Set against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh’s historic Castle, this spectacular event brings together stirring orchestral music from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and magnificent pyrotechnics, specially choreographed by international fireworks artists Pyrovision to enhance your musical experience. Around a quarter of a million people gather across the city and beyond to share in this annual grand festival season finale each year.

This year’s Virgin Money Fireworks Concert continues the International Festival’s Shakespearean celebrations, commemorating 400 years since the great Bard’s death with two very different but equally passionate musical interpretations of the greatest love story ever told.

Prokofiev’s vibrant ballet music for Romeo and Juliet takes in the swaggering machismo of the ‘Dance of the Knights’, known to millions as the theme from The Apprentice, as well as the rousing ‘Morning Dance’ and dramatic ‘The Fight’.

The Symphonic Dances from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story feature some of the composer’s most memorable music from his landmark Romeo and Juliet-inspired musical; flamboyant, catchy and unutterably cool, accompanied by a glittering display of pyrotechnics from the Edinburgh Castle ramparts. The concert concludes with the pomp and exuberance of Shostakovich’s joyful Festive Overture.

Exceptional young Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska conducts Edinburgh’s own Scottish Chamber Orchestra in this spectacular evening of music and sparkling visuals.

At 11am on the same day, schoolchildren from across the city will come to the Ross Theatre for a very special Schools Concert, sponsored by Virgin Money, with music from SCO VIBE, a fusion orchestra open to young musicians aged 11–18.