Every resident and visitor to Aberdare will be familiar with Caradog (Griffith Rhys Jones). His statue stands in the centre of the town, and has dominated Victoria Square since 1920
A former blacksmith at the Llwydcoed ironworks, Caradog was an accomplished violinist, conductor and choral leader. When, in 1872, a virtuoso mixed choir was created in South Wales to compete at the Crystal Palace, London for a One Thousand Guineas Challenge Cup, Caradog was chosen to train and lead it
The members of that choir, the Côr Mawr, came from across South West Wales - Llanelli, Neath, Merthyr, Rhondda, Pontypridd -and, of course, Aberdare. Aberdare was the choir headquarters, its chairman, treasurer and secretary were all Aberdare men, and the largest number of singers (150) were from Aberdare. Many rehearsals were held in the town including the final rehearsal
The competition was held at the Crystal Palace in July 1872, and the One Thousand Guinea Trophy was brought home to Wales. Today, it resides at St Fagans National Museum of History and is on permanent display as the "Caradog Cup"
A former blacksmith at the Llwydcoed ironworks, Caradog was an accomplished violinist, conductor and choral leader. When, in 1872, a virtuoso mixed choir was created in South Wales to compete at the Crystal Palace, London for a One Thousand Guineas Challenge Cup, Caradog was chosen to train and lead it
The members of that choir, the Côr Mawr, came from across South West Wales - Llanelli, Neath, Merthyr, Rhondda, Pontypridd -and, of course, Aberdare. Aberdare was the choir headquarters, its chairman, treasurer and secretary were all Aberdare men, and the largest number of singers (150) were from Aberdare. Many rehearsals were held in the town including the final rehearsal
The competition was held at the Crystal Palace in July 1872, and the One Thousand Guinea Trophy was brought home to Wales. Today, it resides at St Fagans National Museum of History and is on permanent display as the "Caradog Cup"
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Caradogfest
July 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of the epic achievements of Caradog and the Cor Mawr. In honour of the occasion, a 400 strong choir from Aberdare was drawn together, recreating the epic performance of the Côr Mawr at Library Square, Aberdare The event also featured massed children's chorus, brass band and guest soloists, plus individual choral performances throughout Aberdare town centre throughout the day The event was a tremendous success drawing large crowds at all locations throughout the town, and - such was the success of the event - that the gala concert will be repeated again on the 150th anniversary of the Cor Mawr's second performance at the Crystal Palace, London which took place in 1873 A Gallery of images from the 2022 event is available here while details of the 2023 event to date are outlined below |
Caradogfest 2023
For 2023, such was the success of the Caradogfest Gala Concert, that the event will be repeated, and will take place here at St Elvan's on the evening of Friday July 7th
The event will once again feature Aberdare's own star of "The Voice" Ragsy, the inestimable Cat Southall plus the 300 strong Cor Mawr!
Tickets for the event are now on sale and are available via the Events section of the St Elvan's website here
Further details of the 2023 Gala Concert, together with a series of images from all 2022 events - including the concerts at St Elvan's, the procession and performances throughout the town, and images of the Caradogfest exhibitions - are all now available at the Caradogfest website www.caradogfest.com
For 2023, such was the success of the Caradogfest Gala Concert, that the event will be repeated, and will take place here at St Elvan's on the evening of Friday July 7th
The event will once again feature Aberdare's own star of "The Voice" Ragsy, the inestimable Cat Southall plus the 300 strong Cor Mawr!
Tickets for the event are now on sale and are available via the Events section of the St Elvan's website here
Further details of the 2023 Gala Concert, together with a series of images from all 2022 events - including the concerts at St Elvan's, the procession and performances throughout the town, and images of the Caradogfest exhibitions - are all now available at the Caradogfest website www.caradogfest.com
