Continuo Connect — Concert // Ensemble Hesperi: The Scots Musical Museum

Relive a musical evening in 18th century Edinburgh with the dazzling young Ensemble Hesperi and soprano Harriet Burns, where fashions combined the best of the Italian Baroque with the soaring melodies and dance rhythms of traditional Scottish music.

The great and the good in the Scottish Enlightenment capital were members of the illustrious Edinburgh Musical Society, whose orchestra gave performances in St Cecilia’s Hall, still a splendid venue today. Each concert featured fiery Italian instrumental music, Scots songs by the star singers of the day, and variations on Scots tune by virtuoso violinists. Recreating the atmosphere of the Musical Society’s concerts, Ensemble Hesperi presents songs from the celebrated Scots Musical Museum, with texts by Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, alongside arias and trio sonatas by composers ever-popular in Edinburgh: Handel, Corelli and Pergolesi. Works by Scottish composers include a Sonata on Scots tunes by James Oswald, whose soulful renditions of traditional airs drew tears at the Edinburgh Musical Society’s Ladies’ concerts.