Scottish Ensemble begins an exciting 2026 with the return of our Young Artist programme, helping to develop the next generation of Scotland’s young string players.
Delivered in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, each year a group of RCS string students are selected to take part in a week-long side-by-side project with Scottish Ensemble musicians.
The week sees mentorship meet music-making in its most dynamic form, with the group working on a broad range of string repertoire, extended playing techniques, programme curation and how to communicate with audiences.
This year the development week will culminate in Musical Encounters, an electrifying collaborative performance that sees the young RCS players bring fresh energy to the stage alongside Scottish Ensemble, for afternoon concerts in Glasgow (RCS, 16 January) and Edinburgh’s Queens Hall (17 January).
Following the project two young musicians will be selected to be Scottish Ensemble’s Young Artists for 2026. They will benefit from a year-long programme of paid opportunities and development experiences designed to broaden their skills as professional musicians.
This will include joining the Ensemble for tours and performances as well as Music for Wellbeing workshops in schools and at Scotland’s Maggie’s Centres, alongside office days with the management team to gain insights into programming, fundraising, and marketing.
James Hardie, Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, said: “At Scottish Ensemble, we are always looking to the future of our artform, and nurturing the next generation of musicians is central to that mission.
“Our annual Young Artists week at the RCS is a highlight of the year, giving us the chance to work with a new cohort of passionate, energetic young string players.”
Swiss art collective PROJEKTIL brings its vivid light and sound show to Edinburgh from 31 January, following acclaimed runs in Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds
Enlightenment by EONARIUM is coming to Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall on 31 January, following acclaimed runs in Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds.
In a dynamic immersive journey, visitors will be enveloped in stunning visuals and captivating soundscapes inspired by Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The waitlist is now live on Fever, the leading tech platform for discovering live entertainment, for those eager to experience this one-of-a-kind event.
Presented by the Zurich-based artist collective PROJEKTIL, in collaboration with Fever, Enlightenment promises to be visually and spiritually uplifting.
The show will transform the iconic McEwan Hall at the University of Edinburgh into a sensory journey with vibrant light projections and the iconic melodies of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
PROJEKTIL has revitalised Vivaldi’s original compositions by rearranging and recording them specifically to enhance the immersive experience, blending classical elements with a contemporary touch.
Designed by Sir Rowand Anderson in the late 1800s and adorned with 15 hand-painted mural panels, McEwan Hall stands as a stunning Victorian landmark and the perfect backdrop for audiences to be enveloped by the spellbinding visuals and sounds of Enlightenment.
The 30-minute installation is divided into scenes, each designed to be enjoyed while seated on comfortable chairs or bean bags, allowing guests to gaze up at the projections that adorn the ceiling and walls. They can expect to take in spring, summer, autumn and winter like never before.
The journey also consists of two final stops into the magic of the universe, taking viewers directly to “Samsara”, a concept borrowed from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cultures that describes the endless cycle of rebirth and suffering, and “Nirvana”, the attainment of ultimate enlightenment and liberation from samsara.
It’s a fascinating experience that can be enjoyed by children and adults, friends and families alike.
Using video mapping technology, the show creates a precise and immersive environment, melding imagery with the sounds of classical music to fully engage and mesmerise the audience.
Sign up to the waitlist now on Fever’s platform for an exclusive presale access before general sale on 18 December.
Practical information
Location: McEwan Hall, The University of Edinburgh, Teviot Pl, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: From £10.90 (General Admission), £7.90 (Child) and £9.90 (Students and Seniors)
Renowned director/designer team Renaud Doucet and André Barbe return to Scottish Opera this autumn with their acclaimed production of Giacomo Puccini’s ravishing classic, La bohème.
Opening on 11 October at Theatre Royal Glasgow, the production tours to Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh and features an innovative dual-time concept that moves between the flea markets of 1920s Paris and the modern-day French capital.
It takes inspiration from the Jazz Age of Josephine Baker, the American dancer, singer, actress, spy and civil rights activist.
This Barbe & Doucet show is full of their trademark colour, character and style, andtells the story of four struggling bohemians, reimagined as part of the ‘Lost Generation’, the collection of writers and artists drawn to Paris after World War I, whose lives are changed when they meet a seamstress called Mimì.
A blossoming romance becomes short-lived when they discover that Mimì is ill. Struggling to survive in the lavish yet unforgiving city, these charismatic characters are met with the harsh realities of poverty and fortune.
