Choirs quit Principality Stadium gig over ‘cheeky’ individual singer fees

Wales is the land of song, but there may be distinct lack of voices at a festival in the Principality Stadium next year, because choirs are being charged thousands of pounds to take part.

The event, billed as the The Land of Song Festival, will feature world-renowned Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli, but choirs are pulling out because of steep costs that include fees for individual singers.

Huw Watkins, who has performed in the Royal Albert Hall and at Wales rugby matches with Glynneath Male Voice Choir, said: “We couldn’t get over it – we’ve never paid anything before to participate.”

The event organisers, The Land of Song Festival and the Principality Stadium, have been asked to comment.

The festival next May is being marketed as “one of the world’s largest shared singing events”, with tenor Bocelli appearing on the Saturday, and up to 20,000 choristers appearing on the Sunday.

But choristers believe the event would be fortunate to get a fraction of those numbers, given the costs involved.

The festival’s own website outlines the costs, with each choir paying a “choir subscription” of £150.

Then each individual choir member has to pay an additional £42, which means some choirs having to pay thousands of pounds to attend.