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27-30 August 2010

The Faenol Festival did not take place in 2009 due to financial problems, but its return was confirmed for 2010.

Held in the Faenol estate in Gwynedd, the Faenol festival is a celebration of music from Wales' own opera superstar, Bryn Terfel.

Since the first festival in 2000 major guest stars from the worlds of classical and popular music have included Boyzone, José Carreras, Renée Fleming, Andrea Bocelli, Lesley Garrett, Angela Gheorghiu, Michael Ball, Jamie Cullum, Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Martine McCutcheon, Claire Sweeney, Hayley Westernra and Chloe Hanslip.

But despite having a good track record of top-billing names and a great location, the event finds itself in financial trouble in 2008 and the 2009 festival was cancelled in the following June.

Bryn Terfel and the Faenol Trust have reached an agreement with major promoters which should guarantee the festival for three years from 2010, with an option on the following two years, but this did not arrive in time to save the 2009 event.

The festival has grown into a four-concert event, held over the August bank holiday weekend. The format is normally a big-name pop band on the first night, an opera gala on the second, highlights from the musical theatre world on the third and Tan Y Ddraig ('the dragon's fire'), a Welsh language-orientated night celebrating the domestic music scene.