:00:13. > :00:20.Hello. My name's Wynne Evans. I'm an opera singer and I'm also the
:00:20. > :00:24.man with a tache that's on your TV every five minutes. If I'm totally
:00:25. > :00:29.honest with you I'm feeling a bit nervous. I've arrived somewhere I
:00:29. > :00:33.should know a lot about, but I don't. I'm like a fish out of water.
:00:33. > :00:38.Even more worryingly, I'm giving a concert here in two days' time and
:00:38. > :00:43.I have no real idea what this thing is about. This thing, by the way,
:00:43. > :00:53.is Europe's biggest cultural festival. The National Eisteddfod
:00:53. > :01:00.
:01:00. > :01:04.Every year the National Eisteddfod of Wales moves location. From north
:01:04. > :01:10.to south. I brought my family. We've rented a house and we've come
:01:10. > :01:16.here, to Wrexham. Bye! Bye! It's been described as the capital of
:01:16. > :01:21.North Wales, and yet it is only a stone's throw from Cheshire and the
:01:21. > :01:28.English border. Over the week I will be amongst 160 ,000 people to
:01:28. > :01:32.descend upon Wrexham. And that's where we are heading. So, I guess I
:01:32. > :01:40.fit the Welsh stereotype. I've certainly got the build. And I even
:01:40. > :01:45.cry when Wales win at rugby. That's before a beer! When I tell people
:01:45. > :01:52.that I'm a Welsh tenor they usually ask two questions. The first is, do
:01:52. > :01:57.you know the aria from the opera from the World Cup 1990? I do. The
:01:58. > :02:03.second, did you ever sing at the Eisteddfod? To which very to answer
:02:03. > :02:06.no. I've got a strong Welsh accents but I don't speak the language. As
:02:06. > :02:12.this is a festival celebrating the Welsh language and its culture I
:02:12. > :02:17.thought I would never really fit into the Eisteddfod scene. I took a
:02:17. > :02:21.different route, through amateur dramatics and then to the Guildhall
:02:21. > :02:26.School of Music and Drama. But the Eisteddfod has provided a valuable
:02:26. > :02:31.training ground to so many prominent Welsh artists. World-
:02:31. > :02:39.renowned Welsh harpist Katherine Finch has performed at many a we
:02:39. > :02:43.shall national, as has my old friend Bryn Terfel and the girl who
:02:43. > :02:50.became everyone's favourite Maria in the competition, Connie Fisher.
:02:50. > :02:55.So, I'm in. Here at the Nat, and I'm being thrown in at the deep end.
:02:55. > :02:58.It is sink or swim time. I'm doing a concert on that pink Pavilion on
:02:58. > :03:02.Tuesday night. Seeing as I was here, I thought I would take a week to
:03:02. > :03:08.have a look, to see what goes on at the National Eisteddfod. Wish me
:03:08. > :03:12.luck. It feels like the whole of Wales has turned up! My first
:03:12. > :03:16.impression - it's a great social event. And this is where it all
:03:16. > :03:22.happens, this is the heartbeat of the National Eisteddfod. The Field,
:03:22. > :03:28.or as they like to call it round here - this is the Maes. So, as it
:03:28. > :03:33.is my first time on the Maes I'm going to take in the atmosphere.
:03:34. > :03:38.The lovely thing about Wales, it is a small country. And most people
:03:38. > :03:43.seem to know each other. A lot of people come here just for that.
:03:43. > :03:49.Socialising and catching up with old friends. So, it's a strange
:03:49. > :03:54.cross between a massive arts festival and a village fair.
:03:54. > :04:04.SPEAKING IN WELSH Oh yeah, and everyone here thinks I
:04:04. > :04:11.
:04:11. > :04:17.speak Welsh. Apart from the old odd phrase, I don't really.
