Leith. 225 2751. 9pm. Free. Folk instrumental music.

I Biddy Milligan's Grassmarket. 220 1246. 9 at. Free. Live music.

I Scruny Murphy's George IV Bridge. 225 1681. 9pm. Free. Live Irish music. I Finnegan’s Wake Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm—2am. Free. Irish theme pub with live music.

I Whistle Binkies Niddry Street. 557 5114. 10.30pm—Iate. Free. Live roots/folk bands.

I Ensign Ewart Lawnmarket. top of High Street. 225 7440. 9pm. Free. Live folksingers.

I West End Hotel Palmerston Place. 225 3656. 9pm. Free. Accordion music in the bar.

I Royal Oak Infirmary Street. 557 2976. 9pm till late. Free. Informal session.

Sundays

I Drouthy Neebors West Preston Street. 667 4143. 9pm. Songs and tunes with Jim Knight and friends.

I Sandy Brechin and Friends Ensign Ewart. Lawnmarket. top of High Street. 225 7440. 9—1 Iptn. Free. Hot accordionist in art open session.

I Whistle Binkies Niddry Street. 557 5114. 10.30pm—late. Free. Live roots/folk I Sandy Bell's Forrest Road. 225 275 I. Afternoon from Ipttt. Free. Session iii the famous folk uh.

I Finnegan 5 Wake Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm—2am. Free. Irish theme pub with live music.

I Royal Oak Infirmary Street. 557 2976. 10pm. Free. Informal music upstairs and downstairs.

Mondays

I Session Sandy Bells. Forrest Road. 225 2751. 9pm. Free.

I Finnegan's Wake Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm—2am. Free. Irish theme ptth with live music.

I Whistle Binkies Niddry Street. 557 5114 . 10.30pm—Iate. Free. Live roots/folk bands.

I Fiddler’s Arms Grasstnarket. 229 2665. 9pm. Free. Instrumental session. I Tron Ceilidh House Hunter Square. High Street. 220 1550. 9pm. Free. Bluegrass night.

Tuesdays

I O'Neill's South Bridge. 9pm. Free. Irish thetne pub. 1.ive hands.

I Finnegan's Wake Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm--2am. Free. Irish theme pttb with live music.

I Green Tree Cowgate. 225 1294. 9pm. Free. Instrumental. tnainly lrtsh.

I Whistle Binkies N'iddry Street. 10.30pm—late. Free. Live roots/folk hands.

I Bannerman's Bar Cowgatc. 556 3254. 9.30 111. Free. Irish tnusic.

I Tron Cellidh House Hunter Square. High Street. 220 1550. Informal live acoustic session tnost ttigltts.

Wednesdays

I Scruffy Murphy's George W Bridge. 225 1681. 9.30pm. Free Irish thetne pttb with live band.

I The Shore Bar The Shore. l.cilh. 553 5080. 9pm. Free. Session.

I Tron Ceilidh House Hunter Square. High Street. 220 1550. Informal live acoustic music most nights.

I Finnegan's Wake View in Street. 226 3816. 9pm -2am. l't'ee. Irish theme pub witlt live name.

I Whistle Binkies Nrtlth‘y Street. 55-7

5 l l4. ll)..“ll[‘.lll-l.tlc‘. l‘l'c'c‘.l.l\t‘l't)t)1\/littlls hands.

Thursdays

I Sandy BQII'S Forrest Road. 22.5 275 I. 9pm. Session. Free.

I Whistle Binkies Ntddry Street. 557 5114. 10.30pm late. Free.

I O'Neill's Sotttlt Bridge. 9pm. Free. Irish theme pub. I.rye l‘.tlltl\.

I Tron Ceilidh House llunter Squate. High Street. 220 1550.9prn, Free. Informal session.

I Finnegan's Wake Victoria Street. 226 3816. 9pm—2am. Free. Irish theme pith witlt liye mustc.

claSsical &

opera listings

Concerts are listed by date, then by city. Classical 8: Opera Listings compiled by Alan Morrison.

FRIDAY 24

Glasgow

I Norma Theatre Royal. Hope Street. 332 9000. 7.15pm. £3.50—£45.50. American soprano Frances Ginsberg takes over the title role in this Scottish Opera production. having recently played Bellini’s heroine in Belgium. The story tells of a Druid high priestess whose love affair with a Rotnan soldier complicates her plans to lead the Gauls' rebellion against their occupiers. Iart .Ittdge directs this hit from the 1992—93 season. and Julian Smith is the conductor. In Italian with English supertitles.

I BT Scottish Ensemble Stevenson Hall. RSAMI). 100 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 7.30pm. £9 (£5). Young musicians from live continents join the BT Scottish Ensemble for a concert to celebrate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting itt Edinburgh. Ilailittg from Australia. Canada. Malta. Nigeria and Sri I.anka. the yottttg artists play Mozart's (Rnu‘erto For Two Pianos and Sin/'onia Coneertantt'. and Britten's Les I/ltaninarions and Scrwrat/e For 'Ii'nor; Horn d2 Strings.

