01686 625007
Gregynog festival
Gregynog Hall, Newtown
Rian Evans
Tuesday June 17, 2008
The sisters Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, whose wealth came from coal, are best known for collecting the impressionist paintings that became the core of the National Museum of Wales's collection. But, along with the printing press they founded, the sisters also promoted music at their home in mid-Wales and, this year, Gregynog is celebrating the 75th anniversary of their first festival with echoes of the early luminaries.
A visit by Vaughan Williams in 1932 helped establish the festival, so the performance of his song cycle On Wenlock Edge by Andrew Kennedy, with Simon Crawford-Phillips and the Badke Quartet, was a logical choice. Although the ensemble took a little time settling in, Kennedy's perfect diction allowed Housman's words to communicate potently. That clarity was a legacy of the late Peter Pears, who sang at Gregynog with Benjamin Britten, but his premiere of Three Traditional Ballads by their friend Grace Williams took place in London in 1950. Kennedy's performance of them emulated that style, making the surprising jazziness of The Lass of Swansea Town stand out.
This concert boasted a world premiere: John Mitchell's transcription of Peter Warlock's song Yarmouth Fair, together with other Warlock rarities. Its highlight, though, was his cycle The Curlew, a setting of Yeats's words, which were all the more resonant for having been completed near Gregynog. Flautist Juliette Bausor and cor anglais player Maxwell Spiers joined the Badke to realise the evocative soundscape, which Kennedy complemented with subtle vocal colours. He set the seal on a rewarding evening with his encore, Warlock's Sleep, magically delivered.
The festival continues until Sunday. Details: 01686 625007.
