Since its establishment as the Swansea Festival of Music & the Arts back in 1948, this festival has developed a reputation as one of the most distinguished festivals in Wales. Particularly impressive is its track record of commissioning Welsh composers and staging Welsh premieres of some of the 20th century’s greatest music. While early festivals focused largely on orchestral and choral performances, more recently the scope of the programming has been broadened to include opera, drama, contemporary dance, lectures, visual art exhibitions, comedy and much more. Vital to the cultural calendar of south west Wales, the rebranding of the event in 2015 as the Swansea International Festival reflects its in
creasing ambition and visitation by orchestras and artists from around the world, as well as from within Wales.
This year, the festival kicks off with an evening’s showcase of some of Swansea’s brightest young musical talent at the Volcano Theatre on the High Street. Compered by Welsh musical institution Mal Pope, this opening exhibition promises the best and brightest of the city’s future musical stars, with a huge range of genres set to be covered. Proceedings start at 8pm on Fri 30 Sept.
The commitment to representing the musical future of Wales demonstrated by this opening event remains evident across the rest of the festival’s line-up. On Sun 
2 Oct, the brilliant Nidum Ensemble brings its collective of young Welsh players turned established international professionals to the new Great Hall at Swansea University’s Bay Cam
pus. Another highlight to look out for is a showcase by the Wales International Academy of Voice; an exclusive opportunity to hear some of Wales’ most promising and exciting young vocal talents in recital in Brangwyn Hall at The Guildhall on Tues 11 Oct.
The broad reach of this year’s festival extends well beyond the domain of classical music. Alternative highlights include an improvised performance from comedians Elis James and John Robins, a Swing Night with the Buck Clayton Legacy Band, and a production of Prokofiev’s ballet {Romeo and Juliet} from Ballet Cymru. Paintings by 2013 Swansea School of Art graduate Carys Evans will be exhibited in the University’s Taliesin Arts Centre throughout the festival, and the centenary of world-famous Welsh-born children’s author Roald Dahl will be celebrated at the National Waterfront Museum’s Warehouse Gallery.
JACOB MIER
Swansea International Festival, Various venues across Swansea, Fri 30 Sept – Sat 15 Oct. Tickets: prices vary per event. Info: www.swanseafestival.org
