A stunning night of live music in Wales: Classic FM Live in Cardiff 2015
We're in Cardiff for a star-studded evening of performances. And you can see all the highlights right here.
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1. The Wales Millennium Centre
The Wales Millennium Centre glowed in the sunshine on the day of Classic FM Live in Cardiff. Picture: Richard Johnson
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2. The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera arrives
Outside: the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera has arrived ahead of the evening's exciting performance. Picture: Richard Johnson
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3. The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera rehearses
The woodwind section play through their parts at the afternoon's rehearsal at the Wales Millennium Centre. Picture: Richard Johnson
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4. The string section
The string section of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera rehearses. Picture: Richard Johnson
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5. Harpists
The harpists of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera practise their parts. Picture: Richard Johnson
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6. Cello section
Meet the cellists of WNO… concentrating hard. Picture: Richard Johnson
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7. Deep in concentration
The Orchestra of WNO deep in concentration ahead of the evening's packed programme. Picture: Richard Johnson
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8. Look out for those accidentals!
Two members of the string section of the orchestra of WNO at the afternoon's rehearsal. Picture: Richard Johnson
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9. Grant Llewellyn conducts the orchestra in rehearsal
Conductor Grant Llewellyn at a dramatic moment in rehearsals. Picture: Richard Johnson
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10. Brass section
The tuba player of WNO's orchestra runs through his part, alongside his trombone playing colleagues. Picture: Richard Johnson
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11. Cue the violins
Under the atmospheric lighting of the Wales Millennium Centre, the violins play through some of the evening's stunning music. Picture: Richard Johnson
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12. Bass clarinet
A close-up of one of the less-familiar orchestral instruments – the bass clarinet. Picture: Richard Johnson
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13. Trombones
A close-up of the trombone section in rehearsal. Picture: Richard Johnson
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14. Violininists rehearse in Cardiff
The violins of the WNO rehearse against a striking red background. Picture: Richard Johnson
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15. Practising the tricky passages
The string section of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera goes over the tricky parts of tonight's thrilling programme. Picture: Richard Johnson
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16. The viola section
The viola section at this afternoon's rehearsal. Picture: Richard Johnson
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17. The French horns of Welsh National Opera
During the afternoon, we spotted the French horn section hard at work. Picture: Richard Johnson
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18. Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker
On the programme next: Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Picture: Richard Johnson
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19. Guess the piece…
Can you name the piece the French horn player is rehearsing here? Picture: Richard Johnson
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20. Gabriela Montero rehearses with Grant Llewellyn and the orchestra of WNO
One of this evening's star soloists, pianist Gabriela Montero, arrives for her rehearsal with the orchestra. Picture: Richard Johnson
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21. Gabriela Montero and Jane Jones backstage at Classic FM Live
In between rehearsals our very own Jane Jones caught up with pianist Gabriela Montero and spoke to her about performing the fiendish Grieg Piano Concerto. Picture: Richard Johnson
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22. Tenor Wynne Evans rehearses
One of the evening's star soloists, tenor Wynne Evans, is caught in the spotlight as he rehearses. Picture: Richard Johnson
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23. Gabriela Montero plays Grieg
A dramatic moment in rehearsals for Grieg's famous Piano Concerto. Picture: Richard Johnson
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24. Janes Jones and Yuanfan Yang chat backstage
Classic FM's Jane Jones met the young piano star Yuanfan Yang in a break in rehearsals at the Wales Millennium Centre. Picture: Richard Johnson
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25. Yuanfan Yang plays Liszt
The 18-year-old pianist Yuanfan Yang rehearses Liszts's La Campanella before his performance in front of a packed-out audience in Cardiff. Picture: Richard Johnson
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26. Wynne Evans Rehearses in Cardiff
Our photographer captures tenor Wynne Evans mid-song. Picture: Richard Johnson
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27. Jane Jones and Sir Karl Jenkins backstage in Cardiff
Presenter Jane Jones met the newly knighted Sir Karl Jenkins, who made a special guest appearance to conduct his Palladio during the evening. Picture: Richard Johnson
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28. Jane Jones meets Yuanfan Yang
Deep in conversation: Jane Jones finds out more about this evening's youngest performer, 18-year-old Yuanfan Yang. Picture: Richard Johnson
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29. Jane Jones and Wynne Evans backstage at Cardiff
Jane Jones spoke to tenor Wynne Evans ahead of his performance on stage in Cardiff. Picture: Richard Johnson
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30. The evening begins…
Classic FM's very own John Suchet opens Classic FM Live in Cardiff 2015! Picture: Richard Johnson
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31. Bernstein's The Magnificent Seven
The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera kick off an evening of great music with the theme from Bernstein's 'The Magnificent Seven'. Picture: Richard Johnson
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32. Grant Llewellyn takes a bow
The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera and its conductor Grant Llewellyn is greeted with a huge round of applause. Picture: Richard Johnson
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33. Now for some Tchaikovsky
Next on the programme: a change of mood courtesy of Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker'. Picture: Richard Johnson
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34. Yuanfan Yang performs Liszt in Cardiff
Next up: the evening's youngest performer, 18-year-old pianist Yuanfan Yang. Picture: Richard Johnson
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35. Yuanfan Yang wows the audience
A spellbound audience listens to Yuanfan Yang. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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36. Liszt's La Campanella
The brilliant young pianist performed Liszt's virtuosic piece 'La Campanella' Picture: Richard Johnson
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37. Yuanfan Yang takes a bow
The brilliant youngster takes a bow. Picture: Richard Johnson
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38. Yuanfan Yang Classic FM Live Cardiff 2015 Performance
Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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39. Yuanfan Yang enjoys the atmosphere in Cardiff
Yuanfan Yang soaks up the atmosphere of a packed Wales Millennium Centre. Picture: Richard Johnson
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40. Gabriela Montero and John Suchet on stage in Cardiff
John Suchet welcomes the second of the evening's soloists, pianist Gabriela Montero. Picture: Richard Johnson
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41. John Suchet welcomes Gabriela Montero to the stage
Gabriela Montero is one of today's greatest virtuoso pianists. Picture: Richard Johnson
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42. Gabriela Montero performs Grieg
The brilliant pianist launches into one of the hardest pieces in the repertoire – Grieg's Piano Concerto. Picture: Richard Johnson
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43. What an virtuoso opening!
Gabriela beams at the audience after a thrilling performance of the first movement of Grieg's Piano Concerto. Picture: Richard Johnson
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44. Some beautiful Grieg from Gabriela
Gabriela thrills the audience with a dramatic moment in Grieg's wonderful concerto. Picture: Richard Johnson
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45. Gabriela Montero moves the audience
Grieg knew how to mix things up – the second movement is one of the most heart-breakingly beautiful pieces of music ever written. Picture: Richard Johnson
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46. Gabriela Montero on stage at Classic FM Live
A beautiful stage flooded in blue light for Gabriela Montero's performance. Picture: Richard Johnson
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47. Gabriela Montero wows with Grieg
Performing the final movement of this epic piano concerto, Gabriela had the audience in the palm of her hands. Picture: Richard Johnson
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48. Gabriela Montero's amazing encore
And for the encore? The virtuoso pianist chose to improvise on… the theme from 'Coronation Street'. Picture: Richard Johnson
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49. All smiles
The pianist is greeted with enthusiastic applause following a barnstorming performance of Grieg's masterpiece… Picture: Richard Johnson
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50. A round of applause!
Not to mention her cheeky improvisation on 'Coronation Street'. Picture: Richard Johnson
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51. Thank you Gabriela!
A heartfelt thank you and goodbye from the audience at Classic FM Live in Cardiff. Picture: Richard Johnson
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52. Tenor Wynne Evans on stage
Tenor Wynne Evans thrilling the audience from the stage at teh Wales Millennium Centre. Picture: PA
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53. The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera
The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera performs some of the world's greatest music. Picture: PA
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54. The woodwind of WNO
A mid-performance view of the woodwind in the evening's orchestra. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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55. The orchestra in action
The string section of the orchestra soaring through some great Romantic repertoire. Picture: Katja Orgin/PA
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56. The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera on stage
A full-stage view of the orchestra. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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57. Grant Llewelyn conducts the orchestra
On a stage flooded with blue light, the WNO performs Debussy's L'apres-midi d'un faune. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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58. John Suchet on stage at Cardiff
The audience welcomes Classic FM presenter John Suchet back to the stage. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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59. Wynne Evans takes to the stage
The brilliant tenor performs music by Leoncavallo. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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60. The orchestra takes a bow!
The wonderful orchestra of Welsh National Opera takes a bow. Picture: Katja Ogrin
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61. Fiery playing from the cello section
Some fiery playing from the orchestra's cello section. Picture: Katja Ogrin/PA
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62. The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera performs
A thrilling moment from Marquez's Conga del Fuego. Picture: Richard Johnson
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63. Thrilling music in Cardiff
The orchestra of Welsh National Opera under striking lighting in Cardiff. Picture: Richard Johnson
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64. Karl Jenkins makes a surprise appearance
The wonderful Welsh composer made a surprise appearance to conduct his piece Palladio. Picture: PA
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65. Karl Jenkins at Classic FM Live Cardiff
The Welsh composer Karl Jenkins takes a bow at the Wales Millennium Centre. Picture: Richard Johnson
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66. Karl Jenkins and John Suchet on stage in Cardiff
Picture: Richard Johnson
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67. Fireworks!
The grand finale: Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, complete with fireworks! Picture: Richard Johnson
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68. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture – what a finale!
To bring the evening to a close, the orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's thrillin 1812 Overture. Picture: PA
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69. Goodbye Cardiff!
A last shot from the concert – and the orchestra is lit up by fireworks for the final few moments of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Picture: Richard Johnson
