Temporary home for Brunton classical music programme

The Brunton’s programme of classical music has a temporary home in the beautiful and atmospheric Northesk Parish Church in Musselburgh.

The concerts are programmed by James Waters, also artistic director of Lammermuir Festival and the bite-sized Concerts at Lunchtime Series offers a break from the hustle and bustle. Optional soup and sandwich is served in the Church Hall before the concert at noon, allowing concert goers to relax, meet and make friends before the hour long concert at 1pm.

This series of concerts includes established and emerging, prizewinning performers with sparkling programmes of music.

Pianist Ariel Lanyi plays Romantic Piano Masterpieces on Tuesday 5 November. Now developing a major international career, Ariel returns with a programme built around two romantic masterpieces: Schubert’s Piano Sonata in G major D894 and Mendelssohn’s Fantasy in F sharp minor Op 28. Mendelssohn was a virtuoso pianist as well as a great conductor. Schubert’s piano sonatas transport the listener to another world outside of daily life.

December’s Glorious Piano Music is played by pianist Ignas Maknickas at lunchtime on Tuesday 10 December. Pieces of romantic music frame this programme. Schubert’s piano sonatas take the listener on timeless musical journeys and Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie is one of his last and greatest piano works, making huge demands on the player and rewarding the audience with a spectacular conclusion to this concert.

The new series of concerts with soloists from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra begins with The Virtuoso Flute on Wednesday 9 October at 7.30pm.

Flautist Katherine Bryan is accompanied by pianist, Scott Mitchell. The programme includes music by Debussy, Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss.

Katherine Bryan has an international reputation as a soloist in addition to her work with the RSNO. Her programme is full of gorgeous melodies including an arrangement of Lensky’s famous aria from Eugen Onegin.

RSNO principal clarinettist, Timothy Orpen plays The Virtuoso Clarinet on Wednesday 20 November at 7.30pm accompanied by pianist Scott Mitchell.

This programme includes classical Mozart, romantic Brahms, impressionistic Debussy and concludes with some fireworks by Giampieri.

Northesk Church is filled with sounds of A Night of Opera (pictured below) on Thursday 24 October 7.30pm. The Classical Musicians Scotland Orchestra is joined by Soprano – Emily Mitchell,

Mezzo soprano – Sarah Shorter, Tenor – Christian Schneeberger and Baritone – Douglas Nairne perform arias, duets, trios and quartets by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Mozart and many more from the world of opera and operetta, including some Gilbert and Sullivan.

A programme of favourite and well-known operatic melodies.

Bringing The Brunton’s autumn/winter programme to a close is a seasonal concert, Christmas by Candlelight with the Royal Northern Sinfonia (pictured) led by Maria Włoszczowska (director/violin), on Sunday 1 December at 7pm. Described as a treat for a dark winter’s night with a selection of beautiful, atmospheric pieces, carefully chosen to bring cheer in the festive season.

The orchestra combine classical chart-toppers with lesser-known gems, brimming with energy and excitement,lighting up the beautiful Northesk Church with glorious classical music.

All concerts are part of The Brunton’s programme of classical music at Northesk Parish Church, Musselburgh. Tickets are available online at www.thebrunton.co.uk by phone on 0131 653 5245 or from The Brunton’s box office counter Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm.