For a fuller history see The Eisteddfod Archive – Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Archive
The idea of an international music festival organised as a competition along the lines of the traditional Welsh Eisteddfod emerged in 1943 from the visit of representatives of the Allied governments in exile to the National Eisteddfod in Bangor. British Council representative Harold Tudor worked on the idea, finally bringing a proposal in April 1946 to the Llangollen Urban District Council for an International Eisteddfod in Llangollen in the summer of 1947. The idea was that stimulating the growth of relationships between ordinary people would lead to better international relations: it was too important, the founders said, to be left to politicians.
The 1947 International Eisteddfod was an unqualified success: groups from 7 foreign countries braved the journey to Llangollen, joining choirs from England, Scotland and Wales: in total 33 choirs performed (27 Adult and 6 Children). It was all great fun. Plaudits rang down on the organisers, the founders, and the competitors. The BBC made radio broadcasts, and 200 journalists from around the world reported the event.
The next few years saw many more countries participating: by 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II visited the Eisteddfod as part of her post-coronation tour of Wales, singers and dancers of 30 nationalities had competed in Llangollen. A truly international festival had been created, organised and run by volunteers. As part of the Festival of Britain in 1951, the Eisteddfod became a British institution, transcending its Welsh origins.
Llangollen’s place in world music is now immutable. More than 400,000 competitors from over 140 nationalities and some 200 cultures have performed enthusiastically on the Llangollen stage.
In 2004 it was nominated by Sir Terry Waite for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1955 a young Luciano Pavarotti sang with Corale Rossini from his home town of Modena, conducted by his father. The choir won first prize in the male voice choir competition. Pavarotti returned for a spectacular concert in 1995.
While the main focus of the Eisteddfod is its international competitions, mnay of the world greatest musicians, singers and dancers have performed in its concerts: Joan Baez, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Margot Fonteyn, Alicia Markova, Mirislav Rostropovic, Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, Angela Georghiu, Kiri Te Kanawa, Yehudi Menuhin, Montserrat Caballé, Lulu and Michael Ball are among the musical stars who have appeared in our concerts.
Placido Domingo confesses that his first professional engagement in the United Kingdom was at the 1968 International Eisteddfod.
