Here in North Wales we like nothing better than ‘canu', to sing our hearts out, and let our hair down. Festivals of Welsh culture – known as an Eisteddfodau – can be traced back to the 12th century. They've developed into the annual National Eisteddfod we know today. Our younger performers have their own version too, called the Urdd Eisteddfod – it's Europe's largest youth festival.
The North Wales International Music Festival, a primarily classical music festival, is held every September in Saint Asaph and includes an extensive list of world-class performers, among them the King's Singers, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and its resident chamber group Ensemble Cymru.
Every summer visitors from all over the world descend on Llangollen for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – about 50,000 of them all told. Along with up to 5000 performers from more than fifty countries. With world-class artists including Placido Domingo – his first professional UK appearance was here in 1968. And the late great Luciano Pavarotti, who competed here in 1955.
Join Bryn Terfel and a crowd of thousands at the Faenol Festival, now in its ninth year, to see performances by artists as diverse as Shirley Bassey, Jamelia, Girls Aloud, Connie Fisher (of Sound of Music fame), and local greats like Aled Jones.
How about a male voice choir? The Fron Choir of Froncysyllte near Wrexham have been bringing a tear to the eye since 1947. In 2006 they were spotted by boy band Blue's former manager, Daniel Glatman – and promptly signed to Universal Music Group. Not bad for an amateur choir with a combined age of 3,976.
Related Links:
www.eventsnorthwales.co.uk