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Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scotland Summer Events 2025: Here are 10 unique events taking place from the Borders to the Highlands - including Fringe by the Sea
4 . East Neuk Festival, June 25-29 The East Neuk of Fife, famous for its picturesque coastline and colourful harbours, is home to a festival that brings globally recognised music to some of Scotland's most charming seaside villages - Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, St Monans and Elie (pictured). Over five days, the region comes alive with performances from leading classical, jazz, folk and experimental artists, all taking to intimate venues like historic chapels, village halls and harbourside spaces. It opens with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and guitarist Sean Shibe, features all five of Beethoven's late quartets performed by top ensembles, and continues with a special performance of Beethoven's Septet. It's a unique mix of big talent and small-town charm. | Canva/Getty Images
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Review: RSNO conductor Nodoka Okisawa's Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Swedish trumpeter Hakan Hardenberger has single-handedly increased the catalogue of concertos for his instrument beyond measure with his orchestral commissions, and the RSNO built this concert around the Scottish premiere of one of the latest, by Helen Grime. It is neither a completely new work – the LSO first played it three years ago and there have been other performances in Europe – nor an especially virtuosic one, and the RSNO's programme was a mixed success in giving it a context. Its closest kin in the programme was Toru Takemitsu's gorgeous How Slow the Wind, but that was written for a much smaller orchestra, and first performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in 1991. The Japanese composer's distinctive response to nature, with the crucial addition of orchestral piano and celeste to the sonic palette, is also more compact and to the point. Read more by Keith Bruce: Review: A composer whose remarkable works are very much his own RSNO Hahn review: An odd programme on paper, delivered with remarkable eloquence Grime's Trumpet Concerto: night-sky-blue is inspired by gardens after sunset and most affecting in the muted passages for the soloist at its opening and closing. Percussion, harp, high-pitched winds and the orchestra's trumpet section provide the initial support, while vibraphone and glissando strings add crucial colours at the end. As conductor Nodoka Okisawa appeared to appreciate, it seems to be aspiring to be more lyrical than the orchestra actually sounds during the central parts, while the music for Hardenberger himself recalls both Baroque predecessors and brass band music. The Stokowski arrangement of Debussy's Claire de lune, which opened the second half, also featured Principal Percussionist Simon Lowdon's sparkling vibes playing, alongside the more obvious combination of Katherine Bryan's flute and Pippa Tunnell on harp. The concert had begun on familiar ground with Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture and it ended in the darker territory of Rachmaninov's Isle of the Dead, which share some structural similarities but could have both benefitted from a less austere approach than that taken by Okisawa. The Tchaikovsky received a very measured, almost rigid, reading, with even the big string climax far from lush, although it was redeemed by the closing bars. Her Rachmaninov was perhaps more organic, and the Dies Irae theme that haunts the composer's works beautifully realised, but the work never really felt as ominous as it should.
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Hamilton and Airdrie to host Scottish Chamber Orchestra concerts
The Lanarkshire towns will host performances as part of the musicians' summer tours. Musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) will be hitting the high notes in Hamilton and Airdrie ans they visit on the ensemble's annual summer tour. The orchestra will perform at Hamilton Town House on in July, with the programme including a world premiere, and then at Sir John Wilson Town Hall in Airdrie the following month where a trio of 'romantic' music treats are in store. Online bookings for both events are available now, with tickets ranging in price from £20 for standard admission to free entry for under-18s. SCO conductor Jonathan Bloxham will bring the orchestra to Hamilton Town House on July 17 as part of a three-date tour round Scotland with a programme showcasing their 'versatility and artistry in full force'. The concert will feature the world premiere of Rewired, a concerto for soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra featuring soloist Lewis Banks and which is one of two new works for this year written by SCO associate composer Jay Capperauld. Also on the programme at the 'summer classics' performance are Haydn's Symphony No. 80 in D minor, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B-flat, often described as his 'most joyful' work. The Airdrie performance on August 27 will be led by conductor Jakob Lehmann and principal clarinettist Maximiliano Martín, with the audience enjoying 'an evening of energy and elegance in a concert that sparkles with wit and youthful charm'. It will open with Rossini's Overture to The Barber of Seville, described as 'a whirlwind of bustling brilliance and comedic flair' – before Martin takes centre stage for Spohr's clarinet concerto No. 2 in E-flat, followed by Schubert's Symphony No. 2 in B-flat. Both Lanarkshire concerts take place at 7.30pm on their respective dates and are part of a wider 20-date tour across Scotland aiming to 'build relationships with local communities, put SCO musicians centre stage and bring world-class concerts to audiences who might otherwise not be able to experience them'. Chief executive Gavin Reid said: 'We look forward to hitting the road once again [this summer] and bringing music to communities across Scotland. With our world-class musicians and a dynamic programme that truly showcases the depth of our orchestra, this tour promises to offer something for everyone – we can't wait to share the joy of live music.' * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
Scotsman
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The hidden benefactor funding Edinburgh's new concert hall awarded Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... She is one of of Scotland's great arts philanthropists - a behind-the-scenes figure who has ploughed millions into realising the vision for a grand new concert hall and National Centre for Music in Edinburgh. Now the contributions of American benefactor and former concert pianist Dr Carol Colburn Grigor are being publicly recognised. She is to be honoured with the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy at a ceremony in Edinburgh on Wednesday night. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Carol Grigor at the Dunard Centre site in Edinburgh | Ian Georgeson Photography The biennial medal ceremony will highlight Dr Grigor's investment, and how it will benefit the city's economy by creating jobs and attracting new performers and audiences. Past winners of the medal include singer Dolly Parton (2022) and businessman Sir Tom Hunter (2013). Dr Grigor's Pitlochry-based Dunard Fund has contributed £35 million to help bring to life the mooted Dunard Centre, a 1,000-seat concert hall off St Andrew Square. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The venue will become the new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and host Edinburgh International Festival performances. However, the opening was earlier this year delayed until 2029 amid a change in contractor. Once open, the venue will be the first purpose-built concert hall in Edinburgh for more than 100 years. The Dunard Centre will be a 1,000-seat concert hall complete with a multi-purpose space, café and bar connected to the a-listed Dundas House, in Edinburgh's New Town | David Chipperfield Architects, Reiach and Hall Architects The National Centre for Music, to be created on the site of the former Royal High School building, will meanwhile boast three indoor performance spaces, two with a capacity of up to 150 and the main auditorium, for audiences of around 300. Under plans released last year, the site would also feature Edinburgh's biggest new public gardens for more than 200 years. Plans were approved last year, following a £45m cash injection from the Dunard Foundation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'I am delighted to see Carol's transformative philanthropy being celebrated on the global stage, and it is especially fitting that this year's ceremony is taking place in Edinburgh, which was Carol's home for many years. 'It is no exaggeration to say that her long-standing support has helped to make Edinburgh the cultural capital that it is today, with its future assured by her powerful investment in two landmark capital projects, the Dunard Centre and the National Centre for Music. 'Cultural transformation relies on the dogged persistence and determination of visionary individuals, as Andrew Carnegie's legacy has shown us over the past century. 'As we look to create Edinburgh's first new concert hall in over a century, it is tantalising to think ahead to the exceptional performers it will attract, and the profound economic, social, educational and cultural impact that Carol's philanthropy will have on Scotland for generations to come." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dunard Fund has also provided millions of pounds worth of grants to charities in the arts and heritage sectors, including the National Galleries of Scotland, National Library of Scotland and Britain's major opera companies.
Edinburgh Reporter
06-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Carol Grigor to receive the Carnegie Medal
Philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor, CBE, will receive the Carnegie Medal at a ceremony at Edinburgh Castle on Wednesday evening. The international family of Carnegie institutions has named five philanthropists as recipients of the prestigious medal of Philanthropy – a biennial award which recognises innovative philanthropists and their contributions to tackling global challenges. The award recognises Carol's unwavering dedication to the arts and the lasting, global impact her philanthropic giving has made on the cultural and civic landscape of Scotland and the UK. The medal ceremony is taking place in Edinburgh, where Carol's investment benefits the city's economy by creating jobs and attracting new performers and audiences. Ms Grigor's support for arts and cultural causes extends from the USA to Australia, and more recently Ireland, along with support in the UK for organisations including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Edinburgh International Festival. Dunard Fund, which is chaired by Carol, has provided millions of pounds worth of grants to charities in the arts and heritage sectors, including the Edinburgh International Festival, National Galleries of Scotland, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, National Library of Scotland and Britain's major opera companies. Her generosity continues to support the development of new projects which will be key additions to Scotland's cultural offering in the years to come. Together, they reflect the values which underpin the legacy of the Scottish industrialist Andrew Carnegie: imagination, generosity, and a belief in progress through public good. The Dunard Centre, set to occupy the recently cleared site behind the historic RBS branch building on St Andrew Square, will be the first purpose-built concert hall in Edinburgh for more than 100 years. It will also be the first UK venue designed by Nagata Acoustics, the world's foremost acoustic experts, and the first concert hall anywhere in the world from the globally renowned David Chipperfield Architects. Its mission is to become a 'Hall for All', that will host a varied programme of performances including globally renowned musicians, emerging artists, and other acts seeking to break the mould of what would ordinarily be showcased in a traditional concert hall. It will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: 'I am delighted to see Carol's transformative philanthropy being celebrated on the global stage, and it is especially fitting that this year's ceremony is taking place in Edinburgh, which was Carol's home for many years. It is no exaggeration to say that her longstanding support has helped to make Edinburgh the cultural capital that it is today, with its future assured by her powerful investment in two landmark capital projects, the Dunard Centre and the National Centre for Music. 