Scottish Lieder/ Afternoon Arias
Our critic Brian Bannatyne Scott, who has enjoyed a long and successful international career as an opera singer, has once again organised two outstanding concerts during the Edinburgh Festival. They will take place in the gorgeous New Town Church in George Street, also known as Fringe Venue 111. This used to be known as St Andrew's and St George's, and is at the east end of George Street at no 13
The concerts will each take place at 2.30pm and will last about an hour and a half.
The first is on Monday, 10th August, and is entitled 'Scottish Lieder'.
The second is on Friday, 14th August, and is called 'Afternoon Arias'.
For both concerts Brian has assembled star-studded line-ups, which rival the International Festival in quality.
'Scottish Lieder', which explores the huge influence that Scottish poets had on the German Romantic Movement, with songs by Schubert, Schumann, Loewe and Richard Strauss setting Burns, Scott and Ossian among others, features the wonderful Scottish soprano, Susan Hamilton, founder of the Dunedin Consort and star of many recordings by the Dunedins, and Jamie MacDougall, Scotland's favourite tenor, fresh from triumphs on Broadway presenting his one-man show, 'Lauder'. Brian will be singing two fantastic Scots ballads set by Carl Loewe, 'Tom the Rhymer' and 'Edward'.
Afternoon Arias, or Airs dans L'Apres-Midi, spotlights the fabulous French Operatic repertoire, including Berlioz, Bizet and Debussy, and features the young Scottish mezzo-soprano, Beth Taylor, who has recently been taking Europe and North America by storm, singing with the likes of Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Donald Runnicles. Along with Beth, you will hear the exciting Catherine Hooper (soprano), Magnus Walker (tenor) and Jonathan Forbes Kennedy (baritone), as well as Brian himself, in a programme of highlights from 'The Trojans', 'Carmen', 'The Pearl Fishers' and 'Pelleas et Melisande'.
Both these programmes will be accompanied by the marvellous Polish pianist, Michal Gajzler, who has played for Brian many times in recent years.
Tickets are available at £15 (£12 concession) from the Fringe Box Office or at the door. Both concerts are already selling well, so don't hesitate to book your tickets now! You will also be able to buy CDs from many of the performers, and, of course, Brian’s new book of memoirs, 'A Singer's Life'.