There's
Nothing Like a Dame -
and Shirley Proves it in Amazing Show From
IC Wales, by Steve Bagnall, Jul 14 2003
Welsh singing star Shirley Bassey crowned this year's International Eisteddfod
with a virtuoso performance before a sell-out audience.
Dame Shirley took centre stage in the Royal International Pavilion last night to
rapturous applause before captivating the capacity crowd with a power-house
display, topped by a standing ovation.
Dame Shirley arrived to fantastic applause.
The stage had been transformed from that which held the week's events with the
cream of international music and dance.
Gone were the flowers, replaced with a glittering light set of stars, which
organisers said reflected her superstar status.
She opened the concert with her most famous song Goldfinger - the theme to the
Bond film of the same name.
Then she launched into a succession of classics including Diamonds are Forever,
Hey Jude and Light My Fire.
Lifelong fan Tony Roche said: "I love Shirley Bassey. Her voice is an
inspiration. I often play her albums to get that powerful, brilliant
feel-good-factor.
"What's more she is Welsh - a great advert for the nation."
Dame Shirley's sensational performance last night followed the Cleo Laine and
John Dankworth concert on Friday night with their Duke Ellington celebration of
swing.
Dame Cleo, 76, and John, 78, showed their class during their mesmerising
performance.
Eisteddfod spokesman, Nigel Davies, said: "It was an absolutely sensational
concert. Cleo Laine and John Dankworth showed true class, the audience loved
it."
The evening concerts were yesterday hailed a major success.
Wales Tourist Board chief executive John Jones visited the International
Eisteddfod on Saturday.
He applauded the new management team for their change of approach in a bid to
attract new audiences.
"There has been a change here at the eisteddfod," he said: "They have changed
the content, without losing the traditions, which the eisteddfod has quite
rightly done to bring in new markets.
"Any event cannot stand still in bringing in new markets. The trick is, and this
is what chief executive Gwyn Williams has done, is to make the changes without
alienating the very loyal audience, while at the same time attracting new
audiences."
Mr Jones realised the importance of the Eisteddfod, citing it as one of the five
main festivals in Wales.
On Saturday the sun shone brightly bringing the crowds flocking onto the field,
while competitions continued inside the Pavilion.
First on were the mixed choirs from a wide and varied range of countries. They
included the USA, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, England and Bosnia and Herzegovinia,
with the winner receiving £1,000.
After that the peace message was presented again by children from Ysgol Gynradd
Ceiriog, Froncysyllte Primary School, Ysgol Cynddelw Glyn Ceiriog, Ysgol
Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Pentre Controlled School, Ysgol Pontfadog and Weston
Rhyn Primary School.
Then came the Songs from the Shows.
Following that came the male choirs competition, again with a £1,000 first
prize.
The majority of the choirs were from Wales and England. One, the Mastersingers,
was from the USA and another was from Germany - the Harmonie Lindenholzhausen
who first came to the Eisteddfod in 1957 to foster a spirit of harmony after
World War II.
For the first time Saturday was designated a family day. There were clowns,
magic acts, Punch and Judy shows and face painting.
Saturday was previously regarded as a quiet day for the Eisteddfod, with crowds
tailing off.
But this year there was a vibrant buzz across the field as children enjoyed the
new attractions.
At 7.30pm the choir of the world concert got underway to crown this year's best
choir.
The victors in the three choral competitions, the male, chamber and mixed,
battled it out on centre stage to take the title of Choir of the World.
Since its introduction in 1987, the Choir of the World competition has become
established as the highlight of the competitive season.
The winner of the competition received the Premier International Trophy and
£3,000.
Although innovations to widen the appeal of the festival have paid dividends
inside the Pavilion, organisers know success outside the tent is dependent on
the weather.
This year they were not disappointed, with temperatures soaring into the mid
20s.
Throughout the week the events inside have been relayed to people outside the
Pavilion via speakers dotted around the Pavilion.
There is quiet confidence this year the Eisteddfod will make money, helping
secure the event's future.
But organisers will not know just how successful the festival has been until
figures are released later in the year.
Eisteddfod chairman Gethin Davies paid tribute to the army of volunteers - more
than 900 - who help at the festival.
He said: "While professional help has been recruited over recent years to ensure
the progress and continued success of the Eisteddfod, the vast majority of
Eisteddfod workers still give their services voluntarily, and I thank the many
helpers who give so generously of their time and talents."
Siān Thomas, one of the most well known voices in Wales, with a daily magazine
show on Radio Cymru, spoke of her delight at presenting her first Eisteddfod.
She whipped up Tuesday's children's matinee into a delightful frenzy within the
Pavilion. Smiling, she described the afternoon with hundreds of excited children
cheering along as a "baptism of fire."
"It is an absolutely wonderful event and I would love to come back and present
it again if they will invite me," she said.