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Scoop
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Pavarotti's Widow Pays Tribute To New Zealand Youth Choir
July 16, 2025 Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of Luciano Pavarotti and organisers of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales have paid tribute to the "outstanding" New Zealand Youth Choir. This follows their remarkable triumph as Choir of the World at the world-renowned festival. In a double celebration for New Zealand, the choir's director, David Squire, was also named Most Inspiring Conductor. David Squire was presented with the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy by Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of the legendary opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, the world's best-selling classical artist. Nicoletta Mantovani said: "On behalf of the Pavarotti Foundation, I was honoured to present the Pavarotti Trophy to the exceptional New Zealand Youth Choir, winners of Choir of the World at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Their talent and passion truly reflect Luciano's spirit - especially during this special year as Decca Classics celebrates 90 years since the birth of the great Maestro." Founded in 1947, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod promotes peace and friendship through music and dance. This year's event also honoured the memory of Luciano Pavarotti, who performed at the festival in 1955. In partnership with Decca Classics, his long-time record label, a 120-foot chalk mural of the Maestro on the hills overlooking Llangollen. It was commissioned with the approval of Nicoletta Mantovani and was unveiled near the iconic Llangollen Pavilion. Decca Classics has also announced a year-long celebration marking what would have been Pavarotti's 90th birthday. As part of the tribute, they have released 'The Lost Concert', an album featuring Pavarotti's historic 1995 performance at Llangollen. Chair of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, John Gambles, praised the choir, who also recently achieved success at the European Choir Games in Aarhus, Denmark. John said, "This choir should be a source of immense pride for everyone in New Zealand. Our audiences fell in love with their sound, spirit, and stage presence. They were not only musically exceptional but also outstanding ambassadors for their country. The Llangollen Eisteddfod upholds some of the highest musical standards of any choral competition in the world. For the New Zealand Youth Choir to win Choir of the World on the very stage where Luciano Pavarotti's international career began is a tremendous achievement. The crowd was captivated when the choir performed an impromptu haka before rushing to the stage to celebrate with their inspirational conductor, David Squire."
Leader Live
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
West End superstar Lucie Jones to perform at Eisteddfod
The eisteddfod's competitive schedule culminates each year with the Choir of the World final which includes the presentation of the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, named in honour of the Italian maestro who twice sang in Llangollen, in 1955 with his hometown choir from Modena, and again at a memorable solo concert in 1995. The trophy will be handed over by Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, with festival Chairman John Gambles and Artistic Director Dave Danford. Making a guest appearance on the big night will be multi award-winning leading lady Lucie Jones who has starred in a string of hit musicals over the past few years, playing roles such as Cosette in Les Misérables, Holly in The Wedding Singer, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Meat in We Will Rock You, Jenna in Waitress and Elphaba in Wicked. Lucie, from the village of Pentyrch near Cardiff, first rose to fame at the age of 18 in the sixth series of The X Factor and in 2017 represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite all this, she admits that although she's heard much about it and had a long-standing desire to perform there, this will be her first visit to the eisteddfod. She said: 'Rather weirdly, although I always aimed to come to the festival, I never actually had the opportunity to do so as a child. I've been to Llangollen and seen the pavilion, heard lots about the Llangollen Eisteddfod and know what a huge and exciting event it is. 'So I'm making my debut at the grand old age of 34 and I'm really excited. I'm really, really pleased that I jumped at the chance to come and sing at the festival. I know it's not in a competitive way anymore, but still, it's nice to be there. 'I was also thrilled to hear that Luciano Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, will also be there on the night and I can't wait to meet her, which will be a great honour for me.' Another reason Lucie says she wants to appear at the Choir of the World is that it provides a showcase for budding star performers – a thing that's very important to her as she showed when she opened her own Lucie Jones Academy in 2023 and which runs workshops and master classes for young theatre hopefuls given by her fellow West End stars. 'The academy is a big part of what I do as a performer and as an educator. It's very important to me that we live through this crazy time with positivity and make sure that the next generation who are coming up behind us are properly looked after,' she said. RELATED READING 'I firmly believe that they should be taught to handle the good, the bad and the ugly of life as a performer, which is why I started the academy. To be part of a day where people have learned things is really special to me.' Lucie wouldn't give away too much about the songs she'll be singing at Choir of the World but she promised: 'I'll be doing some musical theatre numbers from the shows I've been in and the audience won't be disappointed with what I've chosen. I promise to melt their hearts.' Dave Danford, artistic director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Lucie Jones to the eisteddfod stage for the first time. Her powerful voice and stage presence will bring an unforgettable energy to our Choir of the World final – a night already steeped in passion and prestige. "It's the perfect way to celebrate the talent of tomorrow and honour the legacy of Pavarotti.'
Leader Live
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Luciano Pavarotti's widow to visit Llangollen Eisteddfod
Nicoletta Mantovani will travel to North Wales this summer to present two major awards at the festival, marking 70 years since Pavarotti's first appearance at the event in 1955. Ms Mantovani said: "I am deeply honoured and excited to be coming to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod to make both these amazing prize presentations. "That is because this festival was the beginning of everything for Luciano and to mark both these anniversaries is very important." She will present the Pavarotti Trophy to the winner of the Choir of the World competition on Saturday, July 12, and the Pendine Trophy to the winner of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition on Sunday, July 13. Pavarotti first came to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1955 as a 19-year-old trainee teacher with his father, Fernando, to perform with the Chorus Rossini (which was from their home city of Modena, in Italy). (Image: Supplied) The choir won the overall competition, and, in the words of a spokesperson, "Pavarotti went home determined to make music his career and later said that winning at Llangollen was the spark that ignited his dream." He returned to Llangollen in 1995 as an international superstar, performing in a sell-out concert to mark the 40th anniversary of his life-changing win. Ms Mantovani, who founded the Pavarotti Foundation following her husband's death, said: "Coming to Llangollen will be very emotional for me because without his first appearance there in 1955 he told me his career would not have been possible." The Pavarotti Foundation arranges performances by young opera singers discovered or promoted by the foundation, and organises tribute concerts featuring opera stars such as José Carreras and Plácido Domingo. Ms Mantovani said the Llangollen International Eisteddfod's competitions align closely with Pavarotti's own ambitions. She said: "Luciano had two dreams. "The first was to bring opera to everyone and the second was to bring new people into the world of opera who could become the singers of the future, which both of these Eisteddfod competitions fulfil." John Gambles, chair of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: "Luciano's legacy has long been intertwined with Llangollen, and to honour that connection while celebrating his remarkable life and milestones is a genuine privilege for us all." The Pendine International Voice of the Future competition will take place during the festival's closing concert on Sunday, July 13. During the closing concert, Sir Bryn Terfel will perform songs from his latest album, Sea Songs, alongside folk group Fisherman's Friends. Mario Kreft MBE, who is co-owner of Pendine Park with his wife Gill, and who will present the Pendine Trophy alongside his wife, Sir Bryn, and Ms Mantovani, recalled Pavarotti's 1995 performance. He said: "Gill and I were privileged to be on the Maes outside the pavilion watching on a big screen for Pavarotti's brilliant performance in 1995, when he even performed a couple of arias outside." The Llangollen International Eisteddfod starts on Tuesday, July 8, and more details are available at
