Ensemble Marsyas
Peter Whelan Director / Harpsichord

Emilie Renard Mezzo soprano

Music by Barsanti, Handel, Arne and Gluck

Vibrant Scottish early music group Ensemble Marsyas under dynamic director Peter Whelan has fast made its name with thrilling, captivating music making since its founding in 2011. The Ensemble recreates an Edinburgh concert from the late 18th century to launch the International Festival’s special St Cecilia’s Hall concerts.

By far the most feted celebrity musician to visit Edinburgh in the 1700s was superstar Italian castrato Tenducci. Joining Ensemble Marsyas, celebrated young mezzo-soprano Emilie Renard performs arias and settings sung by Tenducci at St Cecilia’s Hall in 1769, including ‘Verdi prati’ from Handel’s Alcina and Barsanti’s arrangement of the traditional song ‘Lochaber, no more’.