Contrast & Colour with Kosmos
Posted: 3rd May 2026The Clarence Hall was full of energy on Friday evening as the Kosmos Ensemble opened this year’s Crickhowell Music Festival with a vibrant and deeply engaging performance.
From the first notes, the trio – Harriet MacKenzie, Meg Hamilton and Miloš Milivojević – drew the audience into a richly textured musical journey. Their programme moved effortlessly between styles, blending tango, Balkan and Middle Eastern influences with classical references, all shaped by a spirit of fearless improvisation.
The evening was full of contrast and colour. At one moment, melodies carried a deep sense of longing and reflection; at another, the hall was lifted by bright, rhythmic passages that had feet quietly tapping across the room.
Throughout, the trio’s remarkable musicianship was evident, each performer bringing soloist-level skill while maintaining an extraordinary sense of unity. That connection was clear to the large and appreciative audience. There was a shared sense of enjoyment in the room, as listeners responded warmly to both the technical brilliance and the emotional range of the performance.
As an opening event, it set a high bar for the days ahead. A confident, imaginative and thoroughly musical evening, it provided a fitting and memorable start to this year’s festival programme.