Not only one of Scotland’s greatest writers, Edinburgh-born Sir Walter Scott gripped readers right across Europe with tales of his nation’s history and landscape, its heroism and nobility. So much so, in fact, that his poetry was transformed into songs by many of the greatest composers of the time, in an extensive collection of commissions carried out by Edinburgh musician and folksong collector George Thomson.

Join Edinburgh’s most eminent pianist for song, Malcolm Martineau, as he invites an intimate gathering of musical friends for a concert of songs based around the heroic, romantic verse of Sir Walter Scott.

The recital includes Schubert’s Seven Songs from Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake, featuring his much-loved Ave Maria, as well as rugged Scottish folksong settings by Haydn and Beethoven, some of those two composers’ most overlooked masterpieces. All three figures were contemporaries of Scott, and they are joined by Sibelius, who himself set Scott’s The sun upon the lake is low to music a century later.

Joining Martineau are two eminent British singers, both known for their charismatic performances and brilliant musical insights: soprano Elizabeth Watts, and baritone Roderick Williams. Discover these seldom-heard musical responses to poetry by Scotland’s Borders Bard, in expert musical company.

This digital performance was available to watch online until 13 February 2022 at 11pm.