One World, One Stage - Llangollen 2010

Almost certainly, the "One World, One Stage" concert is the most colourful and exuberant evening of the week.The wonderful welcoming ceremony and procession of performers of all ages and nationalities through the Pavilion is truly and sight to behold. 

It is an evening of truly global music and dance and is a favourite with Eisteddfod regulars and a marvellous taster of the week to come.

Taking part were performers from South Africa, North Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, USA, Philippines, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and North Africa amongst many others.

Earlier speeches were made by David Pender-Richards CBE, owner of Aston Martin and Eisteddfod President, Terry Waite CBE

Terry Waite CBE (Eisteddfod President)

David Pender-Richards CBE (Chairman, Aston Martin)

Barrie Neil Photography

Karl Jenkins at Llangollen 2010

The second of the evening concerts and this time is was an enormous privilege to meet and photograph the wonderful composer and conductor Karl Jenkins.

Sinfonia Cymru mades its International Eisteddfod as he conducted his own Mass for Peace with a ‘Wales and the World’ choir. The orchestra also performed Brahms's Academic Festival Overture.

The extraordinary Llŷr Williams was at the piano for Beethoven’s 3rd Concerto.

Barrie Neil Photography

The Parade - Llangollen 2010

Although there is always an evening concert on the Monday evening of the week of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the festival 'proper' doesn't officially start until the parade on the Tuesday.

This is an amazing event where hundreds of people taking part in the competitions during the week parade in costume through the centre of Llangollen flanked by cheering crowds of well wishers who often follow the paarde to the festival site on the edge of the town.

The parade is led by the Eisteddfod President who is currently (and has been for some years), Terry Waite CBE

I hope this selection of photographs gives you a flavour of the parade.

Barrie Neil Photography

Katherine Jenkins at Llangollen 2010

The evening concert on the very first day of the 2010 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod needs little introduction.

This is the second time Katherine has headlined at the festival and we have photographed her many times both here in Llangollen and at other venues and she is always a delight meet and photograph. She is so beautiful and her singing voice is just incredible.

The concert was a sell out as you might expect and was a wonderful experience to both enjoy and to photograph

More photographs of Katherine Jenkins in other concerts and backstage can be seen on our main website at www.barrieneil.co.uk

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

We have been official photographers for the wonderful Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for many years now and every year it is an assignment we are delighted to fulfil. This event is not to be confused with the National Eisteddfod which also takes place every year and is a celebration of all things Welsh.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a seven-day festival of music, dance, and song that takes place every year in the small Welsh town of Llangollen. It has been running since 1947, and since 1987 the prestigious Choir of the World competition has determined the best overall choir of the event. In 2005 Luciano Pavarotti added his name to the competition in recognition of his appreciation of the festival and its influence on his career.

It brings together adults and children from all over the world to entertain us with song and dance and also to vie against each other in prestigious competitions.

The next blog entries will show some of the events that took place over the week

Barrie Neil Photography

Crewe Hall ♥ Louisa and Ryan

A busy wedding this with lots of people, lots of travelling and a couple of celebrities thrown in for good measure.

Louisa and Ryan both got ready for their big day at Crewe Hall in Cheshire, a magnificent building set in stunning grounds just on the outskirts of Crewe town. The ceremony was taking place at St Bertoline's Church in the nearby village of Barthomley and whilst most of the guests were transported by minibus, Louisa naturally had a much more elegant mode of transport befitting the beautiful bride, in the form of a lovely cream Beauford car.

Once the ceremony was over, it was back to the magnificence of Crewe Hall for drinks, photographs and the wedding breakfast.

What of the celebrities I mentioned earlier you ask? The mother and father of one of the ushers are the well known actors Jessie Birdsall and Gwyneth Strong (aka "Cassandra" in "Only Fools and Horses").. photo below.

As usual, here are a small selection from the day.

Ryan and Oscar with Oscar's parents, Jessie Birdsall and Gwyneth Strong

More photographs from Crewe Hall in Cheshire and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk