Carreras
leads Faenol field
Welsh
baritone Bryn Terfel has revealed that international
opera star José Carreras is to headline the 2003
Faenol festival.
World-renowned tenor
Carreras will perform at the event in Bangor, north
Wales, which was established by local-born Terfel
four years ago.
Details about the festival
were released on the day that Terfel received his
CBE from Prince Charles at a ceremony on Cardiff,
alongside former rugby star Gerald Davies.
But Terfel could not
hide his delight at bringing Carreras to the Faenol
estate in what is believed to be his first concert
in Wales.
"This is the biggest
coup to think José Carreras is going to sing between
Caernarfon and Bangor," he told BBC News Online.
"Four years into the
festival and we get one of the top three tenors
in the world," he added.
Terfel, from nearby
Pantglas in Gwynedd, even rearranged the running
order to accommodate his guest star.
"That was mainly to
suit him as he only was free on Sunday," he said
"There are not many
places you can see him like this - I have heard
places for between £1,000-£2,000 for his concerts,"
he added.
Organisers hope more
than 10,000 people will flock to see the show.
"People have a chance
to see José Carreras live and bring their best bottle
of wine and best sandwich, and hope the sun shines,"
he said.
Three nights
As in previous years,
the event will be split into three nights, opening
with a West End Musicals, followed by a Gala Opera
Night and the Dragon's Fire night featuring Welsh
rock bands.
Other performers this
year include West End stars Sally Ann Triplett and
Simon Bownman.
A 16-year-old from
New Zealand, Hayley Westenra, will also take the
stage, something Terfel says he is particularly
looking forward to.
"She is brilliant -
she has sold platinum in New Zealand - she must
be special," he said.
The event - which picked
up last year's gong for the Greatest Show in Wales
at the Wales Tourism Awards - began in 2000.
Last year, former soap
stars Martine McCutcheon and Claire Sweeney starred
at the concert.
The Faenol festival
will run between Saturday 23 August to Monday 25
August - tickets go on sale on Saturday.
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