The design emphasises the contrast between the colourful carnival atmosphere and the starving artists’ lives, creating a production that balances sentimentality with the bustling energy of Paris across different eras.
Scottish Opera Music Director, Stuart Stratford, who is celebrating ten years with the Company, conducts Hye-Youn Lee (pictured) (La traviata 2024)as Mimì, a role she originated in the 2017 production of La bohème.
Also in the cast are Mario Chang as Rodolfo in his Scottish Opera debut, Roland Wood (The Strauss Collection 2025) as Marcello, Rhian Lois (The Merry Widow 2025) as Musetta, Callum Thorpe (Oedipus Rex 2024) as Colline, Emerging Artist Edward Jowle (Trial by Jury & A Matter of Misconduct! 2025) as Schaunard and Jamie MacDougall (Trial by Jury & A Matter of Misconduct! 2025) as Alcindoro / Benoît.
Barbe & Doucet,who last worked with Scottish Opera on the 2024 production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale said: ‘The story of La bohème is one we can all relate to.
“It seemed important to us to explore the theme of illness since, as a society, we are all under the weather at the moment and in need of healing. The flea market setting represents a little bit of what we are up against today – we seem to live life too fast, and, through antiques, people get a sense of going back to a less hectic time.
“This opera is not about nostalgia –La bohème is not a museum piece – the story is timeless. Along with meeting new artists, we look forward very much to revisiting the production with Hye-Youn Lee with whom we had so much pleasure collaborating on the original staging.”
With tickets starting from just £23 – £26.50, and 40% of all seats priced under £50, Scottish Opera ensures world-class opera remains accessible to everyone across Scotland.
In addition, £15 tickets are available for under-26s and students at every performance. Over 800 free tickets have been provided to schools since 2022, often introducing pupils to live opera for the first time, and over 1,600 free tickets have been distributed to New Scots communities across Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh.
Free tickets are also available for schools, colleges, and community groups, with travel subsidies where needed.
To bring even more opera to Scottish audiences, La bohème is presented alongside the double bill of Maurice Ravel’s L’heure espagnole and William Walton’s The Bear. These concert stagings of two caustic comedies of infidelity are performed on the La bohème set and conducted by French opera expert Alexandra Cravero (Thérèse 2022). The director is Jacopo Spirei, and designs are by Kenneth MacLeod.
Opening on 18 October in Glasgow before touring to Edinburgh, these shows feature a cast that includes current and former Emerging Artists.
Specially created Access performances of La bohème run alongside the mainstage productions in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
With Dementia Friendly values at their core, Afternoon Access performances are for those who enjoy a more relaxed opera experience. Tickets are priced at just £12.50 (free for carers), and these performances are open to all, including those who may be living with dementia or Long COVID, more comfortable at a shorter show, struggling to get to evening performances, or would simply benefit from the more relaxed atmosphere.
Those who wish to discover more about how La bohème was created can attendPre-show Talks in all four cities on the tour, which delve into the detail of the opera. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance.
Audience members with a visual impairment can enjoy the full opera experience at Audio-described performances, which have a live commentary describing the action on stage without compromising the music.
At these performances, there are also free Touch Tours of the set, and a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.
La bohème is supported by The Scottish Opera Syndicate.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of music with the incredibly talented Carla Coste -a renowned cellist who has performed as soloist and chamber musician at prestigious festivals across Europe, England and Asia.
On the day, Carla will be performing Suite numbers three and four by Johann Sebastian Bach, and a contemporary French piece by Graciane Finzi entitled “A strange Dream”
Don’t miss this chance to experience her captivating performance live at Stockbridge library on Wednesday 4th June at 6 pm!
Embracing the enchanting atmosphere of summertime, Scottish Ensemble is set to illuminate sunlit venues with an evening of vibrant music during their annual Concerts for a Summer’s Night series across Scotland.
In 2025 Scottish Ensemble will be joined by French singer and composer Héloïse Werner. Héloïse’s vocals will meld with the sound of 12 string players to create a bright and vivid sound world that will take listeners on an odyssey through beautifully evocative arrangements of Baroque songs to Héloïse’s own dramatic and playful works.
Concerts for a Summer’s Night takes place from Monday 9 June until Monday 16 June at Rossie Byre in Perthshire, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Aberdeen Art Gallery, The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and, for the first time, atV&A Dundee.
