Christine Brewer sings the Four Last Songs

St Mary's Church, Haddington

Photo credit: Photo: John Wood / Christian Steiner / Chris Christodoulou

NEWS:
We will be releasing an additional 20 ‘stand-by’ tickets on the door at 6pm at St Mary’s in Haddington for Christine Brewer.

These are for side pew seats which have a restricted or no view. You will still hear and enjoy the glorious music and atmosphere. Please note they will not be available until 6pm and cannot be reserved. First come, first served.



Wagner Siegfried Idyll
Strauss Four Last Songs
Elgar Enigma Variations

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Christine Brewer Soprano
Martyn Brabbins Conductor

The festival is delighted to welcome American soprano Christine Brewer, widely regarded as one of today’s greatest interpreters of Richard Strauss’s achingly beautiful songs – his farewell to the world.

The songs are the centrepiece of an evening of romantic nostalgia, beginning with Wagner’s lovely reminiscence of his great ‘Ring’ cycle, played on Christmas morning as a present to his wife Cosima.

Elgar’s affectionate tribute to his ‘friends pictured within’ contains humour as well as regret, but ends in uplifting triumph.

“Brewer’s dramatic soprano voice, though large and opulent, never loses its warm, lyric core of purity. She soars effortlessly over the orchestra…
Classic FM Magazine

“Christine Brewer possesses possibly the finest dramatic soprano in the world today”
Opera Britannia

Duration 1 hour 45 mins approx

This concert is one of three presented in partnership with BBC Radio 3

BBC Radio 3 : 90-93FM

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington

The Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin is one of the great ecclesiastical buildings of mediaeval Scotland, founded in 1380 and known for centuries as "The Lamp of Lothian".

It was severely damaged in the 16th Century during Henry VIII's 'Rough Wooing' of Scotland, and after the Reformation only the nave was used as a parish church, with the choir and tower remaining roofless.

It was finally restored to its former glory in the 1970s, and is Scotland's longest church as well as one of its most beautiful, with a wonderfully warm, resonant acoustic.

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington

Address

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington
EH41 4BZ

Getting there by bus

Several Edinburgh to Haddington routes to the Market Street bus stop. All drop off in the High St, approx. 5-8 mins walk from the church.

Getting there by train

Edinburgh to North Berwick service every hour. Nearest station is Drem. Taxi info on station notice board.

Getting there by car

Haddington is 20 miles East of Edinburgh along the A1 dual carriageway. Travelling East take the second exit to Haddington – St Mary’s is signposted from the main road. Look to the South, and you will see the old church tower in the distance.

Accessibility

Parking:

There is free on-street parking 100m from the church, on the road, and throughout the town.

Only disabled parking is allowed in the church grounds. There are 3 disabled spaces for blue badge holders. Please email [email protected] if you require one of these spaces. First come, first served.

UPDATE: There are no blue badge spaces left for 14/09 Royal Northern Sinfonia or 18/09 BBC SSO concerts.

Terrain:

Tarmac and gravel

Induction Loop:
Yes

Toilets:
Good male/female provision plus adapted toilet for disabled.

Wheelchair Access:

Access is via the North Side (side) door, available 30 minutes before concert. Press bell for assistance. Level access into venue.

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