What’s on in Edinburgh this week? 31st January 2011

31st January 2011

‘ A jewel of gold…. placed in a silver dish’: The Glenmorangie Project on Monday 31 January at The Royal Society of Edinburgh, George Street, Edinburgh at 18:00 (1hr) Entry Free but you can book on 0300 123 6789. Over the last three years generous financial support from The Glenmorangie Company has enabled the Archaeology department to undertake wide-ranging research into early historic Scotland. Dr David Clarke, Keeper of Archaeology, outlines some of the research team’s key findings. Lecture held jointly with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Waiting for Superman is showing tonight and 1st & 2nd February at 17.50 at The Filmhouse.  Academy Award®-winning documentarian Davis Guggenheim tackles another inconvenient truth: the failure of the public education system in the United States, the wealthiest country in the world. The film pulls no punches in its investigation of everything from the problem of poor test scores to low graduation rates, but it also explores some of the innovative approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools that are producing surprising results. Waiting for Superman features several outspoken leaders in the field of education and, just so we never lose sight of what’s really at stake, Guggenheim also follows five young students, Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, and their families’ desperate efforts to find them a quality education. Booking here.

Artas Ensemble is playing tonight at The Queen’s Hall. at 7.45pm. The Artas Ensemble was formed in London in 2008 and made its debut at St James Church Piccadilly. Led by violinist and BBC New Generation Artist Jennifer Pike, who was the youngest-ever BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2002, this string ensemble is at the “cutting edge of young performance”. Their New Town concert will be the ensemble’s first appearance in Edinburgh.Tickets may still be available here.

Starting today at Morningside Library there are daily readings from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyle’s extraordinary tale of friendship and the horrors of war. To complete the whole novel there will be four daily readings from Monday to Thursday each starting at 4.00pm. Due to the subject matter of the book the event will be suitable for 10 years and above only. More information from the library itself.

1st February 2011

The month starts with the last of this Season’s popular early evening CL@SIX series on Tuesday 1 February at 6pm by The Scottish Chamber Orchestra at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church in Edinburgh, with Drum Roll.  The concert opens with Mozart’s Overture to The Impresario followed by the composer’s Violin Concerto No 2 in D K211. It closes in a lively fanfare with Haydn’s war-time Symphony No 103 ‘Drum Roll’. Alexander Janiczek directs from the violin. More details on SCO website.

ecat: Matthew Barley – The Virtual Cellist appears at The Queen’s Hall tonight. Bach Preludes teamed up with jazz….against a backdrop of projected images.

Following on from the very popular LearnIT Computing for Beginners classes, The Central Library is delighted to be offering LearnIT Family History. This 2 hour session will enable you to become familiar with, and get the most out of,  our fantastic collection of online family history resources. They say:-“We’ll help you in your fascinating quest to discover relatives from the past!” At Central Library Learning Centre, Tuesday 1st February, 2-4pm. To book your place phone Wendy Pearson on 0131 242 8022 or email wendy.pearson@edinburgh.gov.uk

On the 1st of February the Lets Get Lyrical month of activities in Glasgow and Edinburgh kicks off.

You can see a list of all the events (and there are many of them!) here. Just click Full Screen to get the best view.

Naturally Lyrical
Exhibition | Free

Michael Jackson asked ‘What have we done to the world?’ Bob Dylan told us ‘The answer is blowin’ in the wind’. This display looks at how the stories of our natural world and the future of our planet have been told by some of the most recognisable song lyrics of our time. This exhibition is at Royal Botanic Garden | 10am – 4pm Lecture Theatre, 20A Inverleith Row, EH3 5LR www.rbge.org.uk/buyonline | www.rbge.org.uk | 0131 248 2909

‘Why Do Songs Have Lyrics? An Evening of Words and Music.’ at The Caves 8-12 Niddry Street South

Join King Creosote of the Fence Collective, bestselling crime writer Ian Rankin, Simon Frith, chair of the Mercury Music Prize, and Ziggy Campbell of Edinburgh band Found, for an entertaining evening of words and music. Learn about the creative process from two of Scotland’s best songwriters. Hear about the attempts of writers to compose song lyrics. Find out how critics decide what constitutes a good lyric. Enjoy a lively panel discussion followed by acoustic performances. Starts at 18:00 Entry Free To book Email: events@cityofliterature.com

Website: http://www.thecavesedinburgh.com/

Phone: 0131 557 8989

2nd February 2011

Today sees Edinburgh City Libraries presents ‘Crime in the City’.