The programme will transport audiences through centuries and musical styles blending Baroque and classical works with contemporary music that offers a fresh take on music for strings and voice. The concerts will have a distinctly French twist with composers featured including Maurice Ravel, Pauline Viardot and Julie Pinel.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Our Concerts for a Summer’s Night are a particular highlight of the year at Scottish Ensemble, for audiences and musicians alike.
“It’s always exciting to fill these beautiful venues with an eclectic mix of music, and we are thrilled to introduce the multi-talented Héloïse Werner to our audiences this year.”
Héloïse Werner said: “Having been in the audience to experience the thrilling and dynamic playing of this exemplary group of musicians, I am hugely looking forward to the honour of joining them on stage for this special collaboration.”
Tickets range from £11 – £22 and are free for under 16s.
Tickets are available from https://scottishensemble.co.uk/programme/2024-25/concerts-for-a-summers-night-3
The Aga Khan Music Programme (AKMP), one of the most extensive music preservation and education programmes in the world, and the Edinburgh International Festival will collaborate once again in 2025, presenting an inspiring programme that brings together fresh perspectives on devotional Quranic recitation; a groundbreaking melding of visual art, music, movement and improvisation; and a pioneering collaboration between Asian, Middle Eastern and European musicians.
Following its hugely popular series of concerts at the festival last year, audiences in Edinburgh once again have the rare opportunity to hear first-hand from some of the best musicians in the world.
The trio of distinctive performances reflect the fundamental cultural aims described by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV: ‘To transcend old boundaries of time and place, reminding the world that every individual can respond to art and music, whether it emanates from a different culture or not. For, after all, art is a matter of humanity, just as much as it is a matter of identity.’
Tanzanian singer and composer Yahya Hussein Abdallah, winner of the 2022 Aga Khan Music Award, and Tunisian-born viola d’amore player Jasser Haj Youssef together weave a rich tapestry of meditative music with Sufi poetry and Eastern literature exploring faith, belief and spirituality. Inspired by the historic meeting between two legendary figures of the Arab musical tradition – Sheikh Mohammad Omran and the violinist Abdo Dagher – this interpretation offers listeners both a devotional experience and a healing ritual (19th August, The Hub).
Visual artist Tazeen Qayyum, accompanied by Aga Khan Master Musicians Feras Charestan (qanun) and Basel Rajoub (saxophone, duclar and percussion), presents a unique live performance titled بھی “here and now”. Tazeen Qayyum creates an intricate calligraphic drawing in real time, inspired by the expressive power of Urdu, Arabic and Farsi, with musical accompaniment blending Middle Eastern rhythms and jazz. This contemplative performance – which acts as a counterforce to the tragedies of our times – invites audiences to slow down, observe and reflect to find a state of harmony and mindfulness (21st August, The Hub).
Ancient traditions meet musical innovation as the Aga Khan Master Musicians join forces with two European musical visionaries, accordionist and vocalist Vincent Peirani and cellist Vincent Ségal. The Aga Khan Master Musicians – a collective of exceptional performers immersed in their individual traditions – include pipa pioneer and International Festival favourite Wu Man, Syrian-born saxophonist Basel Rajoub, qanun master Feras Charestan, and Turkish oud player Yurdal Tokan. This vibrant fusion of ideas and cultures promises a rich blend of sounds and traditions (22nd August, The Hub).
Fairouz Nishanova, Director of the Aga Khan Music Programme, said: “We are delighted to continue and extend our deep-rooted partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival, a rich relationship that is based on our shared values of connecting global audiences through the power of music, and thereby fostering cross-cultural understanding and broad social cohesion.
“We are particularly excited this year to be working with the Festival’s Discovery and Participation team, broadening our reach into Edinburgh’s own local communities and demonstrating our core values of education and enrichment.”
The AKMP and EIF’s Discovery and Participation team will join together for two significant projects during the 2025 Festival. A Culture Club, devised jointly by EIF and participants from the Edinburgh neighbourhood of Broomhouse, will welcome AKMP artists to the district for a performance, a shared meal and a conversation.
In addition, young musicians aged 8 to 18 who hold one of the Festival’s Young Musician’s Passes will be invited to talk and improvise informally to AKMP musicians and discover more about their traditions and their instruments following the performance on 22 August. Both of these projects encourage direct connections between visiting performers and members of the Edinburgh community, and embody the values of education and connection shared strongly by both organisations.
Since its founding in 2000, the Aga Khan Music Programme, part of the wider Aga Khan Development Network, exists to champion and preserve the diverse musical traditions in regions where Muslims have a significant presence, including Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa.
As well as bringing exceptional musicians to a global stage, the Music Programme also works within a network of schools and development centres to pass the baton to the next generation of young musicians learning the often ancient musical heritage of their community. The Music Programme is also the home of the Aga Khan Music Awards, founded by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV in 2018 to recognise exceptional creativity, promise and enterprise in music across the world.
Nicola Benedetti, Edinburgh International Festival Festival Director said: “The Edinburgh International Festival is thrilled to welcome back the Aga Khan Music Programme, whose extraordinary musicians bring a rich tapestry of traditions to our stage.
“Their performances not only celebrate musical excellence but also foster cross-cultural dialogue, aligning perfectly with this year’s International Festival theme, The Truth We Seek. We can’t wait for audiences to experience these powerful and transformative performances in The Hub this August.”
Listings
19th August 2025, The Hub – Yahya Hussein Abdallah & Jasser Haj Youssef
21st August 2025, The Hub – Canvas of Sound with Tazeen Qayyum
22nd August 2025, The Hub – Master Musicians with Peirani and Segal.
Tickets for all three concerts go on sale on Thursday 27th March at www.eif.co.uk
Soar ‘Out of this World’ with CCC’s 20-piece Essential Orchestra this March!
We’re blasting to Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on March 15 for an intergalactic musical odyssey.
Including an exciting programme of music ranging from Holst and Debussy to John Williams (no space-themed concert would be complete without certain alien-inspired music!) and a new piece from the exciting young composer, Aileen Sweeney, it really is the perfect introduction to orchestral music.
Scottish Opera is delighted to welcome 15 rising stars from the National Opera Studio for a week long residency, culminating in Lust & Laughter at Theatre Royal Glasgow on 21 February.
Building on a 45 year-strong partnership, 11 singers and four repetiteurs work intensively for a week with Scottish Opera music staff to rehearse their repertoire, before taking to the stage with The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, conducted by Music Director, Stuart Stratford.
The director of the showcase is Emma Jenkins, who has previously directed for Scottish Opera the National Opera Studio’s Anarchy at the Opera performance in 2022, Opera Highlights 2022/23, and the critically acclaimed Scottish premiere of Strauss’ Daphne in 2023.
This international cohort consists of artists from all over the world, including South Africa, Russia and the UK, as well as Scottish soprano Rachel McLean, who graduated in 2023 with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Audience members can look forward to afun and energetic show with a programme that includesexcerpts from Hansel & Gretel by Humperdinck, The Merry Wives of Windsor by Nicolai, Cendrillon by Massenet and Così fan tutte by Mozart.
Director Emma Jenkins said: ‘This showcase performance is a rollercoaster ride through fairy tale romances, vengeful encounters, love triangles and mistaken identity, all taking place on one crazy night.
“We invite you to jump down the rabbit-hole of human emotion, and celebrate with us as conflict becomes harmony and love finally conquers all.’
Eric Melear, Artistic Director of National Opera Studio said: ‘The National Opera Studio’s partnership with Scottish Opera is one of our most valued relationships. Working with their team provides our Young Artists with an immersive, professional experience that’s essential to their development.
“The unique mentorship and practical skills they gain here are invaluable to their careers. We share a commitment to nurturing emerging talent, and our artists consistently find Scottish audiences to be wonderfully welcoming and supportive.’
The National Opera Studio offers intensive and bespoke professional training for the next generation of opera stars. Alumni include Gerald Finley, Alfie Boe, Lesley Garrett, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Nicky Spence, who was the Patron of Scottish Opera Young Company.
Scottish Opera audiences will be familiar with NOS alumni including current Emerging Artist soprano Kira Kaplan, and tenor Robert Forrest. They are both cast members in the Opera Highlights tour this year. Kira has already appeared in the Company’s production of Albert Herring, and will perform in Trial by Jury and A Matter of Misconduct! in May.
Scottish Opera brings its pioneering health and arts initiative, Breath Cycle, to the stage with two special evenings of live performance at The Beacon, Greenock (31 January), and Glasgow’s Tron Theatre (1 February).
