My little sister and her husband have a new website. It is called
The Opera Stars and they have compiled a site to publicise them.
Here is her biography and her tenor "husband".
Eldrydd Cynan Jones was born in Treorchy and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music where she was awarded scholarships from the Peter Moores Foundation and the Countess of Munster Fellowship. During this time she was also the winner of the W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship at the National Eisteddfod, a finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier Competition at the Wigmore Hall and was also chosen to represent the college at the Aix-en-Provence International Festival, performing Britten’s "Les Illumination"
Following her time at Manchester, Eldrydd quickly established herself as a popular concert and recital Artist, much sought after by Choral and Music Societies throughout Britain with a vast repertoire ranging from Bach and Mozart to Mahler and Verdi. Notable performances during this period include Bach’s "Mass in B minor" and Handel’s "Messiah" conducted by Stephen Cleobury at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge; Mendelssohn’s "Elijah" with Bryn Terfel and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under the baton of Richard Hickox; Gala Opera Night at the Welsh Proms with Owain Arwel Hughes and the Halle Orchestra at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff. In 1994
Eldrydd won the "Young Welsh Singer " Competition and then went on to represent Wales in the
prestigious "Cardiff Singer of the World" in 1995. One of the most rewarding experiences of the competition was to be chosen by Dame Joan Sutherland as one of only two singers to participate in a Masterclass given by the legendary Soprano, which was later televised on BBC2.
Eldrydd’s operatic repertoire includes the title role in Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly" at the RNCM and Singapore Lyric Opera; First Lady in Mozart’s "Magic Flute" for Civit Hills Opera; Sofronie in Storace’s "Gli Equivoci" at Battignano, Italy; Berta in Rossini’s "Barber of Seville" for Welsh National Opera; Donna Anna in Mozart’s "Don Giovanni" for Opera North; Leonora in Beethoven’s "Fidelio" and Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s "Macbeth" for English Touring Opera; Amelia in Verdi’s "Un Ballo in Maschera" for Opera Holland Park; Musetta in Puccini’s "La Boheme" for Opera North and London City Opera at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
During her career Eldrydd has sung in New York, Washington D.C., Sydney, New Zealand, Paris, Scandinavia and Russia. In 2003 she added Capetown, Singapore and Hong Kong to the list. Recent engagements include Mahler’s 2nd Symphony at Ripon Cathedral, Mahler's 8th Symphony at the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow and a number of performances of Verdi's Requiem in Ljublijana, which was recorded for RTV Slovenia. In 2005 projects included Opera Galas and concerts in Florida, Buenos Aires and Sydney.
Geraint Dodd was born in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wales and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester with Joseph Ward. Whilst there, he was awarded the Ricordi Prize for Opera and the Webster Booth Scholarship. He also scored a notable success with his interpretation of Captain Vere in Britten’s "Billy Budd". Most recently
Geraint has specialized in the Italian verismo repertoire.2004 saw him making his debut for Opera North as Canio in Leoncavallo’s "I Pagliacci",having previously sung this for Opera Holland Park.
Other roles include the Duke (Rigoletto) for Welsh National Opera and English Touring Opera; Rodolfo (La Boheme) for ETO; Don Jose (Carmen) for WNO, ETO, OHP and Mid Wales Opera; Cavaradossi (Tosca) for Scottish Opera, WNO, MWO; Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) and Macduff (Macbeth) for WNO, MWO; Nadir (Pearl Fishers), Werther (Werther) and Florestan (Fidelio) for ETO; Osaka (Iris), Stiffelio (Stiffelio) and Gustavus (Un Ballo in Maschera) for Opera Holland Park; Calaf (Turandot) for Mid Wales Opera; Turiddu (Cavelleria Rusticana) for Raymond Gubbay at the Royal Albert Hall; Pollione (Norma) for San Fransisco Opera.
As well as his operatic engagements Geraint is equally at home on the concert platform with Elgar’s "Dream of Gerontius" and Verdi’s "Requiem" being his greatest successes. He is a frequent guest with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, Halle, Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Concert, and the National Orchestra of Wales. He made his European debut in Lisbon with the Orquestre de Sinfonica Portugesein Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the historical Belem Centre. He has also worked with Owain Arwel Hughes, Stanislav Skrowaczewski, David Lloyd Jones and Wilfred Boettcher. Over the past 7 years Geraint has regularly performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in Raymond Gubbay's 'Classical Spectacular' concerts. He has also recorded broadcasts for Radio 2 on 'Friday Night is Music Night'.
............. he said that Carlos Sastre wouldn't be in yellow after the time trial and I did. So Olympic Gold medallist or what he knows naff all about cycling in my book. I can't believe that in modern day sport you can give anyone a minute start and not find that the other guy just trails around after you keeping his advantage. If it was me I'd know that I'd just ride my legs off and forget about the ride to Paris and going off last I'd have a watch on all my rivals all along the route to protect my lead. You really mean to say that if I'd ridden for 20 days, with just two days off, around one of the biggest countries in the world, climbing mountains the size of the Col du Tourmalet, Col Agnel, Col de la Lombarde, Cime de la Bonette-Restefond and on the same day the Col du Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer before going up Alpe-D'huez with it’s 7.9% gradient, that I’d let some Auzzie guy ride faster than me?
