Yellow streamers descend from the ceiling on Nicola Benedetti and a group of musicians.

First Night at The Hub

First Night at The Hub

Kick off your International Festival in style with Festival Director Nicola Benedetti and handpicked music icons.

Join Festival Director Nicola Benedetti in collaboration with classical composer Osvaldo Golijov, plus surprise guests, for an enthralling exploration of musical genres through collaboration and solo performances.

A relatively new tradition in our International Festival story, this concert builds on the energy of 2023’s sold-out First Night concert, with performances praised as ‘adventurous and unceasingly engaging’ (The Scotsman).

This is your chance to get to know leading artists amongst friends in the laid-back atmosphere of our Festival home at the top of the Royal Mile. During August 2024, The Hub will host an array of intimate recitals crossing the genres of jazz, classical, Celtic and more, featuring representation from Kyrgyzstan, Brazil and Indonesia.

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown together with Flure Grossart

You might also like

    Programme

    On 04 August, the performance included:

    Traditional arr. Vivian Tabbush: La Chapparita

    Schola Cantorum

    Osvaldo/Orquesta La Pasión piece 1: Gan Gan Cancan by Gonzalo Grau

    Gonzalo Grau – piano; David Peña – bass; Gioconda Cabrera – voice

    Reading 1 - Of course it hurts by Karin Boye

    Lara Cowin

    Bach: Erbarme Dich, Mein Gott

    Dame Sarah Connolly, Andrew Forbes, Gemma Rosefield, Nicola Benedetti

    Rituals of Rain

    Soumik Datta

    Reading 2 - From opening event: Where to begin? By Davey Anderson

    Suzanne Andrade

    Vasallos del Sol Arr. Jesús Rondón: Cantos de mi Tierra

    Schola Cantorum

    Beethoven: 2nd movement of the 'Ghost' Trio

    Leonore Piano Trio

    Osvaldo/Orquesta La Pasión piece 2: Que te pedi by Fernando Mulens into piece 3: Yerbero Moderno by Nestor Mili

    Gonzalo Grau – piano; David Pena – bass; Gioconda Cabrera – voice

    GREG LAWSON CURATION: A Man’s a Man for a’ That solo (Nicky) INTO -> Galician Tune -> Tongadale Reel -> Fairy Dance Reel

    Nicky solo --> everybody joining

    Artists:

    Nicola Benedetti – host/violin

    Osvaldo Golijov – special guest

    Schola Cantorum de Venezuela with Maria Guinand – conductor

    Leonore Piano Trio: Benjamin Nabarro – violin, Gemma Rosefield – cello, Tim Horton – piano

    Dame Sarah Connolly – alto

    Andrew Forbes – piano

    Soumik Datta – sarod

    Orchestra La Pasion musicians: Gonzalo Grau – piano/cajon, David Pena – bass, Gioconda Cabrera – vocals

    Greg Lawson – fiddle/arranger of closing piece

    Suzanne Andrade - reading

    Lara Cowin – reading

    Back to top