Music
Scottish Opera: Tosca Review
The curtain rose and we were within the basilica church in Rome I used to walk past on my way from the Anglican Centre to meetings at the Vatican. The dark red interior stonework and a slightly lighter paving looked comforting, and the mildly dotty sactristan pottering about perfectly normal. And so the story of the political prisoner who has just escaped from Castel Sant’Angelo and his friend the painter developed. The choir and then the clergy process behind, the onlookers are asperged. All very real.
L’Ascension: Conservatoire’s Chamber Choir Review
It is not often we in Edinburgh get the chance to hear the scholars of the Royal Conservatoire’s in full voice. I was delighted that Michael Bawtree suggested I should come to their concert the day following Ascension Day. Anglicans are far more accustomed to being in church on that Thursday which falls forty days after Easter than do Presbyterians.
Renovated Assembly Rooms Providing New hub for Edinburgh’s Fringe
A cold, wet evening in May (aye, May) is not the best atmosphere for being at the wrong venue for a launch. My excuse? There was a hint somewhere in an email about seeing renovations and anyway, what do I know about building schedules? Answer: hee haw. We are so used in Edinburgh to the disruption of barriers closed streets and roads, that whether or not scaffolding has gone down is barely noted any more. Luckily, I was in the Guides so used my initiative and soon came across some likely folk on the way to the launch in St Andrew Square. (Note to self: always read the small print.)
Gloria: Edinburgh Royal Choral Union Review
Every chair was taken in the historic Greyfriars Kirk. The audience was facing the organ loft and looked towards the raised seating for a joint choir of one hundred and seventy seven singers. It was a programme of religious settings based on the Gloria, the Anglican and Roman Catholic praise to God. The four we were to hear were composed within the last century and a half, and each sung in Latin.
Ein Deutsches Requiem
Calton Consort, directed by Jason Orringe, with Emma Morwood (Soprano), Nicholas Morris (Baritone), Ingrid Sawers (Piano) and Andrew Johnston (Piano), perform Johannes Brahms' German Requiem
RSNO Au Revoir Stéphane Review
If you believe Stéphane Denève’s opening words, and why shouldn’t we - the night’s programme was three works that encapsulated the finale of his seven year tenure as Music Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and included the full team, Orchestra, Chorus and Junior Chorus. Scottish music by James MacMillan, German by Richard Strauss and French by Ravel.
Meadows Festival
The Meadows Festival is an annual, free community festival, that has been running since 1974, with sporting activities, local bands, stalls and family entertainment held on the West Meadows by Melv
New Order, Usher Hall, 6 May 2012, Review
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“Where’s Hookay?!” goes up the lone cry near the start of tonight’s performance in a packed Usher Hall. Certainly, the absence of the Viking bass warrior’s glower
University of Wisconsin-Stout Alumni Choir
Conducted by director Patrick Liebergen with works by Purcell, Pitoni, Tye, Tallis and Haydn.
This free concert promises to be uplifting and entertaining.
SNJO "In Celebration of Michael Brecker" (with Randy Brecker)
Michael Brecker was an incredibly talented musician: a hugely influential saxophonist with a distinctive sound who inspired thousands of jazz players all over the world.