Fishguard Music Festival Reviews

Fishguard International Music Festival 2007

Despite a threat earlier this year that Fishguard might lose its prestigious Music Festival, July 2007 actually saw a very lively and entertaining Festival programme in place with an opening concert on 21st July.

After the February public meetings called by the local Council’s Arts Officer, a new Management Committee was elected.  Although consisting of only four people plus Treasurer, the group set about planning a programme for 2007 in keeping with the broad sentiments of the public meetings that the Festival should be mainly classical in nature, of a week’s duration and remain at the end of July.  The Committee decided that the transition from former Committee to new should be as seamless as possible and that the International Music Festival should be as recognisable as a prestige Festival as it ever was.

As well as planning the programme for 2007 there was considerable Festival “business” to see to and this had to be done alongside the artistic planning for 2007.

International concert pianist Peter Donohoe was approached to see if he would become Festival president from 2007.  He agreed immediately reminding us that he had played in Fishguard regularly early in his career and Fishguard believed in him then as now.  Peter gave his own recital at Rhos-y-gilwen’s new Oak Hall and he joined The City of Birmingham Symphony Quartet in quintets by Dvorak and Elgar.  He also stayed on to attend the Young Musicians’ Platform at The Church of The Holy Name.

The week began with an opening Gala concert in St. David’s Cathedral with vocal and orchestral music.  Simon Pearce played Poulenc’s organ concerto.  Timothy Noon conducted the concert and it was one of his last musical engagements down here before his departure for Liverpool. 

Ensemble 8 (BBC NOW) and Fine Arts Brass gave splendid concerts in St Peter’s Church, Goodwick.  The Swingle singers and Glen Miller performed superbly in Ysgol Bro Gwaun.  Dr. John Harcup gave a pre-concert talk on Edward Elgar in Theatr Gwaun before which Libby Bennett (flute) and Eluned Pearce (Harp) had performed in St. Mary’s Church.  Libby was delighted to perform at the 38th Fishguard International Music Festival - her father, Walter, had been a founder member of the festival in 1970.

The Festival concluded with a very fine orchestral concert given by BBC NOW conducted by James Judd with rising star violinist Alina Ibragimova.  We were treated to fine performances of Mendelssohn’s violin concerto and a string symphony.  The concert opened with Elgar’s ‘Froissart’ overture and ended with a quite fine performance of his Enigma Variations.

The festival week was full of highly acclaimed performances and events.  The Fishguard International Music Festival remains firmly on the musical map.

As intended the Festival supported the local economy and many local businesses supported a concert, sponsored the event or advertised in the concert programme.  Therefore, it was quite a community affair with involvement from many local people.  Numerous people worked as Box Office personnel,  ticket sellers and stewards.

The Festival conducted most of its business in Fishguard and Goodwick - printing, hospitality, accommodation etc; shops and traders benefited from the Festival project.

Local press coverage was excellent with tremendous support from the County Echo and Pembrokeshire Life in particular.

It could all happen again next year - subject to satisfactory funding.

Alan Caunce

Secretary - Artistic adviser  F.I.M.F