SCO: Christmas Concerto and Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Following their ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and sold-out show in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe,

"Matthew Shiel has ‘composed’ a most enchanting concert" (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Edinburgh Guide)

"A ripping good yarn. Sim and Shiel both are masters of their crafts." (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Binge Fringe Magazine)

Moonlight Concerts return to Edinburgh with a musical show inspired by the Scottish Candlelight Orchestra and the most romantic and festive violin concertos ever composed - Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Corelli's charming Christmas Concerto -and for an extra festive flavour - elegant orchestral arrangements of popular Christmas Carols including In the Bleak Midwinter and O Little Town of Bethlehem arranged and performed by tonight's incredible American concerto soloist Ben Shute.

PROGRAMME

O Little Town of Bethlehem - *arranged for orchestra - by tonight's artist

Four Seasons (Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter) - Vivaldi

Concerto grosso in G minor Op. 6, No. 8 ('Christmas Concerto') - Corelli

In the Bleak Midwinter*

Ben Shute

Since his concerto debut as a teenager at the Opening Night Gala of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Stephen Gunzenhauser, he has collaborated as soloist with modern- and period-instrument orchestras in the United States and Europe in concertos of Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, Paganini, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, and Sibelius, as well as concert works from Bach to Sarasate to John Williams. CD recordings include "In Sara Levy's Salon" with the Raritan Players (period instruments), the complete piano-violin sonatas of Brahms with pianist Kai-Ching Chang, and the premiere recording of the violin-piano sonatas of Karén Khanagov with Anastasia Abu Bakar. His Adoramus for solo violin was a finalist for the 2023 American Prize in chamber music composition.

"The playing was detailed and beautifully balanced" — Washington Post

"Benjamin Shute. . .played the Sibelius [concerto] with marvelous command... impressive." — Badische Zeitung

Scottish Candlelight Orchestra

The Scottish Candlelight Orchestra is an innovative and creative ensemble which brings together Scotland's finest instrumentalists to create atmospheric and captivating candlelit performances which draw its audience in. Like the orchestras of Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach, it is directed by artistic director Matthew Shiel from the keyboard with help from our violin leader. And like Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach would have done, the orchestra plays by enchanting candlelight!

"Artistic director Matthew Shiel shone... this was indeed a meditative evening" (ThreeWeeks ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Moonlight

Moonlight is a performing arts company that creates immersive classical music experiences, concerts, shows and exhibitions. It celebrates interdisciplinary collaboration with writers and storytellers, visual artists, dancers and filmmakers (and beyond) to push the boundaries of what a classical concert can be and create the 'performance of the future.'

Our aim is to make classical music appealing to the demands and expectations of a 21st Century audience and make classical music accessible for all.

moonlightconcerts.co.uk

Host or Publisher Matthew Shiel