HOGMANAY 2006
Walk the river of light
The last Friday of 2006 is the start of Edinburgh's Hogmanay. and the four-day festival opens with a glowing snake of people. winding from Parliament Square (6.30pm). down the Mound. along Princess Street. and up Calton Hill. Buy vouchers in advance ($24) to ensure you get your own flaming beacon.
German bites in the capital
Scotland embraces Deutschland in an exchange of music. food and theatre. The carnival begins with a pipe band overture on Mound Square at 7.45pm, followed by street theatre in George Street. Berlin nightclub Der Fest in the Assembly Rooms. and a ceilidh stage right outside. And what‘s more. it's all free.
Reeling and rocking at the ceilidh Don yOur finest evening dress — Highland formal wear a must for the boys — and prepare to strip the willow. greet the Gay Gordons and slow dance to the Strathspeys. The Occasionals. Hugh MacDiarmid's Haircut. and Bela McNab's Ceilidh Band do the musical honours. with dance DJs in the club bar.
Candlelit Concert
Choral classics in the cathedral Bach's Wac/iet auf, ruft uns die Sfimme. Haydn's Mi'ssa Sancti' NICO/88 and a Handel organ concerto make up a feast of devotional music to end the year. Michael Harris directs the Cathedral Choir. who are suppOrted by the Scottish Ensemble and Peter Backhouse on the building‘s evocative organ.
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