Summer in the city brings the magnificent Welsh Proms Cardiff to the centre of the St David’s Hall stage in an exciting programme of un-missable live music. The Welsh Proms Cardiff brings a carnival atmosphere to St David’s Hall in a week-long festival of music which is the highlight of the summer calendar in Cardiff 19 - 26 July.

Once again the National Concert Hall of Wales will fling its doors wide to welcome audiences to a packed programme of live music of all genres, including folk, jazz, brass and children’s concerts plus performances from world class orchestras and soloists in the orchestral proms.

‘2014 marks the thirty-first anniversary of the official opening of St David’s Hall, the National Concert Hall of Wales. Forming part of the Cardiff Festival celebrations, it is your festival and I hope that you will find something that will bring that unique sense of enjoyment and magic into your life in this years Welsh Proms Cardiff’

Cllr Phil Bale, Leader, Cardiff Council

In addition to our four world class evening orchestral concerts lead by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, this years dazzling array of performers includes; the Cardiff native Folk Rock Duo Zervas & Pepper who bring their elegantly crafted songs to the Hall for the first time; BBC Radio 2’s Claire Teal joins us as star vocalist with the Cardiff City Jazz Orchestra as part of our Jazz Prom. Folk fun with

Jamie Smith’s Mabon, hypnotic and electrifying guitar rock from Saharan Blues Band Tinariwen, mixed in with a plethora of bands, soloists and fabulous shows for the little ones and this year’s Welsh Proms Cardiff is sure to be the most varied and finest Welsh Proms yet!

Concerts

Saturday 19 July, 12.00 midday

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra - The All Dancing Family Prom

Michael Bell (Conductor)

Sophie Evans (Narrator)

Join Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Michael Bell for a prom of dances from round the world. The programme includes Can-Can from Opheus in the Underworld, Dance of the Knights from Romeo & Juliet (theme music for The Apprenctice) and Mambo from West Side Story and lots more!!! We look forward to seeing you for a concert of exciting and colourful music, and a chance for you to dance along with the orchestra!

19 – 26 July 10.30am

Tiddly Prom - Bert’s Magical Musical Allotment

Performed by Richard Berry, Helen woods and the Tiddly Prom Band.

Join Bert on his allotment as we find out how his garden grows through the seasons with silly songs, terrific tunes, special magic & mayhem.

The Tiddly Prom is produced by Arts Active – Education, Community & Audience Engagement at St David’s Hall. Introducing the Proms and the magic of live music to the youngest possible audience. A real musical treat designed for the under 5s and the grown ups they look after!

Saturday 19 July, 7.30pm

Classical Extravaganza Prom

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE

Join us for an extravaganza of all time most popular classics, packed with great tunes that’ll keep you smiling for days afterwards. Experience triumph, sparkling joie de vivre, the spirit of dance and romantic passion, brought to you with the kaleidoscopic colours of an orchestra of some eighty players, under the baton of Owain Arwel Hughes. Wonderful indeed!

Sunday 20 July, 1.00pm

Festival of Folk at the Welsh Proms

Headlined by Jamie Smith’s MABON (8pm)

The Welsh Proms presents ‘Festival of Folk’ a celebration of Welsh arts, crafts and music with workshops, masterclasses, have-a-go sessions with live bands running throughout the day. Join in with our live music session where all musicians (And toe tappers!) are welcome to bring their instruments to join and perform classic folk tunes.

Enjoy live music from 1pm with Allan yn y Fan, DnA, Olion Byw plus many more great acts to be announced. The day will be rounded off by a live gig from Jamie Smith’s Mabon at 8pm which will bring the festival to a close.

Monday 21 July, 7.30pm

Zervas & Pepper + Lisbee Stainton

Cardiff natives Zervas & Pepper are a Folk-Rock duo whose album 'Lifebringer' continues to earn them fans in high places. Along with heavy support from Radio 2 and Radio Wales, 2013 saw the band in session for Radcliffe & Maconie, Lauren Laverne and more, with further plaudits from The Times, The Guardian, Maverick and R2. Performing with their band, they promise elegantly crafted songs that transport the audience with escapist narrative and soaring melodies, charming them with wild tales from their travels.

