A BRAND new opera about one of Wales’ best known legends and written by royal composer Paul Mealor will be given its world premiere at a top music festival.
There will be two performances of the community opera, Gelert, at the North Wales International Music Festival that’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
While the music has been composed by St Asaph-born Professor Mealor, who was raised in Connah’s Quay, the words have been written by his regular collaborator, the eminent poet, Dr Grahame Davies, who hails from Coedpoeth.
In another first, the opera has been written especially in Welsh and English and will be staged in both languages at the festival’s usual venue, St Asaph Cathedral, on Saturday, September 24, with a matinee performance in Welsh and an evening performance in English with a BSL Interpreter.
It will be sung by the NEW Voices community chorus, Kana Chamber Choir, and soloists Trystan Lewis, Dafydd Jones and Lisa Dafydd, who will be accompanied by the festival’s resident orchestra, Wrexham-based NEW Sinfonia.
Soprano Lisa Dafydd, from Ruthin, has just won the prestigious Osborne Roberts Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod in Tregaron.
The opera has been dedicated to the festival’s artistic director Ann Atkinson, who commissioned it as part of the event’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
It tells the tale of the eponymous dog which gave its name to the village of Beddgelert (Gelert’s grave) in Gwynedd.
According to legend, Prince Llywelyn the Great returns from hunting to find his baby missing, the cradle overturned and his faithful hound, Gelert, with a blood-smeared mouth.
Wrongly assuming the dog had attacked his son, Llywelyn killed Gelert only to discover his son safe and well under the crib.
Nearby he found the body of an enormous wolf that had been killed by Gelert who had courageously defended the infant.
The festival gets underway on Saturday, September 17, and runs until October 1.
Among the other highlights are performances by former royal harpist Hannah Stone with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, early music group Red Priest, award winning Welsh folk band Calan, the spectacular Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, and resident orchestra NEW Sinfonia who will be performing with the National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain.
The commission and performances of Gelert have been made possible thanks to the support of Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, the Arts Council of Wales and Tŷ Cerdd.
Other festival sponsors include headline sponsors Pendine Park care organisation, Colwinston Charitable Trust and Arts & Business Cymru.
READ MORE: Former royal harpist Hannah Stone at St Asaph music festival
Described by some critics as the Lennon and McCartney of classical music, Messrs Mealor and Davies have worked together on some noted works including a brand new Requiem composed for the National Eisteddfod.
Prof Mealor, who shot to international fame after writing Ubi Caritas et Amor for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011, said: “Gelert is where opera meets musical theatre.
“When people see the word opera they think of Tosca or something like that. This is nothing like it. It's very melodic and it's not going to shock anyone with weird sound effects.
“It's not high opera at all, it's more like Les Misérables or Miss Saigon. People going to it expecting to be entertained will be, I think. It is a community opera so anyone can sing the parts and Gelert can be performed by any amateur group."
More details about the festival can be found online at www.nwimf.com
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