One World

It’s a trip to Llangollen and a day in the International Eisteddfod. Established in 1947, this is a wonderful event intended to bring together musicians and dancers from across the globe in this stunning location - particularly stunning on a day like today! More information on its history below
https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/about-us/history/

As soon as we arrive we come across a choir from Long Beach, California singing near the entrance - the quality is superb. They’re not competing today, but they are there savouring the atmosphere and no doubt ready to take part in the parade of nations through the town this afternoon. 

We watch some competitions in the Pavilion. Today is children’s day and the quality of both singing and dancing is excellent. I love the folk dance competition and we’re treated to groups from India, Zambia, Indonesia, England, Northern Island and Wales. We’re so annoyed that we arrive too late for the overall winning performance of Irish dancing, but we catch them performing on the field later - great, but missing the essential ‘tap’ element of course. However, we’re mesmerised by Bhangra group from Punjabi and the group from Jakarta who perform with amazing synchronicity - and an intricate dance which involves them somehow constructing a net from individual pieces of rope! 

we’re too late to follow the parade into town, so see it return - so many happy, smiling faces from different nations. They’re having the best time, and no wonder some groups return over and over again. 

Originally, we were only coming for the evening concert - Sir Karl Jenkins conducting  his powerful masterpiece, One World.  A celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Uniting Nations, with the addition of the Peace Child remiere which ‘convenes young artists from the 5 Permanent members of the UN Security Council (UK, USA, China, France & Russia) to co-create a powerful call for unity and peaceful collaboration on the existential threats like Climate Change that we rely on the UN to solve in its next 80 years. The survival of future generations depends upon it!’ 

We’re sitting eating our picnic by the car when a steward comes up to us with the news that this amazing concert has been cancelled! Why, we ask. He tells us he doesn’t know - which may or may not be true. I frantically look for any news reports, discovering that an extraordinary ‘medical emergency’ had brought about the cancellation. We try to imagine what this could be - G goes for either the lighting rig having fallen on stage crew or the outbreak of some disease. Whatever it is, we have to leave the field and travel back through beautiful scenery on this gorgeous evening. 

Later, we discover that the ambulance service and Public Health Wales had declared a medical emergency as a number of people had been treated over the afternoon with ‘flu like symptoms’ and several children had been taken to the nearest hospital at Wrexham. I suppose after Covid there must be protocols linked to outbreaks, and the fact that this is a very busy festival with people travelling here from all over the world. 

We’re so sad to miss this concert which I’m sure would have been very special, but safest has to come first - even if in  hindsight cancellation might be seen as over cautious. 

I’m so glad we have at least had a great day in Llangollen - at least we haven’t driven here for the concert just to be sent back home again! 

As you can imagine, I’ve taken many shots today, so it’s a set which tries to capture the atmosphere. It’s particularly difficult to choose a main….. but in the end I go for the Punjabi Bhangra group.