Internationally renowned composer and pianist Javier Rodriguez has agreed to bring his 2024 ‘Unique Moments’ tour to St Mary’s Church in Tenby, and will be joined by local poet Nicky Lloyd.
After a chance meeting with Tenby poet Nicky in Cardiff back in July 2023 and a sharing of each other’s current work, Javier invited Nicky to perform at the UK premiere of his ‘Unique Moments’ concert in, coincidentally, St. Mary’s Church in Putney, London where Nicky recited his poems to a hauntingly beautiful piano and cello music score written by Javier.
A dynamic performer and adventurous composer, Javier has graced the biggest stages in Europe, created a number of groundbreaking film scores, and left a personal mark on the modern music world.
Born in Spain, Javier studied with legendary pianist Rafael Orozco before embarking on a career that would take him around the world. He spent several years as an in demand composer for both ballet and cinema, while also becoming a highly sought after educator.
In 2014, he was appointed Music Director of The World Ballet, and went on to become nominated for two Tony Awards and a Spirit Independent Cinema Award.
He has collaborated with some of the most accomplished musicians in the world, including - Ravi Shankar, Sura Susso, Yaroldi Abreu, Jansen Santana, Mutsumi Abe, Helio Delmiro, and Modou Toure.
After the event in London Javier insisted that he and Nicky must plan to go into the recording studio in 2024 to record a series of spoken words and music tracks to be released later in the year.
In the meantime Nicky invited Javier to bring his tour to the centre of Tenby after sending Javier pictures of his beloved seaside town, with its stunning town centre church.
Javier was convinced, and furthermore insisted that half of the concert would be set aside for many of Nicky’s poems to be recited to his brand new musical accompaniment.
So, with this in mind, Nicky suggested to Javier doing a piece, something dear to his heart, about the many, many Tenby people that Nicky feels blessed to have known but who sadly are now no longer with us and this will be followed by musical accompaniment to his poems about Tenby.
An excited Nicky said: “I truly cannot believe that this wonderful composer and musician is bringing his breath-taking talent to our beloved town of Tenby and will be writing and playing music scores to my words. I am truly humbled!”
This ‘Unique Moments’ concert will be made all the more immersive and, ultimately, unforgettable, for those lucky enough to purchase tickets before they are all gone, as Nicky has asked two of Tenby’s finest photographers to share, during the performances, incredible images of Tenby by David Bolton, and stunning portrait photography of those that have ‘Gone Ahead’ by Alan Crockford.
“All I ask, is that our beautiful town of Tenby and all the wonderful people herein take this opportunity to pay the utmost respect to World famous composer and musician Javier Rodriguez and also take this, once in a lifetime opportunity, to remember the countless beautiful Tenby souls, all of whom you will know in some capacity, in an uplifting, poignant, poetic and musically powerful way,” added Nicky.
The concert will take place on the evening of Thursday, April 18, at 7.30 pm.