Culloden defeat sounds glorious.THE controversial opening show of the Edinburgh Festival Edinburgh Festival International festival of the arts, with an emphasis on music and drama. Founded in 1947 by Rudolf Bing, it is held for three weeks each summer. Its theatrical offerings include plays by major international theatrical companies; plays premiered at the , which celebrates Scotland's defeat at the Battle of Culloden
Handel's Judas Maccabaeus, performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. The SCO was formed in 1974. It performs throughout Scotland, but is based at Edinburgh's Queens Hall. and star soloists, glorifies the Duke of Cumberland's victory in 1746 in which 2000 Jacobites died. Despite it containing the line "See, the conqu'ring hero comes", Michael Russell wants Scots to attend and enjoy the music. He said: "You have to defend the right of a festival director to do what he wants. I understand those who will baulk at it initially. "Culloden was the start of a period of cultural genocide and I don't think you can get away from that but I don't think it would be right to ignore one of Handel's important works, one with the closest connection to Scotland." |
|
|||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion