‘There’s a quiet class about the whole thing that generates a special kind of listening: for all the dark arts of conjuring festival ambience, Lammermuir tends to simply programme right and let the music do the talking’
Our festival in the beautiful, historic county of East Lothian offers wonderful music played by some of the world’s finest musicians.
Heading up this year’s distinguished roster as artist in-residence is a truly outstanding young British talent, cellist Laura van der Heijden, with six appearances as both soloist and ensemble musician.
The international dimension is strong. Rinaldo Alessandrini’s Concerto Italiano brings us Monteverdi and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet performs the complete piano works of Ravel in his 150th anniversary year. Scottish Opera performs Ravel’s effervescent L’heure espagnole and tenor Joshua Ellicott explores his influence on song.
A real highlight is a performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra, one of the world’s finest, joined by our patron Steven Osborne A residency by I Fagiolini is a cornerstone of the festival with performances of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610.
The Van Baerle Trio play all of Brahms’s piano trios and the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam bring all of Tchaikovsky’s quartets.
Bill Barclay’s Concert Theatre Works (Secret Byrd 2023) returns, presenting an epic production of Bach Markus Passion with the Dunedin Consort and we are thrilled to make our first visit to East Lothian's grandest country estate, Gosford House.
2025 is a real voyage of discovery – please join us!
Hugh Macdonald & James Waters
Artistic Directors
‘There’s a quiet class about the whole thing that generates a special kind of listening: for all the dark arts of conjuring festival ambience, Lammermuir tends to simply programme right and let the music do the talking’
‘It is part of the festival’s appeal that it takes audiences to locations that are beautiful in and of themselves, and it exposes them to great music that seems to fit each place like a glove.’
Lammermuir Festival . . . A communal warmth, friendship and exceptional quality of music-making
Lammermuir is all about place, about local identity, about the highest quality on an intimate scale.
Festivals like these, outside of suburbia, have a very special place in music-lovers hearts, and act as beacons of pride for their communities. To be able to hear world-class musicians in such beautiful settings as East Lothian provides is a wonderful thing.
‘Locations and music in perfect harmony’