Edinburgh International Festival: The Opening Concert

By Alan Coady, 10 August 2014

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Reviewed at Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 8 August 2014

Schoenberg, Five Orchestra Pieces, Op.16

Scriabin, Symphony no. 5 "Prometheus, Poem of Fire", Op.60

Debussy, Le Martyre de saint Sébastien (The Martyrdom of St Sebastien)

Oliver Knussen, Conductor

Kirill Gerstein, Piano

Claire Booth, Soprano

Edinburgh Festival Chorus

Christopher Bell, Choirmaster / chorus director

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Kristiina Poska makes an exciting return to conduct the RSNO

Simon Thompson, 20th March

Kristiina Poska directs the RSNO in gripping Tchaikovsky and Pärt, but words and music only occasionally match in Elena Langer's new song cycle.

***11

Felix Klieser plays Strauss with the RSNO, before Bruckner exodus

Simon Thompson, 21st February

Felix Klieser is quietly remarkable as he plays Strauss' First Horn Concerto with the RSNO, but why did so many people walk out during Bruckner's Eighth Symphony?

****1

Giedrė Šlekytė conducts the RSNO in passionate, exciting Mahler

Simon Thompson, 5th December

Giedrė Šlekytė makes a stellar conducting debut with the RSNO, while violinist Nemanja Radulović has a great look but a disappointingly ordinary sound.

****1

Mahler magic: RSNO opens season with the Seventh Symphony

Simon Thompson, 3rd October

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Thomas Søndergård open their season, continuing their Mahler cycle, with the Seventh Symphony.

****1

A dramatic, declamatory Elijah closes the 2025 Edinburgh Festival

Simon Thompson, 24th August

The festival’s closing concert brings drama from the RSNO and conductor Thomas Søndergård, but Christopher Maltman's Elijah brings the presence of greatness.

****1

Triumphant Tavener opens the Edinburgh International Festival

David Smythe, 2nd August

John Tavener's epic, eight-hour all-night vigil opens the festival in monumental style, directed by Thomas Guthrie.

*****

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Alan Coady

Alan has taught classical guitar in East Lothian schools since 1982. A graduate in Music of the then Huddersfield Polytechnic, he has a soft spot for the contemporary. He also writes a Musical Blog, where the special interest is the intersection of music/language/science.