A group of amateur singers from Edinburgh's central belt will be warming up for this month's Edinburgh International Festival with an appearance at the BBC Proms tomorrow evening.
The Edinburgh Festival Chorus ladies take to the stage of the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow at 7pm with Donald Runnicles and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and Scottish soprano Karen Cargill, for a performance of Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3.
The concert will be broadcast live by BBC Radio 3 and then transmitted on BBC4 at 7.30pm on Thursday 5 August.
The 130-strong Edinburgh Festival Chorus was established in 1965. “Over the years they have performed with some of the greatest conductors of the 20th and 21st century including Abbado, Solti and of course Sir Charles Mackerras," explained Jonathan Mills, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival.
"Their appearance at the Proms this year is recognition of their tremendous performances at the Festival, particularly in the last few years. The Chorus continues to go from strength to strength and I am delighted that their talents are being recognized widely. The Festival Chorus is drawn from people from all walks of life who share a great passion for music: a passion which comes across in their memorable and moving performances.”
Christopher Bell, Chorus Master of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, called the appearance “truly a big thing" .
"I am incredibly proud of them," he said.
Edinburgh Festival Chorus EIF Appearances
Hot on the heels of their Proms date, the ladies will be lending their voices to three concerts ‘back home’ at the Edinburgh International Festival 2010.
- On 13 August along with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra led by James Conlon and a wonderful cast of soloists they open Festival 2010 with John Adam’s El Niño sponsored by Heineken UK.
- On 31 August they return to Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, joining forces this time with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons in a concert at the Usher Hall sponsored by Lloyds TSB Scotland.
- On 4 September they are reunited with Donald Runnicles and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in the epic climax to the Usher Hall programme of Festival 2010, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 sponsored by Lumison.
More on the Edinburgh International Festival (box office: The Hub)