Preview:Sypert Concert Series

St Cecilia’s Hall and Museum June 2025

Saturday 7th June Inalto Ensemble

Saturday 14th June Azur Ensemble

Saturday 21st June Jacqueline Ross violin, Artem Belogurov fortepiano

Edinburgh’s oldest purpose-built concert hall which held its first performance in 1763 has been part of Edinburgh University since the 1950s, the building also housing the university’s collection of historic instruments. Extensive redevelopment in 2017 enabled the creation of a new entrance foyer, and more display space for over 600 instruments.

For most of the years since the University acquired the hall it has presented a series of summer concerts, originally of J S Bach’s music. From 2009 Dr George and Dr Joy Sypert, US neurosurgeons with a love for Scotland and for early music have been benefactors of St Cecilia’s Hall.  The Sypert Concert Hall is named after them and they also sponsor the annual summer concerts. This year’s three concerts feature 18th century wind instruments, a harpsichord quartet and a piano/violin duo.

On Saturday 7th June at 7.30, the Inalto Ensemble present ‘ Bläserbüchlein: Diary of an Inner Journey’. Lambert Colson (cornetts) Guy Hanssen, Charlotte Van Passen and Bart Vroomen (trombones) play music by J S Bach, Walther, Praetorius, Reiche and others, and imagine the library of a group of wind instrumentalists in the eighteenth century. Delving into collections for earlier centuries such as those of Leipzig’s Stadtpfeifer  (town pipers) and the choral melodies of the Lutheran Church, the programme provides an insight into the emotions and experiences of Leipzig’s Citizens in the 16th and 17th centuries.

On Saturday 14th June at 7.30, the Azur Ensemble, Joseph Lowe violin, Johanka Sniehottová recorder, Xavier Lowe cello, and Apolline Khou harpsichord present ‘Bijou Baroques’, a programme of works  by Barsanti, Handel, J S Bach, Eccles, Vivaldi, Telemann and others. The 1755 double manual harpsichord by Luigi Baillon used in this concert is an original example from the University’s Musical Instrument Collection.

On Saturday 21st June at 7.30,  Jacqueline Ross violin and Artem Belogurov fortepiano present ‘Close connections: Beethoven – Haydn – Mozart’.   Most modern performances of Beethoven’s violin sonatas adhere strictly to Beethoven’s own notations, potentially limiting expressive possibilities. Jacqueline and Artem’s project, ‘Beethoven Revisited’ delves into historical performance practices in order to apply these insights to enliven realisations with dramatic impact and variety.  The programme also includes works by Haydn and Mozart.

Tickets cost £23 full-price, £20 for over 60s, £8 for students, children and unwaged. Please book via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/cc/sypert-summer-concert-series-2025-4249743