Mahan Esfahani Plays Bach
Chalmers Memorial Church
Port Seton
Fri 8 Sept 7.30pm
The Well Tempered Clavier Book II
Harpsichord
Mahan Esfahani gave a stand-out concert in our very first Lammermuir Festival and we are delighted to welcome him back this year as our Artist in Residence.
Now recognised as one of the world’s leading harpsichordists, Mahan has made it his life’s mission to rehabilitate the harpsichord in the mainstream of concert instruments. His creative programming and commissioning of new works have won plaudits from around the world.
Mahan’s penetrating musicianship and stunning virtuosity will be on show in five unmissable concerts across the festival with JS Bach at the centre of them. To launch his residency Mahan plays the second book of the 48 Preludes and Fugues that constitute Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier – an emotional and intellectual journey of enormous scope encompassing joy and sorrow, light and dark, the extrovert and the deeply contemplative.
The Iranian-American Mahan Esfahani has been making waves among connoisseurs for several years. Now he emerges as a superstar whose musicianship, imagination, virtuosity, cultural breadth and charisma far transcend the ivory tower in which the harpsichord has traditionally been placed.
The Times
Seating Plan
See ticket prices for Chalmers Memorial Church, Port Seton below.
Chalmers Memorial Church, Port Seton
Construction began on Chalmers Memorial Church (originally a United Free Church, now Church of Scotland) in 1904 on land purchased from the Earl of Wemyss, to a design by the Scottish architect Sydney Mitchell.
The church is one of several in Scotland named after Dr Thomas Chalmers, one of the leaders of the 'Disruption' of the Scottish church in 1843.
This was the great schism caused by a dispute over the church's relationship with the state, and Chalmers was the first moderator of the breakaway group that became the Free Church. The foundation stone was laid by his grand-daughter and services began on April 1, 1905.
The A-listed church building with its many Arts and Crafts features has remained virtually unchanged since that day. Its carved timbers as well and unique, elaborate stencil work reflect the character of the fishing village of Port Seton and the history of the church.
The windows are by Margaret Chilton and Marjorie Kemp, two distinguished stained glass artists, committed to the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, who met at the Glasgow School of Art and set up a studio in Edinburgh together in 1922.
Address
Chalmers Memorial Church, Port Seton
EH32 0HG
Getting there by bus
Bus service 26 from Edinburgh
Bus stop opposite church
Getting there by train
No train services
Getting there by car
13 miles from Edinburgh via A1/A198
Accessibility
Parking:There is also -on-street car parking on the main road and in the town.
There are 3 spaces we can reserve for blue badge holders at the side of the church. Please email [email protected] if you require one of these spaces. Subject to availabiloty, and forst come first served.
Terrain:Paved and steps
Induction Loop:
Yes
Toilets:
Good male/female provision plus adapted toilet for disabled.
Access by concrete path and slope