'Cultural transformation relies on the dogged persistence and determination of visionary individuals, as Andrew Carnegie's legacy has shown us over the past century. As we look to create Edinburgh's first new concert hall in over a century, it is tantalising to think ahead to the exceptional performers it will attract, and the profound economic, social, educational and cultural impact that Carol's philanthropy will have on Scotland for generations to come.' The new National Centre for Music which will occupy the former Royal High School building on the city's Calton Hill is also a key beneficiary of Carol's support. Nestled within two acres of beautiful, landscaped garden, it will become an energising force in Scotland's music sector. The centre will feature performance, rehearsal and learning spaces, a recording studio, meeting rooms and creative offices, as well as events and conference facilities in a striking heritage setting. Its performance programmes will celebrate music making from across Scotland, and across all genres, and it will nurture and inspire new talent through apprenticeships, artist residencies and strategic partnerships. Music centre designs. Image: Montagu Evans /Royal High School Preservation Trust. Jenny Jamison, Chief Executive and Creative Director of the National Centre for Music, said: 'Carol has been a driving force behind the National Centre for Music. Not only has she enabled the preservation of the spectacular old Royal High School buildings which we are transforming into our home, she has also championed the importance of making this a welcoming place where locals and visitors, learners and professionals can enjoy and expand their musical passions every day. 'The National Centre for Music will celebrate and support all genres of music making and will be a place where Scottish musical history is made. Offering new resource and partnership opportunities to Scotland's music sector, it will ensure Scotland continues to be a leader in music and culture across the globe. Carol's vision is very much at the heart of this ambition, and we are delighted to see her honoured this week.' Carol Grigor at the site of the Dunard Centre next to St Andrew Square Other recipients Others recognised include Joseph and Jeanette Neubauer, who have effected transformational change in education, public safety and the arts internationally and Barbara and Amos Hostetter, whose Barr Foundation has granted over $1.5 billion to the arts, climate, and education causes since 1997. Previous winners of the medal include Dolly Parton (2022), Michael Bloomberg (2009), Sir Ian Wood (2019) and Sir Tom Hunter (2013). Professor Dame Louise Richardson, DBE, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, said: 'From education and climate change to arts and culture, this year's honourees have demonstrated the transformational role philanthropy can play in tackling the world's problems. They all embody the philanthropic spirit championed by Andrew Carnegie by doing real and permanent good in the world. All are true standard bearers of his legacy.' The Carnegie institutions also announced a special Carnegie Catalyst Award for Sir Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis CBE, two of the co-founders of Comic Relief, which has raised over £1.6 billion by using the power of entertainment and popular culture to tackle poverty and injustice in the UK and across the world. The Catalyst Award celebrates the transformational power of human kindness by honouring a non-profit organisation that has been effective in encouraging people to help one another. Professor Dame Louise Richardson DBE added: 'Sir Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis CBE are true catalysts for positive change and worthy recipients of our Catalyst Award. Comic Relief has a vision of a just world that is free from poverty and uses the power of entertainment to encourage us all to play our part.' The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy is awarded on behalf of the international family of Carnegie institutions founded by the Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Previous winners include Dolly Parton, the Wolfson Family, Sir Ian Wood, Michael Bloomberg, the Rockefeller Family and Bill and Melinda Gates. This is only the third time the ceremony will be held in the UK since its inception in 2001, and will be hosted by the three UK-based Carnegie institutions: Carnegie UK, The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. Gillian Taylor, CEO of Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trust, one of the host organisations, said: 'Andrew Carnegie believed in committing his private wealth to the public good. His legacy is still felt around the world today, with all our honourees showing the good that can be done through philanthropy. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy event in May is an opportunity for the international family of Carnegie foundations to come together in Scotland, the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, to discuss and debate how our work in today's world furthers Carnegie's philanthropic vision and values.' Carol Colburn Grigor CBE is president of Dunard Fund USA, chair emeritus and board member of the Colburn School, and chair of the Colburn Foundation, which supports classical music through performances, presentations, education, and musician training in Southern California. Her contributions to classical music and the visual arts have been recognised with numerous honours including Commander of the British Empire (CBE). She is an inaugural recipient of the Prince of Wales Medal for Philanthropy and has been admitted as a Chevalier into France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Grigor received her Bachelor of Music from Indiana University School of Music and her Master of Musical Arts from Yale University School of Music. She also has received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Edinburgh Napier University. As a pianist, she performed extensively in the United States and Europe, before turning to family business activities and philanthropic initiatives in the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe, Australia, and now specifically in Ireland. Grigor is a director of the Colburn Collection, the Colburn Music Fund, and Dunard Fund UK and a member of the board of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, the Marlboro Music Festival, and the Yale School of Music board of visitors. In August 2013, she was named honorary vice-president of the Edinburgh International Festival Society. She is the founder and member of the Royal High School Preservation Trust in Edinburgh. Like this: Like Related
