Art Futuro creates album award trophies

STIRLING design studio Art Futuro has been chosen to make the trophies for this week’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award. Phil and Franziska – who are from Switzerland and now live in Stirling – were selected to make the prizes by The Design Commission. The SAY Award will be presented at the Albert…

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Scottish Opera shines a spotlight on Verdi

VERDI is firmly in the spotlight for the latest series of concerts by Scottish Opera. The Verdi Collection, a selection of the Italian composer’s greatest hits, will be performed at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen on 19 November and at Eden Court in Inverness on 26 November as part of the “Opera in Concert” series.…

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Music meets mindfulness in Scottish Ensemble concerts

MINDFULNESS and music are being combined in the latest series of concerts by the Scottish Ensemble. The ensemble’s Breathe performances will take place in Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee on 25-28 October. The concerts will feature music by composers including Ludwig van Beethoven, Daniel Kidane, and Caroline Shaw. Led by guest director Tristan Gurney, and…

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St Mary’s Music School concert celebrates female composers

A CONCERT at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh will celebrate the work of female composers as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. “Landscapes and Dances: Songs She Scored Out” will feature music by women whose names were often scored out when their works were published or performed. The concert, which will take place…

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REVIEW: “Dreamgirls”

Kenny Smith reviews Dreamgirls at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. IT WOULD be fair to say that, prior to watching Dreamgirls, I was going into the production completely blind. I knew the basics of the show – a girl group gets together in 1960s America – and a couple of the big songs from it,…

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Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society comes to Perth tomorrow

THE Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society is holding its annual conference in Perth tomorrow for the first time. The conference – or “collogue” – will take place at the Fair City’s Royal George Hotel. A concert follows the conference in the evening. Performers at the evening concert will include: Brìghde Chaimbeul and Fin Moore; Pete…

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REVIEW: “South Pacific”

Kenny Smith reviews South Pacific at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. GROWING up, my parents’ musical tastes were more Gilbert and Sullivan than Lennon and McCartney, and definitely more Rodgers and Hammerstein than Chaka Demus and Pliers. So, I’ve always had an appreciation for a good musical, especially those from the Rodgers and Hammerstein stable,…

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REVIEW: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Kenny Smith reviews The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. HANDS UP – I have to admit, I’ve never seen the hit film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. However, I do know about it and its basic concept, which sees an eclectic group of British retirees travel to India to embark…

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Glasgow faces Liverpool in race to host Eurovision

GLASGOW and Liverpool have been shortlisted as the final two cities to host the Eurovision song contest. Ukraine won last year’s competition, but can’t host next year’s final because of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Instead, the UK will host Eurovision, with Glasgow making it down to the final two contestants. Aberdeen and Edinburgh had also been…

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REVIEW: “The Cher Show”

Kenny Smith reviews The Cher Show at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. THERE are some constants in life – we’re born, we pay taxes, we have good days and bad – and Cher. Since the 1960s, her distinctive deep, powerful voice has regularly featured in the charts, and there will be few people today who…

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