:04:17. > :04:21.Diolch. Not a clue! If you fancy the culture, you have to make your
:04:21. > :04:26.way to the big pint tent. We are here at one of the highlights of
:04:26. > :04:30.the Eisteddfod, the Crowning ceremony. It is a closely guarded
:04:30. > :04:35.secret who has won the crown. The rumours running round the field is
:04:35. > :04:39.that even I might have won it! I've got my translation gear. Let's see
:04:39. > :04:43.if they do award a winner this year. This is what it is all about - the
:04:43. > :04:50.crown. This is awarded for a poem. Anyone with enter the competition,
:04:50. > :04:55.so I'm in moaningst it and poised with my lip mic. The druid in their
:04:56. > :04:59.robes prepare for the certainlynie. It might seem odd but it is
:04:59. > :05:06.strangely wonderful at the same time. The ceremony has now started
:05:06. > :05:11.and the arrival of the hierarchy of the druids are processing in. It is
:05:11. > :05:16.really like a theatrical show. All the pomp and circumstances you
:05:16. > :05:26.would expect from a big production I guess.
:05:26. > :05:27.
:05:27. > :05:33.APPLAUSE This competition is for free verse.
:05:33. > :05:37.This year the subject matter was veins. So one of the adjudicator
:05:37. > :05:44.has just come up on stage. I don't know how long it will be before we
:05:44. > :05:49.find out who the winner is. He's just announced who the winner
:05:49. > :05:53.is but nobody knows who the winner, is because think enter under an
:05:53. > :05:58.ailias. And he's given such a brutal adjudication. This guy
:05:58. > :06:02.leaves Simon Cowell in the dust really. Everybody is looking round
:06:02. > :06:06.to see where this person is, where they are going to stand up. I want
:06:06. > :06:12.to stand up who it is but people might think it's me.
:06:12. > :06:21.APPLAUSE The druids now are going off the
:06:21. > :06:27.stage to collect the winner. CHEERING
:06:27. > :06:37.It is brilliant. I've got shivers down my spine, and real goose
:06:37. > :06:37.
:06:37. > :06:47.pimples. Geraint Lloyd Owen.
:06:47. > :06:48.
:06:48. > :06:55.The winner of the crown 2011. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:06:55. > :07:00.This is where the party starts, I guess. It's like being a real
:07:00. > :07:05.famous film star. The red carpet is down. Here's the winner of the
:07:05. > :07:12.crown, I did a little bow then I got so carried away with the whole
:07:12. > :07:15.event. I thought I was going to be a bit bored, but actually it was
:07:15. > :07:20.brilliant. It was really, really exciting. So there we are, Crowning
:07:20. > :07:30.ceremony is done. And this year is a special year for the Eisteddfod.
:07:30. > :07:31.
:07:31. > :07:41.Let me explain in song. THEY SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN WELSH
:07:41. > :07:50.
:07:50. > :07:55.Yes, it is happy birthday, but in Happy birthday to the modern
:07:55. > :07:59.Eisteddfod. 150 years old this year. But that first Eisteddfod in
:07:59. > :08:03.Aberdare was not without incidents, because the wind blew and the tent
:08:03. > :08:09.fell down. But in true Welsh spirit the show must go on. They moved all
:08:09. > :08:14.the competitions to the market hall. I'll just go and check I put those
:08:14. > :08:18.tent pegs in properly. The tent is still standing, so I can't put it
:08:19. > :08:23.off any longer. I've got to rehearse for tonight's gala concert.
:08:23. > :08:26.So I'm off to a local college in Wrexham town centre. We've got to
:08:27. > :08:32.Tuesday and my big day in the Eisteddfod has come. My concert in
:08:32. > :08:36.front of all the people in the Pavilion. I'm a little bit nervous,
:08:36. > :08:42.because before the Eisteddfod concert you have to learn all your
:08:42. > :08:46.repertoire in Welsh. So all those Italian arias out the window and in
:08:46. > :08:52.comes the Welsh. The thing that makes me most nervous from links,
:08:52. > :09:00.the talking to the audience. I hope nobody will rumble me. I think it's
:09:00. > :09:10.my turn next. It is alright. Keep calm. It might
:09:10. > :09:14.
:09:14. > :09:19.look a bit messy now but that's So, after a very brief run through,
:09:19. > :09:23.before I know it, it's show time. That means time for me to take long
:09:23. > :09:33.walk to the front of the stage and a packed Pavilion hanging on my
:09:33. > :09:33.
:09:33. > :10:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:10:31. > :10:38.Phew! That was OK. But also on the bill with me was someone who sings
:10:38. > :10:48.in Welsh every day, and a favourite with the crowd. Soprano Shan Cothi,
:10:48. > :10:48.
:10:48. > :11:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:11:45. > :11:49.singing Welsh lyrics to a familiar Well, it's the morning after the
:11:49. > :11:52.night before. Last night I was on stage, an environment I'm
:11:53. > :11:59.completely comfortable in. Next year though I'm judging the main
:11:59. > :12:02.singing competition here. Every judge wear as badge that says
:12:03. > :12:07.Beirniad. For the first three days of this year I thought all the
:12:07. > :12:12.judges were called Bernard! You are judging the musical theatre
:12:12. > :12:17.competition. Give me a few pointers how I go about it next year. There
:12:17. > :12:24.are a lot of people competing. Wait for somebody to sock it for you.
:12:24. > :12:29.You have to be transported out of the ridiculous pink tent. Use that
:12:29. > :12:36.as your benchmark. Disgruntled mothers. After I'm walking round
:12:36. > :12:40.the Maes after making their child cry, how do I avoid them? You give
:12:40. > :12:46.your result and get a taxi. going to be an unofficial judge
:12:47. > :12:52.this year to see if I can get my ear into it. Let's see in we can
:12:52. > :13:02.come to the same decision. I've got my Bernard badge and I'm in the
:13:02. > :13:07.
:13:07. > :13:17.palatial BBC booth to view the This is very sweet, her voice. I
:13:17. > :13:25.
:13:25. > :13:31.It is interesting watching this, because I know what it is like to
:13:31. > :13:41.sing on that stage now. It is quite dry out there. Air conditioning can
:13:41. > :14:03.
:14:03. > :14:13.I see a very good performance, vocally very adept. But I'm not
:14:13. > :14:23.
:14:23. > :14:33.Well, I've watched all three now, and my winner would be the first
:14:33. > :14:38.
:14:38. > :14:42.person on, which was Meiriod. And the judges agreed. Casi in the
:14:42. > :14:46.middle was second and Hannah on the right was third. Well done to all
:14:46. > :14:52.of them. Mums, remember, I wasn't an official Bernard this year, so
:14:52. > :14:58.nothing to do with me. Taxi for every ans!
:14:58. > :15:03.-- Evans. If you did take a taxi it wouldn't take long to find evidence
:15:03. > :15:13.of heavy industry. The coal mines and iron works gave birth to a
:15:13. > :15:17.
:15:17. > :15:27.One legacy of the past our buildings like this, the mining
:15:27. > :15:28.
:15:28. > :15:35.museum. There is bound to be a male voice choir somewhere. I hate to
:15:35. > :15:40.interrupt just as you're getting to your big moment. To rector of the
:15:40. > :15:48.Welsh Proms, international conductor, this song you're singing,
:15:48. > :15:56.if anyone knows about it, it should be you. Yes, my father wrote it. He
:15:56. > :16:04.wrote the piece on a journey by train from here to Cardiff. He
:16:04. > :16:08.actually wrote it as the finale for a programme. And specifically it
:16:08. > :16:13.has an hour men at the end and it has become the standard for
:16:13. > :16:21.everyone to copy that. If it goes wrong on stage I have been told
:16:21. > :16:31.that that can solve anything! would be delighted if you would
:16:31. > :16:31.
:16:31. > :18:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:18:02. > :18:11.Lloyd George knew my father... They did not so much no bitter other,
:18:11. > :18:15.being in different ages and that. In 1912 he went the festival was in
:18:15. > :18:20.Wrexham, it was the height of the suffragette movement. Lloyd George
:18:20. > :18:26.visited to give a speech in the pavilion. A local newspaper said
:18:26. > :18:31.the moment the Chancellor opened his mouth, one of those bandits in
:18:31. > :18:37.petticoat would scream and inane message and three or four police
:18:37. > :18:44.officers would rush to get them. One which when been taken off in
:18:44. > :18:48.the arms of a police man, turned to launch a charge pulling the most
:18:48. > :18:56.diabolical faces I ever saw. I think things have changed since
:18:56. > :19:00.then it! They let anyone in now, even me, a dodgy Welsh learner from
:19:00. > :19:06.the heart of Welsh-speaking Carmarthenshire. The time has come
:19:06. > :19:09.to bite the bullet. My children are fluent Welsh speakers. I have been
:19:09. > :19:16.on endless courses but had never made that final week to speak the
:19:16. > :19:19.language. Apparently the secret lies in it and hula Hoop? If you're
:19:19. > :19:29.concentrating on that then the language it seeps in without you
:19:29. > :19:30.
