Georgian Concert Society 2026-27 Programme

Georgian Concert Society: 50 years of glorious early music

Spring and summer are very exciting times in Edinburgh, with a profusion of fresh musical shoots pushing up as announcements are made of forthcoming festivals and concert series. One of the most vigorous of these shoots is the 2026/27 programme from the Georgian Concert Society, which has been supplying glorious music to its audiences for around fifty years.

The Georgian Concert Society was formed in 1977, and concerts were originally held in the Georgian House in Charlotte Square which gave the Society its name. Concerts were later moved to St Cecilia’s Hall in Niddry Street and the New Town Church in George Street, buildings dating from 1763 and 1784 respectively. The half dozen monthly concerts take place between October and March, and are an ideal way to brighten up the long, dark evenings. Both St Cecilia’s Hall and the New Town Church are perfect venues, with excellent acoustics and a suitable ambience. Next season sees Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church added to the list of venues.

The artists are a mixture of well-known musicians and young artists beginning their careers, and the energetic and knowledgable Committee works hard to fashion a season of high quality concerts. A trawl through the last few decades shows a stellar list of musicians who have given concerts - including Rachel Podger, Trevor Pinnock, Emma Kirkby, and Anthony Rooley, and groups such as the Tallis Scholars, I Fagiolini, and the Hilliard Ensemble.

I am always thrilled to encounter young musicians and ensembles for the first time, and follow their careers with eager interest. I first came across the young group Apollo’s Cabinet at a GCS concert in 2023 - the next time I saw them was in 2024 when they won the prestigious Van Wassenaer Competition at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, the largest festival of its kind in the world.

The 2026/27 season looks to be very exciting indeed. The six concerts are: the London Haydn Quartet with quartets by Haydn and Mozart; Jonathan Manson completing his magisterial survey of Bach’s Cello Suites; the Binchois Consort with the modern premiere of an anonymous 16th Century Scottish Mass from the Carver Choirbook held in the National Library of Scotland; the Monteverdi String Band Trio; keyboard player Steven Devine on the clavichord, harpsichord, and fortepiano; and ending with the exciting young Ensemble Augelletti.

Unmissable!

‍ ‍For further details and tickets: https://www.gcs.org.uk/

Image:The Sharp Family by Johan Zoffany (1733-1810)