First Concert by Capella Edina - Preview

Usher Hall – Thursday 16th January 2025 – 7.30pm

 Inspiration

Capella Edina, Music Director, Luis Schmidt

I’d like to draw our readers’ attention to the opening concert of a new project, Capella Edina, Edinburgh’s resident professional symphony orchestra. Set up by its Music Director, Luis Schmidt, it is the first resident symphony orchestra in Scotland’s capital since 1937, and 2025 sees a series of four concerts in the Usher Hall. Backed by the Lord Provost, the Right Honourable Robert Aldridge, the orchestra will begin a new tradition of concert giving in Edinburgh, separate from the RSNO, SCO and BBCSSO.

This first concert features music by Erich Korngold, John Williams and Anton Bruckner, as well as a new commission from the orchestra’s composer in residence, James Clay. The highlight for me will be the 6th Symphony of Anton Bruckner, a majestic piece which is heard only too rarely in Scotland these days. Luis Schmidt will be at the podium for this fabulous work, and in the second half, we will hear the famous Star Wars Suite by John Williams.

Time will tell whether this ambitious project gets off the ground, but I can only wish it luck, and hope that our readers can come along and give it a try. Sadly, it clashes directly with the SCO’s Sibelius concert in the Queens Hall on Thursday evening, and I know that this is going to take a huge chunk out of any potential audience. I shall be reviewing the concert for the EMR and I hope some of you will be able to attend what is an extremely ambitious new project.