Twenty Twenty Cricket may be the new sensation that's got everybody talking and Sir Allen Stanford and his millions may also be able to hype up what has become a very dull, dreary game BUT did you know that this form of the game was being played in the Rhondda during the 1970's. The Rhondda Midweek Cricket League was a competition played between Rhondda sides from Blaenrhondda, Treorchy, Ton Pentre (who I played for), Thomas and Evans (Porth), Christchurch (the only Rhondda Fach side), Edmonstown, Tonyrefail and Hopkinstown. I recall making my debut for Ton Pentre when I was about fourteen and once took four wickets for about seven runs in four overs which was the league best for that year. I also remember batting on "the mat" at Dinas Football field in the pitch dark as the game finished about 8.45 p.m. Brian Morgan "The Prince of Rhondda Batsmen" as he was dubbed by the Rhondda Leader was amazed that I could bat that well in such gloomy conditions. It is good to see that he and other vets like Stef Hughes and Graham "Spam" Williams keep playing and that some youngsters like Andrew Price and Mark Thomas who were brought into the club by my fellow head teacher Greg Reynolds still keep the club going from strength to strength.
By the end of the afternoon we'll know who has won the Tour de France 2008. Even though the race doesn't finish until tomorrow (with the traditional laps around the Champs-Élysées) the ride into Paris seldom sees anybody making the breakaway and stealing enough time to have any effect on the General classification. The only exception to this was when American Greg LeMond in the 1989 Tour de France, was 50 seconds behind Laurent Fignon, who had won the Tour in 1983 and 1984. LeMond rode the time trial using novel aero bars, which gave him an aerodynamic advantage, to beat Fignon by 58 seconds to claim his second yellow jersey with a final margin of eight seconds – the closest in the Tour's history.
Today is my parents’ anniversary. 50 years ago today they got married over the road in Capel Hermon, Treorci. They have been devoted to each other ever since and have been fantastic parents and really deserve a great day. We'll be celebrating at the Newbridge Inn on Saturday 9th August as due to various family commitments that’s the earliest we can all get together. They plan to renew their marriage vows at the family Eucharist tomorrow morning in St George’s Church, Cwmparc. Llongyfarchiadau Mam a Dad.
My little sister and her husband have a new website. It is called The Opera Stars and they have compiled a site to publicise them.
prestigious "Cardiff Singer of the World" in 1995. One of the most rewarding experiences of the competition was to be chosen by Dame Joan Sutherland as one of only two singers to participate in a Masterclass given by the legendary Soprano, which was later televised on BBC2.
Geraint has specialized in the Italian verismo repertoire.2004 saw him making his debut for Opera North as Canio in Leoncavallo’s "I Pagliacci",having previously sung this for Opera Holland Park.
I've been on facebook for a few months now and it's really great fun. I've been suprised how many people I know from the number of friends that I've accumilated. Some of my ex pupils fom Porth Junior School are very active on the site and I am very pleased that so many of them have carried on to maximise the potential that they showed when they were in my class. Congratulations to the Class of 1998 who have graduated this year.
Thank God it's uparade time again and I can get a new handset. The other one a Motorola E1070 was brill until the battery gave up the ghost. It's been the best one I've had since an old motorola I had when I was with Orange which I swapped for a naff Nokia and all the others I've had since have been really sus!
Rugby League will be back in Wales. Following the drain in "past it stars" (like Brynmor Williams, Fennwick, Tom David et al ) went "NORTH" to play for the Cardiff Dragons and rugby union turning professional the 13 a side game hasn't really had a look in down here. I'm glad in some respects as union is getting so predictable these days. I wonder how much we'll have to pay for a seat (or to stand) in the Brewery Field? Will there be also an upturn in British players feeding the national teams or will they continue to give "has been" Auzzie and Kiwi stars more pension cons. We'll see. If you want to comment feel free to do so.
I am attending an important Cluster meeting this afternoon. I know that school's out but I have some very important educational issues to discuss with my colleagues MDC, HLR who are fellow head bangers. There should be some deputy head bangers there in the form of DJ and Stevie G and representatives from the High School Musical RJ and AE. I'm catching the twelve o'clock train and hope that the ice is ready to be put into a long glass so I can fill it with Magners or even better some Black Dragon from the Llest Farm. (I must call around on the way from getting Mrs. CJ from TT to fill my boots.) 
Hello everybody. Just thought I'd start publishing my thoughts, rants and muses over the next few years. My interests are many - music, current affairs, education, commenting on life really. Some of my thoughts may be too controversial for some, some may even by libalous well close to the mark anyway. But if it's one thing that I get really pissed off with is the hypocracy that surrounds many of the things that I hold very dear to my heart. I can't stand people who claim to be blameless when things go tits up and point fingers away from them. If you hve ever got it wrong you'll like this blog as I enjoy righting wrongs and exposing the truth. One of my heros is Mike Parry - the Porkmeister - who shares my philiosphy in outing Charletans and exposing fraud. So bookmark this site and see you soon.
