University sponsors International Festival concerts
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performances featured an Edinburgh alumnus and honorary degree holder.
Holst's The Planets
On 9 August, Donald Runnicles, an alumnus of the University, conducted the Orchestra’s performance of Holst’s The Planets.
The concert also included a performance of Britten’s Sinfonia da Requieum and composer Colin Matthew’s Pluto, which complements Holst’s work.
Information on International Festival website
Below, Professor Raymond MacDonald introduces The Reid School of Music at the University.
Festival Concerts at St Cecilia's Hall
This year’s Festival Concerts at St Cecilia’s Hall before it closes for redevelopment.
Closing Concert
On 30 August, the University sponsored the final instalment of the Festival’s concert series. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performed under the direction of Principal Guest Conductor Ilan Volkov.
They performed Sandakan Threnody, a piece by composer and Honorary Doctor of the University of Edinburgh Sir Jonathan Mills. The work honours the British and Australian prisoners of war who lost their lives in the North Borneo death marches during the Second World War. This was followed by Janacek’s Glagoltic Mass.
The performance featured a cast of renowned singers, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and organist Thomas Trotter.