Starting with the theme from the monumental documentary about the US Civil War by Ken Burns, Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti, introduced the great man who spoke a bit about the meaning of the ideas behind the US Declaration of Independence.
He quoted the second sentence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” in order to point out how world-changing this sentiment was and still is.
Nicola Benedetti is truly an amazing woman, musician, and delightful human being. The staff at the EIF are equally impressive having organised the extraordinary folk they persuaded to contribute to the First Night at the Hub, the home of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Among other highlights were the duet which Ms Benedetti played with the violinist and conductor Karina Canellakis, appearances by Krill Gerstein, a significant selection of members of the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra whose residency at the EIF came to an end last night (12 August). Among those making appearances were pianist Joe Webb, drummer Domo Branch, the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.
All superb renditions of a variety of musical styles completed by an astonishing arrangement of the whole cast in a finale leaving an extremely broad smile on my face.