:19:30. > :19:40.noticing. Are you ready? This looks like it is going to be real hard
:19:40. > :19:58.
:19:58. > :20:08.A bad workman always blames his tools! There's something wrong with
:20:08. > :20:27.
:20:27. > :20:32.the hoop. Let's pretend I'm doing How come she can do it?! Having Fun
:20:33. > :20:42.whilst learning Welsh. I think a still have a little way to go but
:20:43. > :20:43.
:20:43. > :20:48.for the fitness video, I'm there! The shadows are lengthening and
:20:48. > :20:53.people are leaving for the day. But some do not have that far to go. As
:20:53. > :21:02.with everything else here I have found myself in yet another field,
:21:02. > :21:06.this time in Jeremy Clarkson's nightmare. People put -- book they
:21:06. > :21:15.pitched up to a year in advance for the caravan park so they can be
:21:15. > :21:24.next to friends and family. Would you like a sausage? I would love
:21:24. > :21:32.one. Where do they come from? shop. The shop on the campsite? Do
:21:32. > :21:37.you shop there every day and barbecue every night? We do.
:21:37. > :21:41.you same time tomorrow. And to prove that everyone in Wales does
:21:41. > :21:48.know each other, I have met up with my cousin, who comes here every
:21:48. > :21:58.year. You get to know everyone else and you meet friends that you only
:21:58. > :22:01.
:22:01. > :22:07.see at the Eisteddfod. It is great. And the atmosphere is fantastic.
:22:07. > :22:12.I'm asking you to think carefully before you answer this question. If
:22:12. > :22:18.you had to pick a highlight of the Eisteddfod this year so far, what
:22:18. > :22:24.would it be? That gala concert. wonder if there was in that concert
:22:24. > :22:34.last night?! Well we have more than two people here so in true Welsh
:22:34. > :22:42.
:22:42. > :22:52.style, that calls for a sing-song. What are we going to have?
:22:52. > :23:02.
:23:02. > :23:12.As I said, I have got my family with me for the week so if the kids
:23:12. > :23:15.
:23:15. > :23:20.are happy, we are happy. Could you do me a favour of? Could you send
:23:21. > :23:27.me those pants when the Eisteddfod has finished? One thing we are
:23:27. > :23:33.proud of in Wales is that we make doctor whom here. I think it is
:23:34. > :23:39.obvious who the next assistant should be.
:23:39. > :23:46.The Time Lord has dropped me in a strange place. DJ Bethan Albin,
:23:46. > :23:53.where are we? Welcome to the wild underbelly of the Eisteddfod. This
:23:53. > :23:57.is the place for camping for anyone over the age of 16. Generally
:23:57. > :24:03.apparent free zone. So it can be wild at times. What are you doing
:24:03. > :24:10.here? I have come down as a DJ for some of the gigs. There are all
:24:10. > :24:15.kinds of things going on, lots of people hanging about with their
:24:15. > :24:25.friends just chilling, it is a different atmosphere to the rest of
:24:25. > :24:33.
:24:33. > :24:40.the Eisteddfod. This is a little campfire session.
:24:40. > :24:50.It is getting so much attention across the UK with the radio. I
:24:50. > :24:50.
:24:50. > :25:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:25:36. > :25:42.That was fantastic. Even if I do feel about 120! For the young
:25:42. > :25:46.people who make it into the pink Pavilion, they can be assured of
:25:46. > :25:52.some world-class competitions. This is the brass band competition,
:25:52. > :26:02.which is of a really good standard. Third place went to the local band
:26:02. > :26:08.
:26:08. > :26:18.from Wrexham. Same shirt, a different tune. This
:26:18. > :26:34.
:26:34. > :26:44.band are from Cardiff and they came Totally different shirt, totally
:26:44. > :26:44.
:26:44. > :27:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds
:27:25. > :27:29.different tune. This is the band This is a festival with something
:27:29. > :27:34.for everyone, from babies through to great grand parents. And this
:27:34. > :27:39.week they made me feel like I'm part of that family. My one regret
:27:39. > :27:44.is that I did not do this 20 years ago. The highlight of my week had