Edinburgh

I Organ Recital Reid Concert Hall. Bristo Square. 650 2423. l.I(Ipm. Free. John McGreaI plays music by Buxtehude. Weckmamt. lyloht'hardt. Reincken. Scbeidemann arid Bach.

Haddington

I BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra St Mary's Parish Church. 7.30pm. £9 (£7/£5) in advance from James ()rr. 81 High Street. Haddittgton: £10(£8/£5) at the door. For their annual visit to the atmospheric setting of St Mary's. the BBC SSO play Elgar's ()rt'rturt': l-‘roivyart (inspired by a passage in Sir Walter Scott's ()lr/ Mortality). Haydn's l'io/in Coltt‘t'rlo .Vo / (witll 18-year-old rising star Elisabeth Batiashvili) and Vaughan Williams's lyrical Stnrp/tonr .Vo 5.

SATURDAY 25

Glasgow

I Peter Grimes Theatre Royal. Hope Street. 3329000. 7. 15pm. £3.50-L‘4550. Scottish ()pera revives Benjamin Britten‘s masterpiece. with Jeffrey Lawton a suitably haunted figure iii the title role of a Suffolk fisherman suspected of murdering his boy apprentices. Director Elaine Kidd conjures up an atmosphere ofcold- hearted suspicion attd hypocrisy III the village scenes. making this one of the cotttpattys most gripptngly dramatic productions in recent years. Howey er. the stars this time round are the tttagnificent chorus and orchestra. Richard Armstrong conducts. See also The 28 atul Tlttt 30.

I David Helfgott (ilasgow Royal Concert Hall. Sauchiehall Street. 7.30pm. £19.50--£30 from 287 5511. The Attstt‘alian concert pianist. whose ltfe inspired the ()scar-w inning lilm S/tine. tttakes a rare live appearance in Scotland. This tour has caused some controversy. protttpting supporters to praise his talents attd critics to condetttn the strain that celebrity status has placed on the man. Tonight he plays music by Chopin. l.is/t and Beethoven.

I Lamentation (iumness Room. RSAMI). llltl Rt‘tlft'c‘w Slt't‘c'l. 552 50.57. 8pm. £8 (£4). 'I‘undc Jegetle. a young composer of African descent. has a highly individual style which is rooted itt his dual classical heritage. Here he directs a concert of meditative tttttsic for strings. harp-lute. halafon attd llute.

Edinburgh

I 8T Scottish Ensemble Queen‘s Hall. Clerk Street. 668 2019 (credit card hotline 667 7776). 7.45pm. £9 (£5). See Fri 24.

SUNDAY 26

Glasgow

I Massed Bands Of The RAF Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Sauchiehall Street. 7.30pm. £7.75—£13.75 from 287 5511. Thirty members of the Band of the United States Air Force in Europe join British handsmen in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the USAF. Music ranges from selections frorn hit musicals to Glenn Miller. Copland and Elgar

Edinburgh

I Pro Corda Queen‘s Hall. Clerk Street. 668 2019 (credit card hotline 667 7776). l lam. £6.50 (Ll/£2). Pupils from the National School for Young Chamber Music Players present pieces for strings attd piano in aid of the MacMillan Cancer Relief Fund.

I Organ Recital St Peter‘s Church. I.utton Place. 4.30pm. Free. with a retiring collection for Waverley Care Trust. Michael Bonaventure plays music by Sweelinck. Buxtehttde and Ontette Clennon's Tribute to Mr King.

I Leeds Parish Church Choir St Giles' Cathedral. High Street. 225 9442. 6pm. Free. with retiring collection. The choir are joined by Simon l.indley for Faure’s Requiem.

I Royal Scottish National Orchestra Festival Theatre. Nicolson Street. 529 6000. 7.30pm. £7—£19.50 USS—£17.50). The focus falls on Mozart and Richard Strauss tonight. with Michael Christie conducting the RSNO iii the former's .S'ytnp/ronv No 40 and the latter‘s [.t' Bourgeois (it‘lllll/lunllllt’. American lyric soprano Cltristine Brewer takes to the stage for operatic arias written by each composer for countess characters in. respectively. The Marriage ()fl'ilg'ttl'rt and ('a/rru't'io.

Lanarlt

I Scottish Bach Consort St Mary's Churclt. Battttatytte Street. 8pm. 5.3 from 01360550824 orat the door. Violinist John Doig directs the orchestra itt ‘Baroqttc Bites". featuring Vivaldi's’ Concerto (irosxo in 1) minor and Guitar (.‘oiu'erto. Telemann’s Viola Concerto. Albinont's ()lmt' Concerto. Delalande's Suite l-‘or 'I'runt/u't and Dall'Ahaco‘s String Concerto in /i int/tor.

MONDAY 27

Glasgow

I Clarinet Masterclass Stevenson llall. RSAMD. 100 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 2pm. Free. Nicholas Rodwell directs a masterclass on the woodwind instrument.

