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| high street performers |
Weather warm and muggy this year over for the Edinburgh festivals. Who says Scotland is always cold? asks a young American girl. But the next day the humidity lifts and its clear, windy and sunny. In Scotland, often has the three seasons in one day. We meet old friends and later make our way up the very busy high street – past the excited performers, the tourists young and old, as Edinburgh comes to life again for its annual celebration of the arts, culture, drama and music, from the sublime to the idiotic. Entrancing audiences both young and old, and from near and far.
One of the world’s oldest and biggest Arts festivals, begun in 1947 after the war. (which might have ended all wars but didn’t)
Sunday – Bach’s St Matthews Passion. Such a wall of sound: spine-tingling and goose bumps.
With the Festival chorus, BBC symphony orchestra and a top line up of soloists. What joyous, soul enriching and uplifting music by the genius of Bach. – and interpreted by Mendelsohn.
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| Festival chorus & Symphony orchestra |
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| Carmen Festival Theatre |
Monday – Scottish National art gallery to see the exhibition of John Laverty. Persuasive impressions.
A major exhibition of Irish and Scots impressionist painter John Lavery July to October, 2024. He was a great journeyman, who painted extraordinary images of ordinary life in Glasgow, Spain and Morocco. His portraits have a surreal quality: both commanding and expressive.
Tuesday – Carmen Opera with incredible singing and performances and unforgettable music by Bisset. What a treat!
Paintings by Sir John Lavery July to October 2024. ‘An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location’, a collaboration between the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, National Museums NI, and the National Galleries of Scotland. That capture Lavery's impressions of people and places, from his travels - Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Palm Springs, Glasgow, London, and Venice. Portraits, genre scenes, landscapes, and cityscapes.
The Arts are under pressure like never before. Recent funding has been cut. But art is not an extra in life or for our heritage and stories. Its central.
This year’s festival theme was ‘The Rituals that Unite Us’.
We must hold on – to the past and to future innovations.
