Friends of Cwmdu Music-October roundup
The annual September concert given by the Gwent Chamber Orchestra was much enjoyed by a capacity audience. The opening Handel Concerto Grosso in D minor featured some fine solo playing from the oboes and bassoon and the whole orchestra played with much clarity, highlighting the wonderful acoustics of Cwmdu Church.
We then heard some interesting anecdotes from the GCO conductor Stephen Broom about the composer Dag Wirén, before the performance of his charming Serenade for Strings. It had some very memorable melodies and was played with great energy and gusto. The first half ended on a high with the Vivaldi Concerto in A minor for two Violins performed by Julia Watkins (the leader of GCO) and Lesley Gwyther (principal 2nd violin). They always play so wonderfully together and it was thrilling to hear them play so fast and rhythmically in the outer movements, but also their lyrical interplay in the beautiful slow movement.
After a busy interval with everyone catching up after the Summer and enjoying a glass of wine, we were treated to the ever popular Symphony no. 40 in G minor by Mozart. Foot tappingly good, it was a fitting and thrilling end to both a fabulous programme and another great year of concerts here in Cwmdu.
Please do join us for the four very varied concerts (calendar) coming up in 2026, the first of which is Saturday, 14th March 7:30 pm 2026—Emma Rawicz Trio.
Emma (Saxophonist - Bandleader - Composer - Arranger) has featured as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Queen Elizabeth Hall in the 2022 London Jazz Festival, and with the German SWR Radio Big Band at a sold out Berlin Philharmonie in February 2024.
Now might be the time to remind friends who don’t yet subscribe (forward them this link) to this newsletter of our annual Prize Draw–made at the end of December. All current subscribers are entered to win two adult tickets to forthcoming concerts.
Hay Music have a concert William Howard, Piano on Saturday, November 8th, 2025. Works by Chopin, Janáček, Schumann and Howard Skempton: Chorales and Inventions (world premiere).
There’s just a handful of days to listen to any BBC Proms you might have missed. (Full listing.) For example:
BBC Proms: Folk Songs and Dances.
Ryan Bancroft conducts the wind, brass and percussion of the London Symphony Orchestra in folk-song arrangements by Vaughan Williams, Grainger and Arnold.
and…
Under the Italian Sun (Bristol)
Carlo Rizzi and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera perform sumptuous works by Italian composers Respighi, Verdi, Rossini and Puccini.