These intimate performances showcase the transformative powers of daily practice in breath control and vocal training for individuals suffering from a range of lung conditions, as well as supporting them to share their lived experience of coping with often life limiting lung conditions, through a series of song writing workshops.
The intention is to support people in their journey to reclaim their physical and mental resilience.
Award-winning composer Gareth Williams and writer Martin O’Connor lead an exceptional ensemble featuring Admiral Fallow’s Louis Abbott, operatic tenor David Douglas (pictured above), and actor-songwriter Frances Thorburn, accompanied by violin, cello, and piano who will perform their renditions of a selection of the songs that have been created during the workshops over the past three years.
Breath Cycle was originally developedin 2013 by Scottish Opera and Glasgow’s Gartnavel General Hospital West of Scotland Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit, to explore whether building lung capacity and developing breath control as part of a daily vocal routine could prove beneficial to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of patients.
Scottish Opera repurposed the project during lockdown to offer support to people struggling with the debilitating effects of Long COVID. Since Autumn 2021, nearly 500 people from Scotland and across the world have taken part in the Breath Cycle sessions mentored by Scottish Opera artists, and over 3000 individuals have accessed the online resources freely available from the Company’s website to use at home at their own convenience.
Last year, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and Scottish Opera joined forces to develop online singing classes for people living with aphasia. These built on the Breath Cycle project, to unlock the therapeutic benefits of singing and song writing to people living with aphasia, which is caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls language, and in some cases leaves some unable to speak at all.
Jane DavidsonMBE, Director of Outreach and Education at Scottish Opera said: ‘As we expand the Breath Cycle II programme in 2025, we’re excited to bring these remarkable stories to the stage for the first time.
‘Our ensemble will bring to life the experiences of Breath Cycle participants through songs crafted by Gareth Williams and Martin O’Connor. These performances not only showcase personal journeys, but also raise awareness about respiratory health challenges facing many Scots. Audiences will even have the opportunity to experience some of our proven breathing exercises and vocal techniques firsthand.’
Breath Cycle: A Story of Healing is supported by The Scottish Government, Cruach Trust, The Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust and Scottish Opera’s Education Angels.
Scottish Ensemble bring moments of stillness and a captivating musical adventure as they perform their annual Concerts by Candlelight series across Scotland
From the 5th to the 12th December the pioneering string ensemble will visit some of the country’s most atmospheric settings. Concerts by Candlelight will take place in Perth, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and for the first time in Dunblane.
A staple of the Scottish festive calendar these concerts feature vibrant compositions illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Concerts by Candlelight have become a very popular moment in our musical calendar, both for audiences and musicians, and it’s heartwarming to see people return each year.
“We all look forward to meeting again in these spectacular buildings, and to experience together the magical combination of beautiful sounds within ancient spaces.”
Audiences can expect a rich selection of music that weaves between past and present, to create a beautiful sonic tapestry. Alongside compositions with seasonal resonances by JS Bach, Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks, there will also be pieces that will take listeners to unexpected places including movements from Kaija Saariaho’s Sept Papillons and The Evergreen by Caroline Shaw.
The programme also includes a brand-new work, And At Pains to Temper the Light, by Hannah Kendall, commissioned by Scottish Ensemble, Staatsoper Stuttgart and Staatstheater Stuttgart.
Known for her attentive arrangements and immersive world-building, British composer Hannah Kendall’s music looks beyond the boundaries of composition. Just like Scottish Ensemble, her work bridges gaps between different musical cultures, both honouring and questioning the contemporary tradition while telling new stories through it.
Hannah Kendall said about her new work: “My grandfather and his family were from the Berbice region of Guyana, which has deeply rooted and routed, yet largely unforgotten or unknown, historical connections to Scotland.
“In And At Pains to Temper the Light, I seek to reimagine and refresh these ties, creating renewed spaces of connection that have the potential to inspire transformation through sound.
“I am indebted to Scottish Ensemble, a group of musicians I so deeply admire, for giving me the opportunity to explore this part of my heritage in a way that hopefully also speaks to shared experiences that transcend borders and time.”
Tickets range from £11 – £22 and are free for under 16s. Tickets are available from:
Soar ‘Out of this World’ with CCC’s 20-piece Essential Orchestra this March! 