“We’re delighted that Harry Morris, author of the hilarious Harry the Polis series, will be visiting three Edinburgh libraries next week to discuss his work and share some of the amusing anecdotes that fill his books. Contact the library to book your place.”

Craigmillar Library: Wednesday 2nd Feb, 2.30 – 3.30pm
Fountainbridge Library: Thursday 3rd Feb, 2.30 – 3.30pm
Corstorphine Library: Thursday 3rd Feb, 6.30 – 7.30pm

The Cameo Cinema has a draw for tickets for Top Gun showing on the big screen today as well as other California Classics throughout the month.

Wednesday 2nd February at 7pm Joanne Lamb, author of ‘Dalrymple Crescent: a snapshot of Victorian Edinburgh’, will visit Newington Library to give a presentation followed by a book signing. This book tells the story of the building of the Crescent, and of the people who lived there; and puts it in the context of Edinburgh in the latter half of the 19th century. Find out how just one street can illuminate not just the history of middle-class Victorian Edinburgh, but also the wider history of Scotland at that time. (Contact Newington Library for your free ticket for this event).

Tonight there will be a meet up of the Talk Discuss! Edinburgh group. They are meeting at Spoon Bistro at 7.30pm. Topic of discussion tonight is After Atheism: Science, Religion and the Meaning of Life by Mark Vernon.

‘The Moredun Rockumentary’ at Moredun Library

Have a favourite singer? Got a tune stuck in your head? Is there a lyric that means something special to you? Come along and tell all in our video diary room. Enter the pod for X factor fun –and record a favourite music artist and video podcast your inspiration. Libraries4U project. Starts at 18.30 till 20.00 Entry free but book places by email moredun.library@edinburgh.gov.uk

Website: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/libraries/ Phone: 0131 529 5652

Mary Gordon is running a class today in the course which she bases on Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. More details from her Creative Voyage website.  Venue: Leith Edinburgh 6.30-8.30pm  (Class size limited to 7 cost for 12 weeks £70)

3rd February 2011

At The Filmhouse at 20.30 To Have and Have Not – another Bogart and Bacall classic.If you miss it tonight then it is showing tomorrow afternoon too. Booking here.

At 6pm  on Thursday 3rd February, Central Library’s Edinburgh Room hosts a presentation, discussion and book signing of ‘Renewing Old Edinburgh: the enduring legacy of Patrick Geddes’ by Jim Johnson and Lou Rosenburg. (No tickets needed for this one, just turn up on the night)

Renewing Old Edinburgh is a superbly illustrated account of the attempts to improve physical and social conditions in Edinburgh’s old town from 1860 to the present. Based largely on original research, the authors provide an overview on the history of the old town renewal with particular reference to the protracted struggle between two contrasting approaches – large scale redevelopment and the more incremental syle of intervention which the Scots polymath Patrick Geddes described as ‘conservative surgery’.

Title: Art Song
Location: Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh
Description: Writer Janice Galloway, music critic and academic Simon Frith and SPL director Robyn Marsack discuss and celebrate the importance of art song, with specific interest in settings of lyric poetry.

Start Time: 20.00 End Time: 21.30 Price: £7/5 Booking: Not essential – Email: reception@spl.org.uk

Website: http://www.spl.org.uk/

At The Cameo you can watch National Theatre live on screen. Shakespeare’s King Lear is tonight’s performance at 18.45. Live from the internationally acclaimed Donmar Warehouse. The Donmar’s Artistic Director, Michael Grandage, directs Derek Jacobi as King Lear.

