Caldicot goes Classical

This autumn a small Town in Monmouthshire becomes host to the international acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Guang Yang. A former winner of Cardiff Singer of the World. Guang Yang will return to Wales to sing with the Welsh National Opera in Verdi's Don Carlos, but will be taking time out of her busy schedule to spend a night performing at an event in Caldicot, organised by the Two Bridges Music, the Caldicot and District U3A Music Appreciation Group.

The event will take place on Saturday 1st of October 2005 in Grayhill Hall, Caldicot School when Guang Yang will delight audiences with a variety of classical operatic pieces, accompanied by the internationally renowned Ingrid Surgenor. This celebrity recital is funded and supported by the Arts Council Wales, Monmouthshire Rural Community Action, Monmouthshire County Council, Barclays Bank and adventa.

Gerry Nicholas, coordinator of the recital said

"we are sure this exciting, high profile performance will provide a good launch for future planned musical events. We are hoping to establish an annual programme of events that will enable both U3A members and the wider community to access and embrace a wide range of experiences."

Guang Yang's role as Princess Eboli in Don Carlos follows an extensive repertoire ranging from winner of Placido Domingo's Operalia Competition in 2001 to performances with Chicago's Lyric Opera, and appearances at various international festivals. The Chinese born singer has definitely come a long way since her days spent working in a textile factory. The event in Caldicot is Guang Yang's only recital outside of her performance with the WNO, and so is definitely an occasion not to be missed.

From:- 'Two Bridges Music'
The Music Appreciation Group of Caldicot and District U3A

We have contacted you in recent months regarding the extension of our Music Appreciation Group's activities into providing a series of concerts and recitals following the acquisition of a wonderful Bluthner Grand Piano from one of our members.

To date we have held a very successful Guitar Recital in June and August 4th saw another well received event, an afternoon of music and verse, largely provided by our own groups, followed by a strawberry tea.

Now on October 1st at 7.30pm a gala recital is being held at Grayhill Hall in Caldicot School with two prestigious artistes. The Chinese mezzo-soprano, Guang Yang, winner of the 1997 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, will perform a varied programme of operatic excerpts and song, accompanied by Ingrid Surgenor at the piano.

Gerry Nicholas
Convenor, Music Appreciation, Caldicot and District U3A

Guang Yang
Mezzo-soprano

Guang Yang was born in Beijing, China, where she studied at the Central Conservatory of Music. The 1997 winner of the prestigious BBC Singer of the World Competition in Cardiff, she also won first prize in Plàcido Domingo's 2001 Operalia Competition.

Miss Yang's recent engagements include a concert with Plàcido Domingo at the Kennedy Centre, Rosina/The Barber of Seville for Welsh National Opera, Hècube/Les Troyens with the London Symphony Orchestra (Sir Colin Davies conducting), Verdi's Requiem with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Mother Marie/Dialogues of the Carmelites with the Juilliard Opera Centre (Julius Rudel conducting), a concert at the Cultural Centre in Hong Kong, and recitals in the United Kingdom at the Manx International Festival and the Newbury Spring Festival. Other concert engagements include a Marilyn Horne Foundation concert at Carnegie Hall, a recital tour of the United Kingdom, and appearances with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Stockholm Radio Symphony Orchestra. She performed Verdi's Requiem with the National Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2002.

Miss Yang For Lyric Opera's season, among them Suzuki/Madama Butterfly; in the Ring cycle, Flosshilde, Grimerde, and the Second Norm/Das Rheingold and Götterdäammerung; the Woodpecker/The Cunning Little Vixen; and Albine/Thaïs (deput). She reprised her portrayal of Suzuki earlier this season at The Dallas. Future seasons will find her singing Eboli/Don Carlos with Welsh National Opera and Amneris/Aida with Houston Grand Opera.

INGRID SURGENOR - PIANO

Ingrid Surgenor is one of Britain`s busiest and most successful pianists and is internationally renowned for her work as official accompanist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

Following study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and with the legendary accompanist Gerald Moore, Ingrid began her career at the Glyndebourne Festival. In addition to a continuing association with Welsh National Opera, she has worked at the Buxton, Hong Kong, Taormina and Vienna Festivals. She spent eight years at the Bayreuth Festival, four as head of music preparation for Parsifal, conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli and directed by Wolfgang Wagner.

Ingrid has travelled widely to accompany many singers including Sir Thomas Allen, Nuccia Focile, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Dennis O`Neill and Bernd Weikl. She has given recitals at Aix-en-Provence, Belfast, Cardiff, Corinthischen Sommer, Edinburgh and Passau Festivals and at opera houses in Barga, Brussels, Marseille, Munich, Oslo, at the Teatro Amazonas, Manaus and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Her many radio and television performances have included documentaries about her career and range from song recitals and the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition to cookery, quiz and discussion programmes.

In addition Ingrid is and adjudicator, gives masterclasses, is a coach at the National Opera Studio in London and is principal opera coach and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. She has been awarded Honorary Fellowships by the University of Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is a national advisor to the Arts Council of Wales. In June 2000 she was awarded an MBE for services to music.

Her many recordings include recitals of the songs of Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi with Dennis O`Neall.

The music appreciation group held their monthly meeting at Caerwent Parish Church and invited the U3As from Severnside Area.

We had 121 people from Swansea to Chepstow, and Brecon to the Forest of Dean and all places in between. The occasion was to hear two guitarists, "The Campenella Duo", who talked about their instruments and gave a wonderful recital. We even provided a Cream tea, which was enjoyed by all.

Daniel Jones and Matthew Nisbet seen here taking a bow for the camera just before they start the second half of their wonderful programme of music in Caewent Parish Church.

A successful visit to Harry Ramsden's in Cardiff saw our members singing and dancing to an evening of live music. The evening was titled Last Night of the Proms.

*Please click the thumbnail images for larger photographs

"Viv's Choice"
Another successful presentation at the Music Appreciation group meeting

To mark his appearance Viv brought along a few bottles of home made wine which put members " in the mood " for his choice, as can be witnessed in the photo.

Viv giving a presentation of his choice of music

"The Proms" at Tredegar House, Newport.

© Caldicot and District U3A mmvii