THE Conwy Classical Music Festival made a triumphant return with a wide-ranging programme of twenty concerts and events concerts over an eight-day period.

Running from July 23-30, the festival attracted large crowds, with St Mary’s Church, Conwy at full capacity throughout, with performances of a high standard delivered by musicians.

The Festival Orchestra’s concert was notable for a stunning performance of Beethoven’s little-performed Triple Concert, with soloists Eva Thorarinsdottir, Hannah Roberts and Benjamin Powell showing brilliant mastery of their instruments, followed by an uplifting performance of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony.

Some of Wales’s finest voices featured during the week.

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A sell-out ‘Night at the Opera’ concert starred soloists Erin Gwyn Rossington, Angharad Rowlands, Robert Lewis and John Ieuan Jones, and lunchtime concerts saw Elgan Llyr Thomas, fresh from his Covent Garden debut, North Wales favourite Sioned Terry and winners at last week’s National Eisteddfod, Rhys Meilyr and Owain Rowlands, take the stage.

Chamber music was well represented with concerts by the Manchester and Fitzsimmon Ensembles and the internationally acclaimed Dante Quartet.

Well known favourites appeared in their programmes, such as Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet and Oboe Quartet, but several less well-known works were included.

Elgar’s little known Piano Quintet performed by the Manchester Ensemble in particular was received very well.

Early music featured in two contrasting performances, with the beginning of the week seeing a staged performance by The Telling of the life and music of the 12th century abbess, Hildegard of Bingen, further enhanced by imaginative lighting effects

At the end of the week, the Marian Consort, who have appeared at the Proms several times, presented a programme contrasting Renaissance and contemporary settings of texts relating to the Virgin Mary.

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Piano recitals by established soloist Richard Ormrod and rising star Ellis Thomas enthralled audiences, a highlight being Ellis’ performance of ‘The Devil’s Staircase’ by Ligeti.

Conwy-based pianist Christina Mason-Scheuermann, and a lecture on the Davies Sisters of Gregynog, also featured in the week-long programme, which culminated in an evening in the company of The Brythoniaid Male-Voice Choir with Erin Gwyn Rossington and John Eifion as soloists.

Festival Director Chris Roberts said: “Initially I was concerned that audience numbers wouldn’t return this year to pre-pandemic levels, but I’m glad to say that that wasn’t the case and that my fears were unfounded.

“Audiences throughout the week were really excellent and enthusiastic.

“I think people were ready to put their Covid fears behind them and come out to enjoy the opportunity to listen to live music once again.

“I’d like to thank everyone who supported us - performers, sponsors, stewards and audience members are all integral to the festival’s success.”