Held each August and set in the beautiful scenery of the Welsh Marches on the boarder of Powys and Herefordshire is Presteigne Festival, a six day festival highlighting some of the finest twentieth century classics and latest commissioned contemporary works. The festival focuses on the work of living composers and specifically has a strong background in supporting composers by commissioning new works and curating varied concert programmes, and in doing so, attracts a growing festival audience year on year.
This year Cheryl Frances-Hoad is the Composer-in-Residence. Eight of her works will be performed, including the world premiere of Tales of the Invisible.
On Monday August 26 there will be an opportunity to hear from Cheryl herself during an intimate event ‘Composers in Conversation’ where she will discuss her career and what is required to become a successful professional composer in the twenty-first century. This event will take place at Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 11am.
The festival programme also includes performances of other Music Sales works. The full programme can be found here: https://presteignefestival.com/2019-festival-brochure/
More info at presteignefestival.com
Performances
August 23, 2pm – St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne
Cheryl Frances-Hoad Homages - Book 1
Tom Poster, piano
August 24, 4.30pm – Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bleddfa
Cheryl Frances-Hoad The Ogre Lover
Mathilde Milwidsky, violin
Sarah-Jane Bradley, viola
Alice Neary, cello
August 24, 7.45pm - St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne
Cheryl Frances-Hoad Tales of the Invisible
World premiere
Commissioned by Presteigne Festival
Albion Quartet
Rozenn Le Trionnaire, clarinet
August 25, 2.30pm – St Michael’s Church, Discoed
Claude Debussy Syrinx
Katherine Bryan, flute
Sarah-Jane Bradley, viola
Hannah Lash, harp
George Barton, percussion
August 25, 7.45pm - St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne
Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings (for string orchestra)
Cheryl Frances-Hoad Katharsis
Igor Stravinsky Concerto in E flat Major 'Dumbarton Oaks'
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass, conductor
Alice Neary, cello
Mathilde Milwidsky, violin
August 26, 7pm - St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne
Cheryl Frances-Hoad Cloud Movements
Mathilde Milwidsky, violin
Rozenn Le Trionnaire, clarinet
Tom Poster, piano
August 27, 2pm - St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne
Cheryl Frances-Hoad Two Shakespeare Songs
Elizabeth Cragg, soprano
Siwan Rhys, piano
About Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Admired for her originality, fluency and professionalism, Cheryl Frances-Hoad has been composing to commission since she was fifteen. Classical tradition (she trained as a cellist and pianist at the Menuhin School before going on to Cambridge and King's College, London) along with diverse contemporary inspirations including literature, painting and dance, have contributed to a creative presence provocatively her own.
Intricate in argument, sometimes impassioned, sometimes mercurial, always compelling in its authority (Robin Holloway, The Spectator), her output - widely premiered, broadcast and commercially recorded, reaching audiences from the Proms to outreach workshops - addresses all genres from opera, ballet and concerto to song, chamber and solo music.
