**LLANDEILO FAWR FESTIVAL OF MUSIC** ## **Charity Number 1138432** **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - Year ended 31 December 2022** ## **1. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The Charity is administered by a Management Committee consisting of all the Festival Trustees and 5 additional members **OFFICERS Chairman/Artistic Director Mrs. Julia Jones Festival Secretary Mr.G.B.Jones Treasurer Mr.C.C.B. Plummer Solicitor . Mr. Edward Friend** **TRUSTEES Mr. G.B. Jones Mrs. J. Jones Ms. Rita E. Morgan Mrs. Gloria Vaughan-Roberts** . **Additional Members** **Mr. Edward Friend Mr. Martin. Smith Mr.Colin Jenkins Mr.Desmond Davies** ## **1. OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES** To advance the education and appreciation of adults and school children in the subject of instrumental vocal and choral music by promoting concerts recitals and lectures by distinguished musicians and choirs particularly, but not exclusively within the context of, an annual summer Festival of Music in Llandeilo and its immediate environs ## 2. **ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL REVIEW** I don’t think anyone would disagree that last year’s Celebratory 20th Festival event was one of the finest we have ever staged in the history of Llandeilo Fawr. The calibre and stature of the artists, the sheer beauty of the music and the near-perfection of its interpretation, by some of the most respected and recognised figures in the world of music, are all things which will live in our minds for a very long time I’ll now summarise each event. OPENING CONCERT Saturday 16 July 2022 **Handel:** _Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, No. 13 in F major_ **Handel** : _Let God Arise_ (Anthem for the Duke of Chandos) **Haydn:** _Theresienmesse_ (Maria Theresa Mass) _Soprano:_ _**Vickie Field** Contralto:_ _**Angharad Davies** Tenor:_ _**Rhodri Prys Jones** Bass:_ _**Emyr Lloyd Jones**_ **Cantorion John S Davies Singers** _**Westward Chamber Orchestra** (Leader:_ _**David Juritz** ) Organ:_ _**Simon Pearce** Conductor:_ _**John S Davies**_ Unfortunately, one of Wales’s best loved young Sopranos, _**Fflur Wyn**_ , who was to have made her Festival debut in this concert, had to withdraw at the last minute as she was suffering from Covid 19. Otherwise the performance was a great success and Fflur’s replacement , Soprano _**Vickie Field** ,_ proved a more than adequate substitute. **TRAVELS WITH A GUITAR** Sunday 17[th] July _Mezzo-Soprano:_ _**Lotte Betts-Dean** Guitar:_ _**Dimitris Soukaras**_ _**Lotte Betts Dean**_ , the delightful Australian mezzo-soprano, a prize winner in the Oxford Lieder Competition, was clearly looking forward to her return to the National Trust’s Newton House when we picked her up that day at Port Talbot’s main line railway station and she captivated the capacity audience later that day in a recital of songs from France, England, Greece, Spain and Brazil. Her accompanist, the scintillatingly brilliant Greek guitarist, _**Dimitris Soukaras,**_ showed why he is regarded as one of the most outstanding musicians ever to come out of that country in a performance which enthralled the enthusiastic audience at this lovely venue. ## **JAZZ AT THE CAWDOR** Celebrating Gershwin _**The Julian Bliss Quintet**_ Monday 18 July 2022 The old Coaching Inn has played host in the past 20yrs to an impressive number of noted jazz musicians, from _**Jamie Cullum**_ to _**Guy Barker**_ and _**Gwilym Simcock**_ , but there could not have been a finer display of jazz virtuosity than that provided by this outstanding group. As usual the Cawdor was full for what was a superb evening. **THE AMICI DELLA MUS** Tuesday 19 July 2022 _**Jack Liebeck** : Violin._ _**Elizabeth Wallfisch:** Viola_ _**Raphael Wallfisch** : Cello_ _**Piers Lane:** Piano_ Programme **Mahler:** _Piano Quartet in A Minor_ **Smetana:** _Piano Trio_ **Brahms:** _Piano_ **Quartet in C Major** **Making his return visit to** Llandeilo, pianist Piers Lane was accompanied by three distinguished instrumental virtuosi with whom he had only recently formed ‘Amici Della Musica.’ The Festival can take pride in the fact that four musicians of this calibre were happy to launch their new ensemble in Llandeilo, rather than some more illustrious venue perhaps **EMMA JOHNSON AND FRIENDS** Wednesday 20[th] July 2022 _**Emma Johnson:** Clarinet_ _**Simon Blendis** : Violin_ R _**aphael Wallfisch** : Cello_ _**Martin Roscoe** : Piano_ Programme **Beethoven:** _Variations on ‘La Ci Darem La Mano’_ **Brahms:** _Sonatensatz_ **Beethoven:** _Trio. Op.11 for Clarinet, Cello and Piano_ **Messiaen:** _Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps_ (Quartet for the End of Time) Clarinettist, **Emma Johnson** was another celebrated instrumentalist to return to Llandeilo this year, as was pianist _**Martin Roscoe**_ . Together with _**Simon Blendis**_ and _**Raphael Wallfisch**_ they performed a varied programme, which ended with French composer Olivier Messiaen’s ‘Quatuor pour la Fin du temps’. Although we had some reservations, the performance of the Messiaen work was something of a triumph, with four legendary players getting right into the heart of this great work. The performance was dedicated to the memory of all those victims of the terrible Ukraine war and the audience, which included many of the Ukrainian Community, in the wider area, stood at the end. I don’t think, in retrospect, that we need have had any misgivings about the programme content. ## **LLŶR WILLIAMS – PIANO** Thursday 21 July 2022 **Mozart:** _Fantasia in C Minor K.475_ **Schumann:** _Fantasy in C Major, op.17_ **Rachmaninov:** _Variations on a Theme of Corelli, op.42_ **Liszt:** _Légend no1’St François d’ Assise : la prédication aux oiseaux’, S175/1_ **Wagner/Liszt:** _Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde_ What can one say about Wales’s leading pianist? This was his fourth appearance at the Festival, the first of which was in the year of his great triumph at the Edinburgh International Festival, since when he has played at New York’s Carnegie Hall as well as other leading capitals and has become one of the Festival’s most popular visitors. ## **SKAMPA STRING QUARTET - RAPHAEL WALLFISCH CELLO / JOHN YORK PIANO** Friday 21 July 2022 We had come this far without mishap, but now came the first major problem. The Skampa String Quartet had agreed to delay their return to Prague by one day, so that they were able to come to Llandeilo for the penultimate event of this year’s Festival, but early on Thursday morning we received a message to say that their cellist had hurt his arm and that they would not be able to play. This awful news sparked off a last-minute hunt for a replacement quartet in which the artists still in Llandeilo played their part. The position was made even more desperate by the fact that the Steinway was due to be taken back to London on the Friday morning. Then to his credit, Raphael Wallfish agreed to give a Cello recital on the Friday night, with his long-standing partner. It would depend on John York being able to come down from London, with virtually no notice. It would also depend on Steinway agreeing to leave the piano at St. Teilo’s Church beyond the Friday, which meant getting their removal men to collect it first thing Saturday morning. Miraculously everything worked out and we were able to go ahead with the Cello/Piano recital. This was a stunning performance by two outstanding musicians Programme - **Schumann** : _Pieces in the Folk Idiom (Stücke im Volkston) Op. 102 Mit Humor – Langsam – Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen – Nicht zu rasch – Stark und markiert_ **Brahms;** _Sonata in E minor Op. 38 Allegro non troppo – Allegretto quasi Menuetto – Allegro_ **Debussy:** _Sonate (1915_ ) _Prologue – Serenade et Finale_ **Beethoven:** _Sonata in A major Op. 69 Allegro ma non troppo - Scherzo Allegro molto – Adagio cantabile – Allegro vivace_ Ticket wise: only two people had to be repaid, and that because of Covid rather than anything to do with the switch from Quartet to Duo. Another standing ovation – people were bowled-over by the performance. ## **THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II** ## **ARMONICO CONSORT** **Conductor:** _Christopher Allsop_ **Organ:** Benjamin Newlove **Narrator:** William Towers ## **Programme** I was Glad Hubert Parry Behold, O God our Defender Herbert Howells Creed (Mass in G) Vaughan Williams Hymn: Come Holy Ghost arr. Ernest Bullock Zadok the Priest George Frideric Handel Confortare: Be Strong and of Good Courage George Dyson Thou Wilt Keep Him Samuel Sebastian Wesley **Hymn:** All People That on Earth do Dwell arr. Vaughan Williams Sanctus (Mass in G) Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958) O Taste and See Vaughan Williams Gloria in Excelsis Deo Charles Villiers Stanford Amen Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625) Te Deum William Walton (1902 - 1983) **National Anthem** arr. Gordon Jacob Armonico Consort’s great idea to perform what was, in effect, a facsimile of the Queen’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953, was perhaps not going to do as well in the heart of ‘Welsh Wales’ as it might have in the home counties of England, where the celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee were perhaps better received with just a touch more of enthusiasm! In the event it was a musical success, with the A.C’s strong brass players combining well with the Allen 3 manual Renaissance organ, especially in Zadok the Priest. In a slight adjustment to the programme, when the audience was invited to join the choir in singing the Welsh National Anthem, ‘Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau’ as well as God Save the Queen. The audience for this event was down but, all in all we think one could call this a thrilling fanfare to ‘bookend’ our Celebratory 20[th] Festival which we started with Handel’s rousing chorus ‘Let God Arise’. ## **Daytime Series** Although we only managed 4 , instead of our usual 5, we were pleased to offer a platform for a RWCMD Cardiff, Soprano - **Lauren Williams** , **David Vaughan Lewis** (Piano) **Huw Tregelles Williams** (Organ) **Alis Huws** (Harp) and **Carys Gittins** (Flute). **Gerald Jones** (Piano) ## **School Outreach Programme** On Tuesday 24th May, through our Outreach Programme in association with Armonico Consort, 39 singers from Llandeilo Primary School joined other pupils to form a mass children’s choir of 2000 to perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall to honour the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Commonwealth and the communities within it. The Llandeilo Primary was the only school from Wales to be invited to partake in this event that marked the world-premiere of composer **Toby Young’s** incredible _**“It Takes a City”**_ commissioned by **Armonico Consort** & Orchestra The concert _**, “It Takes A City”**_ highlighted the importance of community, diversity and individuality amongst families across the world, which echoes the school’s philosophy. Based on the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child”, this contemporary tale will share the joys and challenges of community living, reminding us that a family is far more than those who live at home. ## **Festival Observation** Although overall we were generally pleased with the audience attendances it goes without saying, as with other organisations, Covid played its part in the lower-than-hoped for turnout. After saying that, the audiences were very receptive and one standing ovation followed the other. Even the seasoned artists who had performed on major European platforms were extremely impressed with their appreciative response. “you have a very special audience here in Llandeilo” _Elizabeth Wallfisch._ ## **3. PUBLIC BENEFIT** The Charity sets out to promote each year a series of professional, high calibre, musical events in a rural area of Wales where no such provision would otherwise exist. In so doing, as stated above, the trustees aim to advance the education of both adults