The concert will raise funds for the Scottish Refugee Council, as they continue to take a leading role in welcoming displaced Ukrainians to Scotland and providing vital assistance as they settle in.

Scottish Refugee Council (SC008639) work closely with local councils, partner organisations and communities across the country to make sure that Ukrainians coming to Scotland receive a warm welcome.

If you are able to, please consider making a donation to support this important work.

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra comes to Edinburgh for a historic free concert, the only Scotland performance in their tour of Europe and the USA. Edinburgh is twinned with the city of Kyiv and this special collaboration between the International Festival and the Scottish Government is in support of the city’s Ukrainian community and those directly affected by the war.

Under the leadership of Canadian-Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, the orchestra’s repertoire includes Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov’s Seventh Symphony; Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto with Ukrainian virtuoso Anna Fedorova; and leading Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska performing an aria from Verdi’s Aida.

Assembled by New York’s Metropolitan Opera and the Polish National Opera, the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra includes recent refugees, Ukrainian members of European orchestras and leading Ukrainian musicians and performers. The Ukraine Ministry of Culture is granting a special exemption to military-age, male members of orchestras inside the country to participate, allowing them to put down weapons and take up their instruments in a demonstration of the power of art over adversity.

Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Find out more about organisations that are supporting the Ukrainian people at this time

Scottish Refugee Council
Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh
Volunteer Edinburgh
Sunflower Scotland
EVOC
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain