A STORMING NIGHT
DAILY POST
UK
Monday July 2, 2001
Severe storms threatened to spoil a concert at Llangollen International Eisteddfod as power supplies were knocked out.
But the spirit of the Yale Alumni Chorus performance on Tuesday night refused to be dampened as emergency generators kicked in ensuring the show carried on.
It is the first time the chorus has performed at the international festival, and it was a night to remember in more ways than one.
Towards the end of their American Musical Fireworks set, as storms raged overhead, a lightning flash and clap of thunder cut the main power at the pavilion.
But back-up emergency generators ensured the arena was not plunged into darkness and the 300-strong group carried on singing.
Organisers had been expecting bad weather as the worst storms this year brought misery to parts of North Wales and were clearly heading for the Eisteddfod site.
Eyewitnesses described how the rain pounded off the pavilion canvas generating a torrent of water over the entrance and exits.
One thunder clap directly overhead led to fears the pavilion had been struck by lightning.
At one point a solo performed, singing a Welsh song, was almost drowned out by the incessant rain battering the pavilion.
But the Yale Alumni Chorus, touring on the 300th anniversary of their university, carried on the concert and won the audience over.
Marketing director Maureen Jones said the storm had not stopped the concert being a success.
She said: “The rain was beating down, but the Eisteddfod has had to endure far worse storms than that in the past. I remember a time when we had the old marquee where a singer was holding onto the pillar on the stage to stop to wobbling with people trying to hold the marquee down outside to stop it blowing away. That was in the late 80’s. There was also a time when the lights went completely but the choir on stage carried on singing. It was then that it was decided that the Eisteddfod had to have a new building.
“The power did go down last night, but the emergency generators ensured the concert had a few lights still operating, and the choir carried on.”
About 3,500 people meant the arena was about three quarters full and Mrs. Jones was delighted with the turn-out.
She said: “The concert went down very well. We were very pleased. There were 300 singers on stage and that is a lot of singers. The pavilion at the Eisteddfod is often criticised because it is not packed out. But 3,500 would fill St. David’s Hall twice over in Cardiff. The pavilion is a very big arena. To get that many people from the surrounding communities, and remember we are not in a city, is a great achievement.”