Following their five star and sold-out show in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, "Matthew Shiel has ‘composed’ a most enchanting concert, relating amusing, enlightening stories to introduce each piece; his eloquent performance expresses a dramatic, emotional mood from sad and sorrowful to light-hearted and lyrical, oozing a joyful sense of romantic love." (★★★★★ Edinburgh Guide) "A ripping good yarn. Sim and Shiel both are masters of their crafts." (★★★★★ Binge Fringe Magazine) "Matthew Shiel shone" (★★★★ Three Weeks) Moonlight Concerts tour Brighton with a musical show inspired by the most romantic piano pieces ever composed and the mysterious masked balls of Venice. Tonight, we join acclaimed concert pianist and storyteller Matthew Shiel for a romantic tour of the piano as he exposes the secret love affairs of the great composer’s hearts that have shaped the history of classical music including: Chopin’s scandalous elopement with the French author George Sand and Brahms’ secret affair with his best friend’s wife, Clara Schumann. Tonight’s musical programme includes several of the most romantic piano pieces ever composed: Liszt’s Liebestraum, Schubert’s Serenade, Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude and Debussy’s Clair de Lune – performed by intimate candlelight. This concert will also feature a new romantic piece composed specially for tonight's artist by Matthew's Italian friend and composer Dr Alfredo Caponnetto – Notturno VI alongside a digital art exhibition and light installation designed by acclaimed Chinese artist and Disney illustrator Emma Yitong Shen – to create an immersive musical experience designed to fill you with romantic inspiration and open your heart to live and to love. PROGRAMME Liebestraum No.3 – Franz Liszt Novelette in E minor (after El amor brujo of Manuel de Falla) – Francis Poulenc Minuet in G (from Anna Magdalena Notebook of 1725) – Johann Sebastian Bach Barcarolle (from The Seasons Op. 37b) – Pyotr Tchaikovsky Intermezzo in A (Op.118, No. 2) – Johannes Brahms Lea-Rigg – Robert Burns (arranged for piano by Alexander Reinagle) Notturno VI – Alfredo Caponnetto ‘Raindrop’ Prelude in D-flat major (Op.28 No.15) – Frédéric Chopin Nocturne in F minor (Op.55 No.1) – Frédéric Chopin Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque) – Claude Debussy Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann (Op. 20) – Clara Schumann

If you're looking for a romantic candlelit experience, want to enjoy some classical music greats then this is the concert for you! London Concertante present a sensational evening at the opera with an array of the finest opera arias and overtures, including works from Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, and Mozart – some of the best from Madame Butterfly, Turandot, Tosca, The Barber of Seville, Carmen, Cosi fan Tutti and so much more. Presented by Candlelight with some of the country’s greatest opera singers in the stunning setting, this truly is an evening not to be missed!

Experience Vivaldi’s iconic masterpiece The Four Seasons as you’ve never heard it before. A cornerstone of classical music, this vivid and revolutionary work captures the essence of nature with breathtaking virtuosity and emotional power. Its influence continues to echo through centuries of music-making, and remains one of the most beloved compositions in the classical canon. This captivating programme, performed by the celebrated Piccadilly Sinfonietta and leading violinist to be announced, promises an evening of elegance and inspiration. With over 200 performances annually, this acclaimed ensemble—featuring some of the UK’s most gifted virtuosi—has become a mainstay on the British classical scene. The evening's programme will contain Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' with a selection of other, renowned classical masterpieces.

The Piobaireachd Society In this concert you will hear a variety of piobaireachd, the classical music of the great Highland bagpipe, Scotland’s national instrument. The musicians, Alasdair Henderson, John MacDonald and Brodie Watson-Masse, are all leading exponents of this wonderful music. The tunes will be played in continuous fashion, giving a unique musical experience. Most piobaireachd are composed using pentatonic scales or variations thereof, so although the pipe has a limited number of notes, a wide variety of tonal mood is possible, as you will hear at this concert. None Age category: 12+

Gerry McDonald, John Kitchen The critically acclaimed team of McDonald and Kitchen perform virtuoso works for recorder with continuo and obbligato harpsichord by Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann and Corelli, which also exist in alternative versions. Ever commercially astute, Telemann often specified idiomatic alternative instrumentation for his works. Arranging Italian violin sonatas for recorder was almost a cottage industry, and Bach's recycling of his own music resulted in masterworks such as a solo violin movement becoming a full-scale cantata. Featuring the 1709 Barton harpsichord. 'Pure delight' (Scotsman). In support of the FoSCH bursary fund. More information Historical instruments will not be amplified

Apolline Khou Marin Marais, Silvius Leopold Weiss and J.S. Bach, recognised for the extraordinary beauty of their works, were first admired as virtuosos of their respective instruments: viol, lute, and keyboard. As composers and as improvisers, they took inspiration in each other's harmonic language and flourishing and particular ornamentation. These three composers are brought together again, with clair-obscur pieces of indescribable darkness and melancholy, in contrast with moments of brightness and serenity. Alongside Bach's keyboard suites, Khou has adapted for harpsichord some particularly touching pieces by Marais and Weis. Supported by the Keyboard Charitable Trust. More information Historical keyboard instruments will not be amplified.

