Opening Concert

St Mary's Church, Haddington

Photo credit: Photo: Uwe Arens for SONY Classical

Mozart Overture ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’
Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto
Mozart Symphony No 38 in D K504, ‘Prague’

Royal Northern Sinfonia
François Leleux Oboe
William Conway Conductor

There could be nothing more beautiful to open this year’s festival than Richard Strauss’s Oboe Concerto.

Played by Artist in Residence François Leleux, regarded by many as the world’s finest oboist, the concerto’s magic is matched by Strauss’s beloved Mozart in his gloriously inventive ‘Prague’ symphony.

“[The Strauss Concerto’s] magic streamed through the absolutely incredible performance of Francois Leleux. I have never heard the oboe sing like that:
I was so bewitched I couldn’t move.”

Michael Tumelty, The Herald

“There’s no better chamber orchestra in Britain .”
Andrew Clements, The Guardian

Duration 2 hours approx

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

Buses passing trough Haddington
EAST COAST BUSES: X6, X7, 106
PRENTICE: 108, 109, 101, 111, 122
EVE COACHES: 121
Please check bus timetables before booking your tickets.

Getting there by train

The nearest station is Drem.

Getting there by car

Haddington is off the A1. There are two exits off the A1 coming from the east or the west.

Accessibility

Parking:

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

We can offer 3 spaces inside the church grounds, buy the side of the church, for blue badge holders. Please email [email protected] to book a space, subject to availability and on a first come first served basis.

Terrain:

Tarmac and gravel.

Induction Loop:
Yes

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

Wheelchair Access:

Access is easier via the North Side (side) door, next to the blue badge parking spaces, and open 30 minutes before concert. There will be a volunteer steward in a high vis jacket who will provide assistance. There is level access into venue.

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