“Who is it that can tell me who I am?”.

An ageing monarch. A kingdom divided. A child’s love rejected. As Lear’s world descends into chaos, all that he once believed is brought into question. One of the greatest works in western literature, King Lear explores the very nature of human existence: love and duty, power and loss, good and evil. Booking here.

4th February 2011

Oxgangs Library is 20 and they are having a birthday party this afternoon between 2 & 4pm. If you manage to get along why not tell us about it? And no leaving cake crumbs in the books…..

At The Usher Hall on Friday 4 February 2011 at 7.30pm you can enjoy the RSNO playing Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky’s symphonies aren’t just about the melodies: they’re no-holds-barred emotional autobiographies, bursting at the seams with all the composer’s hopes, fears and desperate passions. And the Pathétique is the most overwhelming of them all. Plus keyboard fireworks too, as the supremely talented Gabriela Montero tackles Prokofiev’s best-loved piano concerto.

Title: Donny O’Rourke – Living History Session
Location: Currie Library, Edinburgh
Description: ‘Hearing the words: Lyrics that last’. Join Donny O’Rourke for a song-filled session. Experience the power and pleasure of words set to music. Listen to his songs, join in the favourite songs of yesterday and find out what makes a good song great. And don’t forget to bring along your own favourite song.
Join our Book Group audience – all welcome

Start Time: 14.00 End Time: 15.00 Price: Free Booking: Not essential – Email: currie.library@edinburgh.gov.uk

Website: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/libraries/

5th February 2011

One-time front man for Mike and The Mechanics, Paul Carrack, will be appearing tonight at The Queen’s Hall at 7.00pm.Carrack penned one of the all time great songs The Living Years.

On Saturday 5 February at 3.00pm at The Usher Hall the Lord Provost’s concert takes place at The Usher Hall. Pupils from the Erskine Stewart’s Melville schools choirs (The Land of Counterpane). A chorus of 300 voices from schools and communities across the City of Edinburgh (The Voice of a City). Edinburgh composer Edward Harper called on school choirs, adult choirs and the full SCO for his affectionate portrait of his home city. The One o’Clock Gun goes off with a bang, and he brings the streets alive, populating them with many of the city’s most celebrated residents: John Knox, Miss Jean Brodie, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sean Connery. This is a heart-warming concert opening with The Land of Counterpane, Howard Blake’s setting of poems from Stevenson’s collection A Child’s Garden of Verses. Tickets here.

Chinese New Year – Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with colourful celebrations and a chance to make your own Chinese dragon to take home.on 5th and 6th February at Hawthornden Court at the National Museum of Scotland from 12:00 – 16:00 (Drop-in) Entry is Free

6th February 2011

The Edinburgh Lectures series continues on 1st February  with Edinburgh – then and now: A modern Athens? at the Playfair Library Hall, Old College, University of Edinburgh South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Tickets £5.00 The lecture will be delivered by Nicholas Phillipson who lectured in History at Edinburgh from 1965 and retired from full-time employment in 2004. He was then appointed Honorary Research Fellow. By the end of the 18th century, Edinburgh had become one of the most important outposts of Enlightenment and was becoming known as a Modern Athens. How had Edinburgh come to earn this title? In what ways did the meaning of this title change in the following century? What meaning – if any – and what significance does it have today? Tickets here.

Part of Let’s Get Lyrical – Film :- Singin’ in the Rain
The Movies | £7.50/£5.50 (kids 12 or under £2.50)
Come and sing along with the unforgettable songs in one of the greatest film musicals ever! Gene Kelly stars in this hilarious and entertaining tale of cinema’s transition from silent films to talkies. Song lyrics will be projected onto the screen – join in with the fun.
Filmhouse | 1pm | 88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ www.filmhousecinema.com | 0131 228 2688