Tuesday 22 July, 1.00pm

Organ Prom: Four Hands, Four Feet - The Sequel

Robert Court & Jeffrey Howard (Organ Duo)

Following on from their hugely successful organ proms last year, organists Robert Court and Jeffrey Howard return with an all new duet programme featuring the St David's Hall organ, electronic organ, piano and iPads in amazing combination. Their unique and highly entertaining programme includes their own arrangements of well-known classics by Mozart and Saint-Saëns, familiar music from popular films and a few surprises.

Tuesday 22 July, 8.00pm

Clare Teal and Capital City Jazz Orchestra , featuring Clare Teal.

Come and join us for a fantastic evening of Big Band music with Cardiff's own Capital City Jazz Orchestra. Including some of the finest Jazz musicians in South Wales they will swing the night away with a fantastic mix of Classic and Contemporary Big Band charts.They will be joined for the evening by star vocalist, Clare Teal familiar to many as the host of Big Band Special on BBC Radio 2.

Wednesday 23 July, 7.30pm

Romantic Prom

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Owain Arwel Hughes CBE (Conductor)

Chloë Hanslip (Violin)

An evening of high octane Russian and Czech romantic music. One-time wunderkind and passionate advocate of the violin, Chloë Hanslip brings a special Slavic intensity and depth to the heart-felt lyricism of Tchaikovksy’s Violin Concerto, heard next to the wind-swept and tempestuous drama of Dvo?ák’s Seventh Symphony and the sheer joyful energy of Smetana.

Thursday 24 July 8.00pm

World Music Prom - Tinariwen

The desert is a place of hardship and subtle beauty, a stark world that reveals its secrets slowly and carefully. Life in the desert is resilient and strong, and the people are gentle giants among the sand, storms, and sun. For Saharan Blues Band Tinariwen, the desert is their home, and their hypnotic and electrifying guitar rock reflects complex realities of their homebase in North West Africa. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see them in the UK at their Cardiff premier.

Friday 25 July, 7.30pm

Russian Prom - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Owain Arwel Hughes CBE (Conductor)

A satanic celebration halted by daybreak; the wild frenzied dances of a rebellious Tartar tribe and three princes’ quest for the hand of a fair princess. Join Owain Arwel Hughes on a journey into exotic Russia myth with an evening of soaring melodies, flaming colours and barbaric splendour, culminating in the drama of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony – a dark brooding tragedy ending with an overwhelming sense of energy and fulfilment. Truly unmissable!

Saturday 26 July, 7pm

Last Night of the Welsh Proms

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Owain Arwel Hughes CBE (Conductor)

Celebration, high spirits and fizz galore are in generous supply at the Last Night of the Welsh Proms, with non-stop musical adrenalin throughout the evening. Pack your party hats, streamers and join in the singing in the ultimate mid-summer party. On hand to make things go with a swing will be Owain Arwel Hughes who’ll bring the proceedings to a rousing conclusion. Don’t be a party pooper – book now!

Fringe Events

Sat 19 July 13:00 The Alpine Bavarian Stompers FREE

Sat 19 July 17:00 Wooden Horse FREE

Sat 19 July 18:30 Welsh Symphonic Brass Ensemble FREE

Mon 21 July 13:00 Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra £5

Wed 23 July 13:00 Perch Family Creek Jug Band £5

Wed 23 July 17:00 South Wales Clarinet Choir FREE

Thu 24 July 13:00 Elfen £3

Thu 24 July 17:00 YPWD Choir FREE

Fri 25 July 13:00 Hannah Stone £5

Fri 25 July 17:00 Finger Trap FREE

Sat 26 July 13:00 SYNERGY £3

Sat 26 July 16:00 Chepstow Community Big Band FREE

Sat 26 July 18:30 Welsh Symphonic Brass Ensemble FREE

Lefel 1

Once again in Lefel 1 Arts Active will be presenting a packed programme of youth focused events including; the much loved Tiddly Prom, Young people from the RWCMD Junior Conservatoire and Grassroots showcasing their talents, St David’s Hall’s Quartet-in-Residence, the Mavron Quartet, pairs up with Arts Active to present a musical performance for adults with learning and physical disabilities in the Soundworks Prom. Meanwhile in the gaps between there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved and take part in a selection of workshops. Rounding off with the evenings will be the Unknown Theatre Company’s production of Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods. All in all Lefel 1 will be a buzzing and lively place for all the family to come to and enjoy even more of the Welsh Proms festival action.

For more information about the Lefel 1 project and associated activities please call Arts Active on 029 2087 8572. All of these events can be booked online at stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk