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Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony brings together intense drama and captivating lyricism in its joyful musical celebration of friendship and solidarity.

The product of its country’s visionary El Sistema music education project, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela is one of the world’s most exciting musical ensembles. The orchestra plays with a level of passion and commitment rarely experienced elsewhere.

In the first of its two concerts at the Usher Hall, the orchestra is directed by Venezuelan-born Rafael Payare in an epic symphony of sweeping power and warm generosity.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony brings together drama and lyricism in an electrifying tribute to the human spirit. Payare and the Simón Bolívar musicians are joined by four of Britain’s top vocal soloists and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus in this joyful musical celebration of friendship and solidarity.

The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela Residency is supported by

James and Morag Anderson

Nicola Benedetti and Tom Service introduce the Festival's third major orchestra residency and talk about how it fits within the Festival pillar 'a perspective not one's own'

All you need to know

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    Programme

    Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No 7
    Beethoven     Symphony No 9

    Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
    Rafael Payare     Conductor

    Natalya Romaniw Soprano
    Karen Cargill     Mezzo Soprano
    Andrew Staples     Tenor
    Christopher Maltman Bass

    Edinburgh Festival Chorus
    Aidan Oliver Chorus Director

    Sopranos 1
    Jan Brownhill, Lesley Bruce, Simona Cenci, Annette Chapman, Lisa Dawson, Maggie Gilchrist, Jenni Halliday, Clare Hewitt, Lorna Holl, Jill Kerr, Fiona McBryde, Louise McGregor, Morag Michael, Jennifer Swan, Karen Traill, Lesley Walker

    Sopranos 2
    Emma Aitken, Anne Backhouse, Susan Bowden, Rhona Brown, Deborah Buckingham, Kathryn Coad, Margaret Cumming, Rosamund Davidson, Dorothy Fairweather, Aileen Fraser, Carol Haley, Leila Inglis, Lesley Johnston, Maureen Kaye, Rachael King, Maggie Kinnes, Natsuko MacArthur, Janet McKenzie, Kathy Miller, Janette Myles, April Parkins, Ros Sutherland, Kathleen White

    Altos 1
    Julie Aitken, Barbara Brodie, Valerie Bryan, Nancy Crook, Susan Crosby, Catherine Dunlop, Kirstie Fairnie, Emma Gosling, Rona Gray, Carol Leddy, Kirsten Leggatt, Jane MacLeod, Kate Mason, Frances McGlashan, Linda McLauchlan, Fiona Milligan, Megan Rourke, Nicola Stock, Mary Taylor, Ruth Townsend, Kirsty Weaver, Brenda Williamson

    Altos 2
    Moira Allingham, Jeanette Bell, Anna Borbely, Wendy Colquhoun, Ann Firth, Mary Gordon, Tori Graham, Anne Grindley, Linda Hunter, Jan Livesley, Carol Madden, Frances McDevitt, Catriona McDonald, Marita McMillan, Janette Morrison, Lucy O'Leary, Penny Stone

    Tenors 1
    David Arulanantham, Malcolm Bennett, Joanna Bleau, Brendan Glen, Richard Hellewell, David Leaver, Gio MacDonald, Matthew McKinney, Alex Rankine, Mike Towers

    Tenors 2
    Richard Allison, Andrew Binnian, John Burnside, Bruce Davis, Graham Drew, Guy Johnson, Sam Leggett, Martin McKean, James White

    Basses 1
    Felix Boecking, Derek Calder, Peter Cannell, Malcolm Crosby, Martin Gray, John Halliday, Nick Harding, David Hewitson, Christopher Howarth, Andrew Hyder, Ivor Klayman, Luis Loaiza Isler, Andrew Lyons, David Mack-Smith, Tom Marshall, Andrew Moore, Graham Naysmith, Roger Robertson, Graham Scott

    Basses 2
    Mark Adams, Ken Allen, Philip Coad, Callum Hay, Stephen Lipton, Sandy Matheson, Jack McChesney, John McLeod, Chris Morris, Andrew Scott, Martin Scott, Mike Smith, David Traill

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