Bringing world-class music to west Wales

World-class musicians are assembling in west Wales next week for the annual Fishguard Festival of Music. The festival's artistic director Gillian Green told Jenny White what's lined up.

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FISHGUARD Festival of Music returns from July 18-31 with a lineup of Welsh and international musicians covering everything from orchestral and chamber music to genre-crossing performances including string and accordion ensemble Kosmos, who combine Gypsy, Jewish, Greek, Japanese, Polish and Swedish influences.

As always, the festival takes place in multiple venues in west Wales, including theatres, churches, open-air spaces, and St Davids Cathedral. In other ways, it will differ from previous editions.

"It's a diverse offering," says Gillian Green MBE, the festival's artistic director. "I can't think of a better way to open than with the wonderful WNO orchestra, with Tomáš Hanus conducting a program that includes Beethoven's 5th Symphony and features soprano Rebecca Evans.

"We end with the National Youth Orchestra in St Davids Cathedral, and we have lots of things sandwiched between the greatest professional orchestra and most wonderful youth orchestra."

The festival includes the Saints and Stones tour, led by local historian Rev Richard Davies - a tour of four of North Pembrokeshire's many fascinating churches and chapels.

On the way to each location, Richard outlines its history as a religious site and its place in the story of the area. Musicians perform as you explore the interiors of the buildings and their surroundings.

"It's very popular every year," says Gillian. "The musicians who will be performing are the two duos from the Royal Welsh College who will have been playing the previous evening."