Photo: © Roberto Masotti/ECM Records

Valentin Silvestrov

Born in the Ukraine in 1937, Silvestrov was considered one of the leading representatives of the Kiev avant–garde movement and owing to the prevailing Soviet conservatism in music at that time, struggled to gain recognition in his homeland until well into the 1980s. Elsewhere recognition grew steadily with Arvo Pärt naming him as his favourite composer of our time. In 1970 Silvestrov abruptly changed musical style adopting a more “post-modernist” approach with his music often likened to that of Gustav Mahler.

“…the most beautiful music I had ever heard in my life…”
Gavin Bryars

Yn yr Undeb Sofietaidd cafodd cerddoriaeth flaengar gynnar Silvestrov ei gwthio i’r ymylon. Yn sgil pwysau o du’r cyhoedd iddo newid ei arddull ym 1974, enciliodd o fod yn ganolbwynt sylw a chyfansoddodd “Caneuon Distaw”, sef cylch y bwriadwyd iddo gael ei chwarae’n breifat, gan ddynodi newid i’w gyfeiriad cerddorol.

2011: Latvian Radio Choir

Latvian Radio Choir against a black background

Tuesday 6 September 2011 · Mawrth 6 Medi 2011, 7.30pm

St Augustine’s Church, Penarth, CF64 1BA

Sigvards Klava (conductor)

Arvo Pärt	…which was the son of…	6′
Anders Hillborg	Muo:aa:yiy:oum	14′
Eriks Ešenvalds	Légende de la femme emmurée	12′
Valentin Silvestrov	Diptychon	16′
Santa Ratniece	Chu Dal	12′
Peteris Vasks	Ziles zina	10′

Opening this year’s festival the walls of St Augustine’s Church will resound with the astounding singing of the award-winning Latvian Radio Choir in a much anticipated return visit to the festival. This virtuosic choir will transport us on a mesmerising journey from the eerie depths of an interred woman’s final resting place in Eriks Ešenvalds’ Legend of the walled in woman, through the hypnotic wordless soundscape of Hillborg’s minimalistic classic Muo:aa:yiy:oum right up to the salty heights of holy Namsto Lake in the Himalayas (Ratniece’s Chu Dal).

Ail ymweliad â’r Wyl gan un o gorau mawr y byd mewn rhaglen sy’n cynnwys peth o gerddoriaeth gysegredig nodedig ein hoes.

This programme will be performed without an interval.

TICKETS / TOCYNNAU £12, Concessions £10 (senior citizens, unemployed, disabled people & companion) £5, Children under 16 and students

Phone booking: call 029 2039 1391 (Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm).

The festival booking office is based at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. A £1.75 transaction fee applies to all online bookings with an optional postage charge of 70p. Concessions (listed in brackets) apply to students, under 16s and disabled customers. Wheelchair companions are entitled to complimentary tickets. Book for 4 concerts or more in a single advance booking and you will be entitled to a free festival programme book.