23 November 2017
The S4C premiere performance of Sir Karl Jenkins and Dr Mererid Hopwood's choral work, Cantata Memoria: For the Children has been shortlisted for a prestigious Broadcast award.
The programme Aberfan: Cantata Memoria shown on S4C on 9 October 2016 has been nominated for an award in the Best Music Programme category. The production by Rondo Media, and the premiere performance at the Wales Millennium Centre, marked fifty years since the disaster in the Aberfan mining community which killed 116 children and 28 adults.
S4C's aim, as commissioners of the choral work, was to create a piece of work that would be a lasting tribute to the strength and dignity of that community.
"Being shortlisted for a Broadcast award is a very special honour and I'm so pleased that this important and unique production has been included in the list of nominations," said S4C's Creative Content Director, Amanda Rees, who was nominated for a Broadcast award for her Channel 4 documentary, Finding Mum and Dad in 2014.
"Congratulations to Sir Karl Jenkins and Dr Mererid Hopwood for their masterpiece, which is a fitting tribute to the community of Aberfan, and to the Rondo Media production team for bringing such a significant event to S4C screens.
"This project was close to the heart of former Chief Executive Ian Jones who supported the project right from its inception, and considered it one of the channel's greatest achievements during his time at the helm."
The Broadcast awards shortlists only the best productions, with leading broadcasters and online platforms such as Netflix competing for the top honours.
Shortlisted alongside Aberfan: Cantata Memoria in the Music category are; The BRIT Awards (BRITs TV / ITV), Four To The Floor (Lemonade Money / Channel 4), Glastonbury 2017 (BBC Music TV / BBC Two), Harry Styles - Behind the Alum (Fulwell 73 / Apple TV), The Rolling Stones - Ole Ole Ole - A Trip Across South America (Eagle Rock Entertainment / Channel 4).
The awards evening will be held in London on 7 February 2018.
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Notes to editors:
Sir Karl Jenkins and Mererid Hopwood were presented with the First Minister’s Special Award at the St David Awards in March 2017
Cantata Memoria: For the children was commissioned by Welsh language broadcaster S4C to mark 50 years since the Aberfan disaster.
The premiere performance was part of a memorial concert at Wales Millennium Centre on Saturday 8 October 2016.
Performing was bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, harpist Catrin Finch, euphonium soloist David Childs, violinist Joo Yeon Sir with Sinfonia Cymru. With choirs Côr Heol y March, Côr y Cwm, Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion, Côr Caerdydd, Côr CF1 and Cywair.
The premiere was broadcast on S4C on 9 October, produced by Rondo Media.
The work was released as an album by Deutsche Grammophon and was number one in the Official Classical Artist Album Chart.
Cantata Memoria was performed at New York's Carnegie Hall on 15 January 2017.
