FESTIVAL OF BRITISH YOUTH ORCHESTRAS -
25TH ANNIVERSARY The voice of young Scotland celebrates
When the Festival of British Youth Orchestras first hit the Fringe back in 1980, the vast maiority of those taking part in its 25th anniversary season would not have been born. Celebrating 25 years of muSIC making by some of the country's most talented young people, the Festival now encompasses youth chOirs for the first time. as well as the regular symphony orchestras and bands. Picking up just about any of these concerts reveals something of interest. but the Youth Orchestra of AndulaCIa With Holst's Planets Suite is highly recommended. as is the closing concert. Finishing things off in style will be Edinburgh Secondary Schools Orchestra which, at a little older, reaches the big 40 this year. Of the youth choirs taking part. Perth’s Fair City Singers promise Highland dancing as well as a huge variety of choral repertoire. while the versatile young instrumentalists of Fife will sing as well as play. (Carol Main)
I NAYO@Central Hall, 229 2927, 74, 76—77. 79—20, 23, 25—26, 28, 30 Aug, 7—2, 4 Sep. 7.30pm, E8 (E4); 76-77, 25—26, 30—37 Aug, 7—2. 4 Sep. 1 2.30pm, £5 (£2.50).
PLUCK
Laughs from the classically untrained .0.
Selling out at 2003's Fringe and Adelaide's Fringe this year, the claSSicaIly trained musiCIans who profeSSionally find it difficult to play seriously and seriously find it difficult to play professcnally are on form and tuned up for another popular run. From Pachelbel's 'Canon' to the ‘Pink Panther Theme' via “La Bamba'. the Viola. violin and cello-playing trio vary between prim. pissed off and playful as they pursue each other across the small stage to roars of laughter. With
QUEENS HALL SERIES
Magical morning music
Nursing hangovers, queuing in Starbucks for coffee, sleeping off the previous night’s exertions — that’s what mornings are for during the Festival, no? Well, the International Festival has found a good reason to get up before the one o’clock gun: three weeks of concerts at 11am showcasing some of the world’s most exciting music and song. To open the series, most excellent Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman (pictured) makes her Scottish debut, singing a varied selection of works from Duparc, Debussy, Ravel, Mahler and Copland and setting the standard high for the run which blends rarely performed works with crowd
pleasing favourites. Just be sure and set that alarm clock. (Mark Robertson)
I Queen 's Hall, 4 73 2000, l lam, {36—22.
their instruments. a hat. Wig and huge pants for company. it's their fantastic faCiaI expreSSions as they Vie for the limelight that give this show universal. easy- watching appeal. A safe. crowd-pleaser of a show. (Katy McAulayi
I Gilded Balloon@tne Held Hall, 668 7633. until 30 Aug (not 78,) 5pm, £9- 70 (28—9).
INTO THE NEW @ THE FRINGE AND STIMMUNG Stockhausen is given a voice
After achieving great Success in last year's Academy Now! Festival in Glasgow. VocalEase bring their exceptionally striking interpretation of Stockhausen‘s
64 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 12—19 Aug 2004
remarkable work. Stimmung. to Edinburgh. The grOup of six singers was formed at the Royal Scottish Academy of MUSIC and Drama and relish the challenges of vocalising without words for 75 minutes. Written in the late 608. Stimmung's starting pOint is the freedom of sOund that Stockhausen experienced when humming and the discovery of what happens when Singing only vowels. The reSuIting vocal overtones combined With the composer‘s paSSion. for Mexico and the Aztec gods. gives Stininiung an atmosphere of anCient times and places.
resulting in music that is meditative and hypnotic in mood. Especially intriguing for this performance is soprano Michelle Foster's claim that her favourite god in St/m/nung is Wakantanka — particularly when spoken Wltll a Jamaican accent. (Carol Maini
I Underbelly. O8 70 7 45 0383. until 29 Aug. 2.20pm, {‘7 (55/.
TAO - BEAT OF THE GLOBE Drumfest leaves you shaken and stirred O...
Tao have obviously put ten years of honing their drumming skills in Japan to good use. Claiming they want to foetis on the power of persona: expreSSion. the players display a level of exuberance that is unrivalled among more traditional Taiko groups: leaping around the multilevel stage and
executing fi'.‘/(:(:l)lli(} aim iiio\./eiiieiits ‘.‘/ltli unfathomable speed and pox/er. From flutes. cymbals and smaller drums slung from their shoulders to battering a huge black and '.'.lli|t(: patterned stationary drum with what looks remarkably like a baseball bat. the enthusiasm of the players during loud pieces spill out in shouts. yips and sweat '.‘./lillC guieter pieces thrill With contained energy. Expect to be shaken from your seat.
(Katy McAulayi
I ASSG/ltb/l/QSF George '3 l‘/est. 22/1 2628. until 30 Au}. 6pm, 22775041260 if) 70—] b.
FIDDLE AND SQUEEZE
A bit of what you fancy?
In the Scottish psyche fiddle and sgueeze box go together like pie and
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exploration on the
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of Alasdair. is the of Scotland's finest
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teat ‘heis. (it the i‘ltissic iii‘ot‘; fiddle At the moment they're iikinii on an Arts (Ltiiifiiiil f Li'iiiiiiii“,‘.ioii lot a piece for are irilioii fiddle and orchestra. but for their l ringi- show they'll leave out the last one
(Norman (Zhaliiieisi
I Diverse Attract/r iris, ."J’f'i 896 i', f) 7-1 Aug. flfi‘flpni. if) (fill.
TANGALGO Folky tango, giddown
Born in the docklan'l bor'delos of Hueiios Aiies. the tango is Argentina's great gift to the world, Sophisticated music, European in its roots, suffused With a sense of dislocation and loss, yet often overtlowerineg passionate and erotic. it's found an apposite Festival home down iii Leitli where langalgo have a Festival residency.
With vocals from Chilean singer Valentina Martine/. piano from Salsa Celtica's Phil Alexander, violin and bass from members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and McFall's Chamber and the essential free reeds Supplied by Pete Garnett's accordion, the band seek to bring out the intensity, drive and drama of the original muSIc. Judging by the first night encores, the audience knows when it's been tango'd. lNorman Chalmers;
I Cameo Bar Hole, 554 9999, until 27 Aug, 8pm. E8 (E6).