Con Passionate
Encyclopedia
Con Passionate is a Welsh language television drama series, written by Siwan Jones and directed by Rhys Powys for S4C
. The first two series were Teledu Apollo productions.
), taking the conducting
role of the male voice choir, "Côr Meibion Gwili". The ghost of the previous male conductor, Walford, continuously haunts choir member Brian throughout series one and the final episode of series two.
, provided by Cardiff-based Dinamo Productions. The second series was repeated on S4C Digidol in the summer of 2007 and ran until the end of July. The first and second series were shown on S4C Digidol in the summer of 2008. Many people compare the series with other S4C dramas and describe it as being "a breath of fresh air in Welsh media". This set the standard for future S4C Welsh dramas such as Cowbois ac Injans
. The third and last series of 'Con Passionate' aired between October and December 2008.
Davina Roberts is the main character of the drama, and she is the conductor of the male voice choir as well as a soprano
from Carmarthenshire
. She is dedicated to her role as the conductor and works hard with her music. She is a talented musician and enjoys getting passionate and into the spirit of a piece of music, although sometimes she feels that the boys at Cwmgwili can't keep up with her high standards.
Pete is one of the basses of the choir and has the chance to meet and get to know his long lost son, Simon. Because Pete has been living on his own for years and years, his girl friend, Dwynwen moving in with him at the end of the first series, doesn't always make him happy.
Glyn is a tenor
in the choir but also received the role of the "honourable secretary of the choir" (ysgrifennydd anrhydeddus y côr). His wife, Glesni, accuses him of being obsessed with the choir, and with numerous trips on the agenda he has little time for anything else. As a result of this, his wife goes to live with the caretaker, Maldwyn, and Glyn then refuses to talk to her.
Ian is another one of the second tenor
s in the choir. He has a failing marriage with Helen, and comes to the end of his tether when he discovers that she has been having an affair with Tony, and sends blood mail to Davina accusing Helen. Helen then discovers this and uses it as a weapon
in order to black mail him.
Andy, another bass, wants to become a professional singer "like Bryn Terfel
", and gets an application form for the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Despite his many efforts to escape his job as a solicitor
he fails until the second series when he decides to become an interior designer.
Eurof is also a second tenor
, who despite his bardic talents, hasn't always had an easy life. His worst enemy, Siân Eleri, is one of his colleagues in his job as a Welsh teacher. But with Siân Eleri in an asylum
getting over her drinking problems, things start to look up for him for a while.
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
. The first two series were Teledu Apollo productions.
Plot
The main plot of the series revolves around the consequences of a female singer, Davina Roberts (Shân CothiShân Cothi
Shân Cothi is a Welsh classical singer, presenter and actress. She was born and raised the daughter of a blacksmith in the tiny village of Ffarmers inCarmarthenshire. She graduated in Music and Drama from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth...
), taking the conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
role of the male voice choir, "Côr Meibion Gwili". The ghost of the previous male conductor, Walford, continuously haunts choir member Brian throughout series one and the final episode of series two.
History
The first series began on 2 January 2005 and continued every Sunday night at 9:00pm and was repeated on Tuesday nights with English subtitles, and had an eight week run. The ratings broke S4C's records for that year and due to its success it was then repeated in the autumn of that year every Saturday night at approx. 9:30pm with English subtitles. The second series began on 2 March 2006 and also ran for eight weeks. This was also a success and the show was given a higher budget which meant they could use CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
, provided by Cardiff-based Dinamo Productions. The second series was repeated on S4C Digidol in the summer of 2007 and ran until the end of July. The first and second series were shown on S4C Digidol in the summer of 2008. Many people compare the series with other S4C dramas and describe it as being "a breath of fresh air in Welsh media". This set the standard for future S4C Welsh dramas such as Cowbois ac Injans
Cowbois ac Injans
Cowbois ac Injans is a Welsh language television drama written by brother and sister Jon and Catherine Tregenna for S4C...
