The historic Llandaff Cathedral will provide the stunning backdrop to candlelit performances celebrating the music of ABBA and Queen this spring. The series of unique concerts will be taking place across Cardiff with Fleetwood Mac, Hans Zimmer and Ludivico Einaudi also among the music icons being paid tribute to.
The live concerts, which have been held in over 100 countries across the world, see professional pianists, string quartets, brass bands and vocalists perform stunning renditions of some of the most famous songs in history, with the ensemble picked specially to suit the style of music being played.
The performances tend to take place in spectacular locations, with the venues illuminated by thousands of candles to create a serene, magical atmosphere to enjoy the music in. As well as Llandaff Cathedral, the Temple of Peace and Cardiff City Hall have also been chosen as the settings for some of the upcoming concerts in the capital.
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A programme of eight different concerts are set to be held in the city during April and May, with a range of musical genres being performed. As well as iconic bands such as ABBA, Queen and Fleetwood Mac, fans of classical music can enjoy a special concert dedicated to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Meanwhile, more modern artists including Coldplay and Taylor Swift, are also celebrated. Get the latest What's On news and events sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter.
The series kicks off in Cardiff on April 14 with an hour-long performance of the music of Coldplay at the Temple of Peace. A string quartet will be performing the multi-Grammy-award-winning band's biggest hits, including 'Clocks', 'Fix You' and 'Viva La Vida'.
A double-double bill of ABBA and Queen on April 29 and May 27 will have hits including 'Mamma Mia', 'Lay All Your Love on Me' and 'We Will Rock You' ringing around a glowing Llandaff Cathedral, while Taylor Swift has also been made the subject of two concerts at the Temple of Peace.
The one-of-a-kind immersive experience is presented by live entertainment platform Fever, with the aim of opening up access to music and involving local musicians and stunning buildings in performances. The Candlelight concerts launched in 2019 and have since been held in churches, libraries and other incredible venues across the world, with everything from jazz to pop to movie soundtracks on offer.
The concerts debuted in Cardiff last year, with Coldplay, Queen, Taylor Swift, Vivaldi and Hans Zimmer again being celebrated, while a Christmas special saw the music of classic festive films including Love Actually and Home Alone being performed. Tickets are now on sale for the latest series of performances, with prices starting at just £15 for most. The Queen and ABBA concerts at Llandaff Cathedral are available from £25, with prices rising to £40 for premium seating.
Those attending must be over the age of eight, while those under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You can buy your tickets here, while the full list of concert dates and start times is below.
Candlelight concerts in Cardiff in 2023
A Tribute to Coldplay - Temple of Peace - Friday, April 14 (6.30pm, 8.30pm)
Hans Zimmer's Best Works - Llandaff Cathedral - Saturday, April 15 (7pm, 9pm)
A Tribute to Taylor Swift - Temple of Peace - Friday, April 21 (6.30pm, 8.30pm) & Friday, May 12 (9pm)
A Tribute to ABBA - Llandaff Cathedral - Saturday, April 29 & Saturday, May 27 (both 7pm)
A Tribute to Queen - Llandaff Cathedral - Saturday, April 29 & Saturday, May 27 (both 9pm)
A Tribute to Ludovico Einaudi - Cardiff City Hall - May 6 (6pm)
A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac - Cardiff City Hall - May 6 (8.30pm)
Special Edition: Vivaldi's Four Seasons - Temple of Peace - Friday, May 12 (7pm)
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