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| International Eisteddfod | |
|---|---|
| Name | International Eisteddfod |
| Location | Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales |
| Years active | 1947–present |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Genre | Music festival, performing arts competition |
International Eisteddfod The International Eisteddfod is an annual performing arts festival and competition originating in Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales, that attracts choirs, soloists, and dance ensembles from around the world including groups linked to United Nations, European Union, Commonwealth of Nations, United States, and People's Republic of China. Established in the aftermath of World War II and influenced by initiatives such as the Festival of Britain and the World Peace Council, the festival promotes international friendship through music, song, and dance and regularly features ensembles associated with institutions like the Royal Opera House, Bolshoi Theatre, Metropolitan Opera, and national cultural organizations such as BBC, NHK, and Radio France.
The festival was founded in 1947 with support from personalities and organizations connected to post-war reconstruction including figures associated with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Red Cross, Welsh National Opera, and civic leaders from Denbighshire County. Early years saw participation from artists and groups tied to Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States, France, and Germany, mirroring cultural diplomacy exemplified by the Marshall Plan and cultural exchanges like the Cultural Cold War. Over subsequent decades the event expanded alongside global movements such as decolonization featuring performers from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Jamaica, and benefitted from broadcast partnerships with broadcasters like BBC Television Service and ITV. The festival's history intersects with visits by dignitaries and performers who had links to Earl of Snowdon, Princess Margaret, Dame Myra Hess, and orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra.
Organizationally the event is administered by a trust and registered charity model similar to bodies like Arts Council England, National Trust, and Prince's Trust, with governance involving trustees drawn from institutions like University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Cardiff University, and local government in Denbighshire. Operational logistics rely on partnerships with venues and promoters such as Welsh Government, National Eisteddfod of Wales, and festivals networks including European Festivals Association and International Society for the Performing Arts. Funding streams historically combine ticketing, sponsorship from corporations akin to Cadbury, HSBC, and grants from cultural funds such as Heritage Lottery Fund and foundations like Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Competitive classes encompass choral singing, solo vocal, instrumental performance, traditional dance, and folk ensembles, comparable to categories seen at Eurovision Song Contest, World Choir Games, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Specific awards include choral trophies, solo scholarships, and adjudicator prizes with panels often featuring judges affiliated with institutions like the Royal Academy of Music, Juilliard School, Conservatoire de Paris, and prominent conductors from the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic. Repertoires span art song, opera arias, folk music, and contemporary composition with entrants submitting works by composers and songwriters associated with Edward Elgar, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Arvo Pärt, and living composers connected to BBC Proms commissions.
Over the decades the festival has hosted and showcased ensembles and soloists linked to internationally recognized organizations such as the Royal Ballet, Kirov Ballet, New York Philharmonic, and artists who later appeared at venues like Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and La Scala. Past winners and participants include choirs associated with Estonia National Male Choir, dance troupes from Philippines, soloists who went on to careers with the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera, and conductors who later led orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic. The event has also been a stage for groups linked to cultural movements and state ensembles from countries such as Cuba, South Africa, Japan, and Mexico.
The festival functions as a cultural diplomacy forum comparable to initiatives by UNESCO and exchange programs like the Fulbright Program, fostering linguistic and artistic exchange among participants from nations including Israel, Palestine, Turkey, and Germany. Educational outreach involves workshops and masterclasses led by professors and practitioners from Royal College of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and conservatoires tied to Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, contributing to youth development initiatives similar to those by Glastonbury Festival education projects. Scholarship schemes and youth competitions echo models used by the Tchaikovsky Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in cultivating emerging talent.
While centered in Llangollen, the festival model has inspired and connected with international events and venues such as the Edinburgh International Festival, Savonlinna Opera Festival, Bayreuth Festival, and city halls including Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, and municipal theatres in Singapore and Hong Kong. Touring ensembles that participate often perform at national concert halls like Sydney Town Hall, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Lincoln Center, and at cultural sites such as Trafalgar Square and the Grote Kerk in The Hague.
Broadcast partners and media coverage have involved organizations like BBC Radio 3, Channel 4, NHK World-Japan, and international outlets such as Deutsche Welle and France Télévisions, producing radio and television features similar to coverage of the BBC Proms and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Commercial and archival recordings have been issued on labels and catalogues associated with EMI Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, and public archives maintained by institutions like the British Library and National Library of Wales.
Category:Music festivals in Wales Category:Performing arts competitions