First Night at The Hub

Kick off your International Festival in style with Festival Director Nicola Benedetti and handpicked music icons.

Join Festival Director Nicola Benedetti in collaboration with classical composer Osvaldo Golijov, plus surprise guests, for an enthralling exploration of musical genres through collaboration and solo performances.

A relatively new tradition in our International Festival story, this concert builds on the energy of 2023’s sold-out First Night concert, with performances praised as ‘adventurous and unceasingly engaging’ (The Scotsman).

This is your chance to get to know leading artists amongst friends in the laid-back atmosphere of our Festival home at the top of the Royal Mile. During August 2024, The Hub will host an array of intimate recitals crossing the genres of jazz, classical, Celtic and more, featuring representation from Kyrgyzstan, Brazil and Indonesia.

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown together with Flure Grossart

Programme

On 04 August, the performance included:

Traditional arr. Vivian Tabbush: La Chapparita	Schola Cantorum
Osvaldo/Orquesta La Pasión piece 1: Gan Gan Cancan by Gonzalo Grau	Gonzalo Grau – piano; David Peña – bass; Gioconda Cabrera – voice
Reading 1 - Of course it hurts by Karin Boye	Lara Cowin
Bach: Erbarme Dich, Mein Gott	Dame Sarah Connolly, Andrew Forbes, Gemma Rosefield, Nicola Benedetti
Rituals of Rain	Soumik Datta
Reading 2 - From opening event: Where to begin? By Davey Anderson	Suzanne Andrade
Vasallos del Sol Arr. Jesús Rondón: Cantos de mi Tierra	Schola Cantorum
Beethoven: 2nd movement of the 'Ghost' Trio	Leonore Piano Trio
Osvaldo/Orquesta La Pasión piece 2: Que te pedi by Fernando Mulens into piece 3: Yerbero Moderno by Nestor Mili	Gonzalo Grau – piano; David Pena – bass; Gioconda Cabrera – voice
GREG LAWSON CURATION: A Man’s a Man for a’ That solo (Nicky) INTO -> Galician Tune -> Tongadale Reel -> Fairy Dance Reel	Nicky solo --> everybody joining

Artists:

Nicola Benedetti – host/violin

Osvaldo Golijov – special guest

Schola Cantorum de Venezuela with Maria Guinand – conductor

Leonore Piano Trio: Benjamin Nabarro – violin, Gemma Rosefield – cello, Tim Horton – piano

Dame Sarah Connolly – alto

Andrew Forbes – piano

Soumik Datta – sarod

Orchestra La Pasion musicians: Gonzalo Grau – piano/cajon, David Pena – bass, Gioconda Cabrera – vocals

Greg Lawson – fiddle/arranger of closing piece

Suzanne Andrade - reading

Lara Cowin – reading