Edinburgh Festival Fringe Highlights
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024: Musical Highlights which won’t break the bank!
With less than three weeks to go until the 2024 Festival begins, the Edinburgh Music Review would like to recommend some excellent Fringe concerts in comfortable venues. Many of these take place in the afternoon, and all are reasonably priced. The events cover a number of genres and I’ve noted other performances in the same venue. Apart from the concert at St Michael’s Church, all events can be booked through the Fringe Box Office, and tickets may also be available at the door.
Beth Taylor and Brian Bannatyne-Scott sing Schumann St Michael’s Church, 1 Slateford Road. 14/8/24. 3pm. Free, with a retiring collection.
Just announced is this unmissable concert by mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor, Cardiff Singer of the World Finalist 2023, who has already embarked on an international career, and renowned opera and Lieder singer, bass Brian Bannatyne-Scott. They are singing Schumann’s great song cycles, ‘Frauen Liebe und Leben’ and ‘Dichterliebe‘, and are accompanied by the fine Polish pianist, Michael Gajzler. This concert is not in the Fringe programme, so please come along and spread the word to your friends! St Michael’s Church is spacious with a good acoustic and is easily reached from the city centre.
Arias in the Afternoon New Town Church 13 George Street Venue 111, 10/8/24, 2.30pm £12 (£10 concessions)
Earlier on the Fringe, Brian Bannatyne-Scott presents much loved operatic arias with rising stars, Caroline Taylor, soprano, Catherine Backhouse, mezzo-soprano, Laurie Slavin, tenor, and Janes Atkinson, baritone, again accompanied by Michael Gajzler. The programme contains an intriguing mix of works by works by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Wagner, Saint-Saens, Bellini and Britten. Brian says, “There is something for everyone and one or two surprises.”
Also at New Town Church (formerly known as St Andrew’s and St George’s) bass-baritone, Andrii Kymach, 2019 winner of Cardiff Singer of the World, is accompanied by Jâms Coleman in a recital on 9th August at 2.30pm. Sungho Kim, 2023 Cardiff Song Prize Winner, sings with Llyr Williams, piano on 24th August at 2pm.
Sounds of St Cecilia’s I: Maria Magdalena and the Other Marias St Cecilia’s Hall Niddrie Street Venue 77, 7/8/24 at 3pm £15 (£13)
Héloïse Bernard, soprano, and Jan Waterfield, harpsichord, present music from 16th and 17th century Italy, France and England, celebrating the different faces of the biblical Marias and exploring their sacred and secular aspects. The concert features the Bernardinus De Trasuntinus harpsichord of 1574.
St Cecilia’s Hall is a beautiful 18th century venue which hosts a number of early music concerts during the Fringe, often featuring instruments from Edinburgh University’s collection. These include ‘The Triumph of Time and Truth’, music for voice, harpsichord and baroque violin by Handel and Vivaldi on 22nd August and ‘The Songs of Lady Nairn’ on 24th August. See Fringe programme for further details
‘Carmen’ Stockbridge Church, 7b Saxe Coburg Street Venue 317, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th August at 7pm £18 (£12)
In the year of many ‘Carmen’ productions, Edinburgh community opera group, Aria Alba, are to be congratulated on presenting this full-length opera. Jacob Zualski’s intimate production is inspired by “poor theatre,” which seeks to pare down performances and highlight the direct connection with the audience.
The Music Hub at Stockbridge Church, a short bus trip from the city centre, has gained an enthusiastic audience for its eclectic programme run by Clea Friend. During the Fringe there are classical and folk concerts, children’s concerts (Recitals for Wrigglers) and Friday night Ceilidhs with the Haggis Chasers Ceilidh Band. For full details see the Fringe programme.
A Little Night Music Assembly Rooms George Street Venue 20, Alternate days from 2nd to 25th August £16 (£15)
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s students on the postgraduate course in music theatre have presented some terrific shows at previous festivals, and Sondheim’s classic musical, which includes ‘Send in the Clowns,’ promises to be no exception. Although Assembly venues can be busy, you should beat the rush with the RCS’s 10am show.
Also at Assembly Rooms, another musical by RCS, ‘Fountain of You’ is a new satire on the beauty industry. For performance dates see the Fringe programme
Mairi Campbell: Living Stone Scottish Story Telling Centre Royal Mile Venue 30, Alternate days 1st, 3rd, 5th August and so on until 25th August at 5pm £14 (£12)
Folk singer Mairi Campbell presents a feast of song, sound and word that brings to life a 400 million year old stone, fashioned into a family millstone, found on the island of Lismore. An exhibition of Mairi’s ‘Living Stone’ paintings are also on show at the Story Telling Centre during the Fringe.
This central venue has a full programme of stories, plays, poetry and song, with special events for children. For full details see Fringe programme
Luminescence St Giles’ Cathedral Royal Mile Venue 187, 15th, 16th and 17th August at 9.30pm £18
As part of St Giles’ 900th celebrations, Tommy Smith, jazz saxophonist, works with painter Maria Rud to create a stunning audio-visual improvisation, projected live onto the Cathedral’s interior.
Also part of the 900th celebrations, the St Giles’ Cathedral Choir sing in a Choral Celebration on 24th August, featuring sacred music from the medieval period to the present day. See Fringe programme for other events at the Cathedral.
