has a context. The choice we were faced with was we could make it another Il Divo show or we could try and create the environment track by track, song by song. We're trying to recreate an environment that will reflect a moment in the show where the song comes from." 

David thinks that a show based around musical theatre has helped Il Divo break down a few preconceived ideas people may have had about their music. "One of our big bonuses we found over the years was that people came to us and thought we would sing opera, which is not the case, we sing pop songs. We're just using our operatic backgrounds to emphasise certain moments across pop songs. 

The bonus we got back from the audience in the end was people were going out and saying "Wow! I never realised the operatic voice could be like that!" It’s true there are certain stereotypes out there. For us to break that down was a huge bonus for us. Both Carlos' and my musical beginnings were actually in musical theatre and that got us started singing."
David who was originally in training to be a NASA astronaut before deciding on a career in music will have a very personal moment when the group perform Some Enchanted Evening from Camelot. 

"That song was the song I used in my first audition to audition for the high school musical," he tells me, "it’s like a very personal moment for me. I feel like I've come absolutely full circle 20 years later. Musical Theatre is responsible for physically bringing me out of my shell in high school and creating this desire to want to use my voice. When I sang opera it was like, "This is what I want to do with the rest of my life."" 

Il Divo will be joined by Lea Salonga, the award winning singer and actress best known for her Tony & Olivier Award winning role in Miss Saigon perform at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on October 19.

• Il Divo's Official Site
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on October 17, 2014.