and children in different kinds of music, thereby enhancing their appreciation of an art form which might otherwise be enjoyed by just a privileged few. The trustees believe that, to achieve such appreciation, it is crucial for people to be able to listen to, and attend, live performances by artists who can bridge the gap which sometimes exists between music and those who seek to understand and enjoy it. This would involve travelling long distances, and incurring substantial expense, thus ruling out all save the comparatively affluent and retired. The trustees feel confident that they have, in previous years, been able to provide a rich musical experience on the very doorstep of those whom the Festival seeks to benefit in this way and they are equally confident that they have, in the year just gone by, maintained the exacting standards which they constantly set themselves, both in the choice of programmes and in the selection of artists best suited to interpret those programmes. We would like to thank our sponsors, local businesses and Friends for their continued support ## 4. FINANCIAL REVIEW |**Year ending**|**31 Dec 2019**|**31 Dec 2020**|**31 Dec 2021**|**31 Dec 2022**| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Balance**|**£23,285.22**|**- - - - - - - - -**|**- - - - - -- -- - -**|**- - - - - - - - --**| |**Income**||**£ 8,031.92**|**- - - - - - - - - -**|**- - - - - - - - - -**| |**Balance**||**£31,317.14**|**- - - - - - - - - -**|**- - - - - - -- - -**| |**Income**|||**£ 2,642.40**|**- - - - - - - - - -**| |**Balance**|||**£33,959.54**|**- - - - - - - - - -**| |**Income**||||**£36,993.12 +**| |**Expenditure**||||**£47,115.60 -**| |**Balance**||||**£23,837.06**| When the (Covid) 2 year Festival break (2020-21) interrupted us we had a balance £23,285.22 At 31.12.2022 we had a balance of £23,837.06 - a increase of £551.84 The 2022 Festival was, just like those for other organisations, something of an **u** nknown quantity. Obviously, so soon after the pandemic, people were nervous of being part of a crowd. There was also the fact that people had less money to spend. The Executive Committee, in anticipation of this, and mindful of the fact that this, our 20[th] festival, was an important milestone in our short history , decided to spend the monies accumulated, during the previous 2yrs, on the 2022 celebratory event. See attached 2022 Accounts (deficit £10,122.48) Given all the trials and tribulation, I firmly believe, we managed to produce a high calibre Festival while also fulfilling our Charitable objectives. In passing, it is worth reflecting on the fact that, during the Festival’s 23 years of existence, not a single penny has been claimed in respect of expenses incurred on such things as petrol, phone calls and postage by any of the large number of volunteers who have consistently oiled the wheels of the organisation. The trustees have every reason to be satisfied with the current financial position even if, objectively speaking, it can be regarded as a little disappointing. Our closing balance showed a profit of £551.84 over the figure for the year 2019,. ## G. B. Jones **Festival Secretary /Trustee** ## **Independent Examiner’s Confirmation** I have examined the published accounts of the above-named registered charity, together with the relevant invoices and other papers relating thereto, and I am satisfied that these are in order. ## **Signed:** Helen Lewis Date: 30 September 2023 **Ty Ni Llanddarog Road Capel Dewi Carmarthen** **SA32 8AJ** Balances as at 31112r22 Recel 16210￿j I9.￿5.( Bar* inter88t 8.12 g).(K) o.fy) Mk¢ RefvrKI from printws 3699112 31.1f2.LX8 EquirKr*rtHir*R•wda15 Printing 6245.95 2.W.01 o.ts) CateTW￿. & Refte*rwd¥ FkMer5 3￿.1￿ TYWYS Travel rKket 191.38 3,150.20 VAT M&e lunassiml ¢)xtsl 47.11&60 as a101103f22 HSBC Accr*Jnt (Cur￿1 7137T2561 HSBC Accwnt (Depostt 813rn411 HS8C ACC4￿t￿￿¥1% 913779141 15,651.03 3.122.V2 15,185.89 0.rft ¢ -10.12148 b O.(KJ d Bala[￿ as al 31112r22 HSBC A¢¢wTrt (Current 7t3772561 HSBC kn#yJnt 8137T8411 IW.93 S.￿24 15,175.89