Festival MUSIC
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COLIN CURRIE Percussionist makes EIF debut in MacMillan & Sibelius and Colin Currie & Friends
When Fergus Linehan announced his debut Edinburgh Festival music programme back in February, he commented that Colin Currie’s performance of James MacMillan’s Percussion Concerto No 2 would amazingly be his first Festival appearance. It certainly does seem incredible that a musician of Currie’s prowess hasn’t been part of EIF’s concerts in the past, even leaving aside that he was born and brought up in the city. Currie is thrilled. ‘It’s very emotional for me to be playing with the RSNO at the Usher Hall,’ he says, ‘especially as I used to hear the orchestra there every weekend as a teenager and learned so much music from listening to them.’ At age 15, one of the pieces Currie heard was MacMillan’s
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, the percussion concerto he wrote for Evelyn Glennie. Number two has been written for Currie and, as he says, ‘To come back with my concerto and play at the Usher Hall is amazing.’
It premiered last December at the Southbank in London and it is, says Currie, ‘very festive, very upbeat and also very lyrical. It’s perfect for the occasion.’ Currie also performs with his own ensemble at the Queen’s Hall, along with some of his favourite musical friends. (Carol Main) ■ MacMillan & Sibelius, Usher Hall, 228 1155, 14 Aug, 7.30pm £12–£44 (£6–£22); Colin Currie & Friends, Queen’s Hall, 668 2019, 21 Aug, 11am, £8.50–£30 (£4.25-£15).
13–20 Aug 2015 THE LIST FESTIVAL 71
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