Edinburgh I One Voice Traverse Theatre. Cambridge Street. 228 1404. 7.30pm. £7 £3.50/school children free). The punchy. rhythmic drive ofGraham Fitkin's compositions is evident itt ril'tlt'l. l-ratt and Hart! l-‘airv. the Ias' of which is scored for two pianos and soprano saxophone arid played by Ingrid Sawers. Jeremy Cttll and up-and-coming sax player l.tsa Tttlk. The programme also includes Iitlison l)t‘ttist)\"s .SI/ltotu'llt's. Britten's [lit'n l.Il/ltl/tit’s. “fetus xiI'l/Iltlllllll't’lltlll Point and Cull's arrangement of fugues from l’orev Ant! lies v attd ll't'tt Sit/e Story.

TUESDAY 28

Glasgow

I Lunchtime Concert lluteheson's Hall. 2 .lohn Street. 1.15pm. £2 on the door. Pupils of the Music School of Douglas Academy present a varied programme of solo and chamber music. I Peter Grimes Theatre Royal. Hope Street. 332 9000. 7.15pm. £3.50«£45.50. See Sat 25.

classical & opera MUSID

Edinburgh

I Cello Recital Reid Concert Hall. Bristo Square. 650 2423. 1.10pm. Free. Clea Friend (cello) and Edward Harper (piano) play Wilson‘s Cello Sonata and Mendelssohn‘s Variations (.‘ont'ertantes and Song Wit/rout Words.

WEDNESDAY 29

Glasgow

I Composer's Workshop Guinness Room. RSAMI). 100 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 3pm. Free. Australian composer Malcolm Fox discusses his ideas about music using sound examples and slides. taking in his professional commissions and school compositions. I Rigoletto Theatre Royal. Hope Street. 3329000. 7.15pm. £3.50—-.L‘45.50. In thts excellent Scottish ()pera production. director Kenny Ireland arid designer Richard Aylwrn perfectly capture the dark and cruel heart of Verdi's masterpiece about the curse that befalls a court jester when a womanisittg Duke falls for his daughter. Macedonian baritone Boris 'I‘rajanov conveys the title character's mix of spite and fatherly love. Claire Rutter is charming as Gilda and tenor Paul Charles Clarke excels as the seductive httt callous Duke. In Italian with English strpertitles. See also Sat 1. I Scottish Chamber Orchestra City Hall. Candleriggs. 7.30pttt. £4.50—£15.50 (£3.50) from 287 551 1. The SC() play Stravinsky 's Concerto III Dj'or Strings. music from Ravel‘s ballet ,llot/u'r (Iooxt'. Dehttssy's l’t'titt' Sui/e attd Ravel's Piano Concerto in (I (with soloist Andrew Litton. who also conducts).

Edinburgh

I Violin Recital Queen's Hall. Clerk Street. 668 2019 (credit card hotline 667 7776). 3pm. £5 includes afternoon tea. Melissa Forshaw. semi-finalist itt last year's BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. plays a programme of violin music. accompanied at the piano by Robert Mellitrg.

THURSDAY 30

Glasgow

I Glasgow Music Festival Prizewrnners Concert Hall. University of Glasgow 330 4092. 1.15pm. Free. Jennifer Brown (clarinet) plays pieces by Paul Harvey. William I-lurlstone. Charles Stanford and Henry Lazarus. while Mark Saherton (bass) sings songs by Warlock and Vaughan Williams. Botlt are accompanied at the piano by Walter Blair.

I Bassoon Masterclass Guinness Room. RSAMD. I00 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 2pm. Free. John ()rford directs a masterclass on the woodwind instrument.

I Peter Grimes Theatre Royal. Hope Street, 332 9000. 7. 15pm. £3.50--£45.50. See Sat 25.

Edinburgh

I Musicaltalia Reid (‘oncert llall. Bristo Square. 650 2423. 1.10pm. Free. The second Musicaltalia festiyal kicks off as Nicolas Hodges plays contemporary Italian music for piano. inclttding the Scottish premiere of Salvatore Sciat t'ino's Sonata No 5.

I Scottish Chamber Orchestra Queen's Ilall. Clerk Street. 668 2019 (credit card hotlttte 667 7776). 7.45pm. £5~£l7.50 (£(i.5(l/'£3 50). See Wed 29.

Stirling

I BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra MacRobert Arts Centre. l7niversity of Stirling. 01786 461081. 8pm. £12 (12950026). lmaginattons take llight as ()smo \'attska conducts Cantor.-1ri'tit'u.\'. liinojuhani Ratttavaara's concerto for birds and orchestra. Also on the bill are Bruch's l‘io/tn (‘ont’t'rto .\'o / (with Marco Rix/i) and ‘l‘chaikovs’ky 's Sv/n/i/tonv .\'o 6.

Continued over page

23 ()tt 6 Nov 199/ THE llST55