I RICHARD BAKER As part ofthe Oueen's Hall's new policy of doing its ownthing as well as everyone else's lorthe Festival. this BBC stalwart presents his portrayal of the lite of Noel Coward and The Menagerie. the latter with Nicholas Daniel and Julius Drake. Masterpieces— A Coward Cabaret/The Menagerie. Oueen's Hall. Clerk Street. 668 2019 (Fringe) 13/14 Aug, 8.30pm/7.30pm. 24.50-27.50.
I ORCHESTRA OF THE BOLSHOI THEATRE Out on their own. but still with conductor Alexander Lazarev in charge. one of the world's greatest opera orchestras in two exciting programmes of Russian music.
Bolshoi Opera Chorus and Orchestra. Usher Hall (Festival) 225 5756.17 Aug, 8pm. Eli-£18.
Bolshoi Opera Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus. Usher Hall (Festival) 225 5756.18 Aug. 8pm. SIB—£18.
I MINOTAUR MUSIC THEATRE Double bill at Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti and LYsistrata. Chaplaincy Centre Downstairs. Bristo Square. Fringe Venue 23. 226 5138. 13-25 Aug (exc 19Aug). 2.10pm. £4.50 (£4).
I YOUNG MUSICIANS LATE NIGHT CONCERTS Oustanding young Scottish perlormers. all past pupils of St Mary's Music School. give informal recitals.
St Andrew's and St George's Church. George Street (Festival). 225 5756.13—17 Aug. 10.45pm. £4.
attertheir two massive productions in Glasgow The Bolshoi Opera come to Edinburgh lorthe much smaller scale Duenna—or The Betrothal in a Monastery. by Prokoliev. The Duenna. Playhouse Theatre. Greenside Place. (Festival) 225 5756.14—16 Aug. 7pm. 25—233.
I emsnor OPERA Straight“ 2
FESTIVAL —
i Czeching 1 out
f No matter which part of the Festival‘s music programme you look at this year. the composer Martinu seems to be there. A composer generally not at all well known. Martinu has become familiar to Scottish audiences recently through the SNO‘s championing of his symphonies over the past concert season. In recognition of I990 being the centenary of his birth. the Festival has taken this one stage further and is presenting a showcase of his music. dipping into every area of his incredibly prolific output. whether orchestral. choral. opera. string quartets or chamber music for various combinations of instruments.
This will be the first time that such a comprehensive survey of Martinu‘s works has been presented in Britain. Born in a church tower in Policka in Czechoslovakia (his father. a . cobbler. was keeper of the tower. ; which was home to the family for the early years of Martinu’s life). Martinu went on to become a violinist with the Czech Philharmonic. It is not this orchestra which appears in Edinburgh. I however. but the Prague Symphony Orchestra. Czechoslovakia‘s other leading symphonic force. Conductor i for two of their three concerts is Jiri Belohlavek. whom the Prague is on the verge of losing to the Czech Philharmonic. and their third performance is conducted by Petr
music/ctAssiciudn
Altricher. the new (‘hiefConductor at the Prague Symphony. For the first concert the orchestra teams up with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus in The Greek Passion. Martinu‘s last opera. written to an English libretto by the composer based on Kazantzakis‘s novel Christ Recrucified. A powerful and explosive work. The Greek Passion is to be recommended for anyone following the Martinu trail this Festival. Similarly. the orchestra‘s concert on the following evening should not be missed. Sandwiched between Janacek‘s .Sinfonierla and I)ebussy‘s La Mer. Martinu's Piano Concerto No 2 has as soloist Rudolf Firkusny. a close friend of the composer‘s who gave first performances of many of his works. Another Czech. Josef Suk. viola. performs the Rhapsody Concerto in the Prague Symphony‘s third concert. a late work showing the many influences on Martinu's music from folk-tunes to jazz. Both Firkusny and Suk also play in the
Fringe recitals
Still dominated by drama. music on the
Fringe tends to go lorthe
strength-in-numbers theory. and once
; again Fringe concerts and recitals are
i generally presented by venue. DI the
I main contenders, Central Hall’s
; Festival at British Youth Orchestras is reduced in size to the second and third
I weeksthisyear(butstillinvolving
i about 1500 young musicians), while St
i Andrew's and St George‘s at Festival
3 Time and Philomusica of Edinburgh
span the whole three, Philomusica now §
{ being spread overthree venues,
‘ including its usual St Mark’s on Castle Terrace. Relations are obviously
lriendly, with Philomusica presenting
( one of the top youth groups (Essex
3 and Philomusica's own orchestral
‘ concerts happening at St Andrew's and j St George's.
l The lirst otthese, under
1 violinist/director David Hume. on Sun
Youth Brass Ensemble. Wed 15 at 8pm)
morning chamber music series at the
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12 (8pm). is a mainly Bach programme including the ‘Brandenburg Concerto No 4' and the ‘Violin Concerto in D minor’. In an impressive spread of artists and programmes other highlights at St Andrew's and St George’s in week1 are ‘Beau Soir', a recital of French song by Scottish soprano Elizabeth McKeon. winner at last year's Mozart competition (Mon 13 at 8pm) and guitar recitals by Italian
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International Festival)
Queen‘s Hall. the latter with the Suk
Quartet of Prague and the former
with the Panocha Quartet. again
Czech musicians. as well as a solo recital including works by Smetana. regarded as tne founder of Czech music. Janacek. and Martinu‘s Fantasy and Toccata.
Other Czechoslovakian performers include Slovak National Opera and Ballet in four operas. with Martinu'sJulietra being performed at the King's towards the end ofthe Festival. the Czech Nonet and harpsichordist Zuzana Ruzickova. Sensibly. the Festival is spreading its celebration of Martinu over two years. so there will be more of the same to look foward to next year. Carol Main)
I Prague Symphony Orchestra Usher Hall. 13. Hand 16 Aug at 8pm.
I Slovak National Opera and Ballet. Julietta King‘s Theatre. 29 and 30 Aug at 7.30pm.
I Chamber Ensembles Queen‘s Hall. various dates at l lam.
Tickets: 225 5756 (Edinburgh
I». eon/H’" /’/:--
classical guitarist Gualtiero Pedriali (Tue 14 and Fri 17 at 8pm). Making use of the church’s splendid Wills Kennedy organ. Mervyn Games olAll Saints Cathedral, Halifax. Nova Scotia gives the first of three special Festival lunchtime recitals (Wed 15 at 12.30pm). (Carol Main)
Fringe Music— see Fringe Programme for lull details of times. venues and
The l.l\I lll lh.-\ugust lINII45