. The third and last series of 'Con Passionate' aired between October and December 2008.
Characters
- Alun ap Brinley: Ian
- Toni Caroll: Glesni
- Shân CothiShân CothiShân Cothi is a Welsh classical singer, presenter and actress. She was born and raised the daughter of a blacksmith in the tiny village of Ffarmers inCarmarthenshire. She graduated in Music and Drama from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth...
: Davina - Ifan Huw Dafydd: Pete
- Matthew Graville: Eurof
- Rebecca Harries: Siân Eleri
- Morgan Hopkins: Maldwyn
- Mark Lewis JonesMark Lewis JonesMark Lewis Jones is a Welsh actor, whose roles include that of a police inspector in BBC drama series, 55 Degrees North, a whaler in the movie, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Tecton, a soldier in Troy....
: Irfon - Sara McGaughey: Louise
- Siwan MorrisSiwan MorrisSiwan Morris is a Welsh actress.After an education in South Wales, she graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University....
: Llinos - Steffan RhodriSteffan RhodriSteffan Rhodri is a Welsh film actor, best known for portraying Dave Coaches on Gavin & Stacey and as Reg Cattermole on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I and II.-Film work:* Ironclad...
: Andy - Huw Rhys: Craig
- Beth Robert: Judith
- Eiry Thomas: Helen
- William ThomasWilliam Thomas (actor)William Thomas is a Welsh actor, who has appeared in many TV episodes and films. He made his first appearance on TV in 1974, and his work, as an actor, is still ongoing...
: Glyn - Rhianydd Wynne: Eirlys
- Nia Ann Davies: Gwenllian
- Sara Lloyd Gregory: Ellen Wynne
- Sion Ifan: Martin
Davina Roberts is the main character of the drama, and she is the conductor of the male voice choir as well as a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
from Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. She is dedicated to her role as the conductor and works hard with her music. She is a talented musician and enjoys getting passionate and into the spirit of a piece of music, although sometimes she feels that the boys at Cwmgwili can't keep up with her high standards.
Pete is one of the basses of the choir and has the chance to meet and get to know his long lost son, Simon. Because Pete has been living on his own for years and years, his girl friend, Dwynwen moving in with him at the end of the first series, doesn't always make him happy.
Glyn is a tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
in the choir but also received the role of the "honourable secretary of the choir" (ysgrifennydd anrhydeddus y côr). His wife, Glesni, accuses him of being obsessed with the choir, and with numerous trips on the agenda he has little time for anything else. As a result of this, his wife goes to live with the caretaker, Maldwyn, and Glyn then refuses to talk to her.
Ian is another one of the second tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
s in the choir. He has a failing marriage with Helen, and comes to the end of his tether when he discovers that she has been having an affair with Tony, and sends blood mail to Davina accusing Helen. Helen then discovers this and uses it as a weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
in order to black mail him.
Andy, another bass, wants to become a professional singer "like Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner....
", and gets an application form for the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Despite his many efforts to escape his job as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
he fails until the second series when he decides to become an interior designer.
Eurof is also a second tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, who despite his bardic talents, hasn't always had an easy life. His worst enemy, Siân Eleri, is one of his colleagues in his job as a Welsh teacher. But with Siân Eleri in an asylum
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
getting over her drinking problems, things start to look up for him for a while.
Awards
- Con Passionate won the award for the best drama at the Celtic Film and Television Festival Awards and the judges were "singing its praise".
- Con Passionate won the prize for best soap/light drama at the 2007 Rose d'OrRose d'OrThe Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
awards. - Wendy Richards, one of the editors, won the award for best editor at Bafta CymruBAFTA CymruBAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
. - The series has been nominated as Best Drama Series at the 2009 Bafta CymruBAFTA CymruBAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
awards, including Siwan Jiones as Best Screenwriter, Rhys Powys as Best Director (Film/Drama).