St Cecilia's Hall Staff and Volunteers Join us on these guided tours of the musical treasures on display at St Cecilia’s Hall, Scotland’s oldest concert hall and home to the University of Edinburgh’s Musical Instrument Collection. Hear the sounds of the past, discover the weird and wonderful world of musical instruments and journey through the past 500 years of music history. Tours will be led by the curators and volunteers of St Cecilia's Hall. The themes will change daily, so feel free to register for more than one! Children are most welcome. Audience will be standing throughout, Audience required to walk or move around during the performance Involves walking

Brianna Robertson-Kirkland From the Italian Jacobite court to Edinburgh’s St Cecilia’s Hall, in 1771, Charles Edward Stuart’s personal musicians, Domenico and Francesca Corri, travelled with their brother/brother-in-law, John, to start a new musical life in Scotland. Despite their Jacobite links Roman Catholic faith, and many scandals that included bankruptcy and legal battles, they emerged as one of the most important and powerful musical families in Scotland. Indeed, their story reveals much about Edinburgh’s musical history. Join Dr Brianna Robertson-Kirkland as she explores the story of the first generation of the Corris through images, storytelling and song. None Age category: 12+

Elspeth Mcveigh and Sean Heath (Harpsichord) Andrew Liddell (Violin) Be transported to 17th century Venice, Naples... baroque into the 20th century. Packed delighted audiences in 2024. Exciting new programme with beautiful music by the greats – Monteverdi, Caccini, Ferrari, Lundi, Velasquez, Falvo and more. Weep and laugh – the wonder of love. Elspeth McVeigh, accompanied by superb musicians: Sean Heath, historic harpsichord (courtesy museum) and Andrew Liddell, baroque violin and viola da gamba, bring 'haunting... purity... informed interpretation... storytelling quality – metaphorical journey' ★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Calm... perfect diction' ★★★★ (ThreeWeeks). An hour of delicious sound which brings pure joy. None Age category: 12+

Edinburgh Renaissance Band The Edinburgh Renaissance Band with the Edinburgh Early Dancers return for 2025 with a lively performance of their ever-popular Viol Rackett Show, our best-loved programme of music and dance from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The award-winning troupe of eleven musicians show off a large range of period instruments, including shawms, cornetti, sackbuts, nakers, viols, fiddles, crumhorns, gemshorns, bells, bagpipes and racketts, accompanied by colourful costumed dancers. Fronted by musical director Murray Campbell, whose lively presentation provides a delightful show. Suitable for all ages. Children especially welcome and free, but ticketed. None

Héloïse Bernard, Eva Moreda Rodriguez, Eric Thomas. At the Heart of the Hundred Years' War. An exploration of the music heard during the period of the Hundred Year War – spanning from Burgundy, the Flemish region and England. Programme includes music by Guillaume de Machaut, Gilles Binchois, Guillaume Dufay and more. More information Historical instruments will not be amplified

Attila the Stockbroker / PBH Free Fringe Back by popular demand, the self-taught and self-proclaimed David Munrow of punk brings his Early Music Show to the beautiful surroundings of St Cecilia's Hall for the fourth time. He explains how his fascination with early music came about, inspired by his first encounter with the humble recorder aged six. He'll demonstrate the crumhorn, cornamuse, rauschpfeife, sausage bassoon and loads of different recorders, and play songs from his 2018 album Restoration Tragedy about the Levellers, Diggers and Ranters and their challenge to Cromwell during the Commonwealth after the execution of Charles I in 1649. None Age category: 14+

Ailsa Dixon From fiddlers in fairy hills to golden harps and magic geese, Scotland is filled with fantastical folklore of magical musical adventures. Join storyteller and musician Ailsa Dixon, in the music museum St Cecilia’s Hall, for a fun-filled family friendly romp through myth and legend. From learning a wee bit of Scots and Gaelic folksong, to hearing jigs, reels and legends of magical ceilidhs, this is a wonderful and accessible introduction to Scottish music for wee ones. Tales of pipers, harpers and curious melodies abound in this hour of enchanting story and song. None

Operaland One day only. When Ptolemy tries to usurp the throne, Cleopatra seduces Caesar to win it back. A one-hour reduction of Handel's most performed opera, Giulio Cesare. An Operaland production featuring Michael Temporal-Darrell (baritone) as Caesar, Alice Wang (soprano) as Cleopatra, with Miguel Carranza's inspired costume and stage design. The music will be performed on early period instruments from St Cecilia's instrument collection, is part of The Cantata Series and all proceeds benefit the hall. Performed in Italian with English subtitles. Scenes of violence Age category: 12+

George Weir, John Kitchen George Weir, a young violinist at present studying at the RCS in Glasgow, performs music for violin and harpsichord by Bach (Sonata in G BWV 1021), Handel (Sonata in D major) and Corelli (Sonata op. 6 no. 5), as well as an unaccompanied violin piece by the little-known Austrian composer Johann Vilsmayr. John Kitchen accompanies on the 1755 Kirkman harpischord. More information Historical instruments will not be amplified

Tom Gibbs, Alex Handyside, Timmy Allan This concert will pay homage to jazz clarinettists of the 1920/30s including Benny Goodman and Barney Bigard. Featuring an exciting young trio of Glasgow’s finest jazz musicians: Tom Gibbs (clarinet), Alex Handyside (guitar) and Timmy Allan (bass). The performance will include period instruments from University of Edinburgh’s world-famous Musical Instrument Collection, notably a clarinet from the Shackleton Collection. Supported by The University of Edinburgh and the Shackleton Fund. None