Edinburgh’s iconic Usher Hall is the place in Scotland’s capital to get the festive season started with magical events for all including carol concerts, film screenings and gigs.
With the cold, dark evenings closing in there’s nothing quite like watching a Christmas cinema classic inside in the warm. This December sees two screenings at the Usher Hall of some of the best-loved festive films ever made, complete with stunning live orchestra to make it a truly magical experience.
On Saturday 8 December the Senbla Concert Orchestra presents Richard Curtis’ rom-com Love Actually. Originally released in cinemas in 2003, Love Actually tells ten separate yet interweaving stories of love around Christmas time. Shortly before the big day itself, Scotland’s very own Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform alongside a screening of The Snowman on 21 December. It isn’t Christmas until The Snowman has taken you on his magical journey through the winter sky!
The RSNO also has some other treats in store. On 9 December it welcomes all the family along to the latest in its Children’s Classic Concerts series, ‘A Christmas Carol’. They need your help in saving Scrooge from his surly ways – can we convince him of the joy and wonder of the festive period? Featuring some sweet singalongs (no bah humbugs allowed!) and actors from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, this will be a celebration of Christmas past, present and future.
And of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without carols! The Usher Hall plays host to a wide selection of carol concerts this festive season, and continues its commitment to the local Edinburgh community in hosting schools and charities in doing so. Pupils return for the Dollar Academy Annual Christmas Concert on 13 December, while James Gillespie’s High School Christmas Concert follows suit on the 18th. George Heriots: A Sporting Christmas is on 11 Dec featuring music with a sporting connection in addition to the yuletide classics, and includes John Williams’ Olympic Overture, Prokofiev’s Spartakiade, Gonna Fly Now (from Rocky), Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets (Rugby World Cup) and much, much more.
Wardie Primary School join the choirs of the Lothian Hospitals and their friends in the 43rd year of their supporting children with cancer in and around the Lothians at the CLIC Sargent Lothian Hospitals Choir Carol Concert on 12 December.
A Christmas Wish is back again for its 6th consecutive year on the 17 December. This magical winter spectacular involves over 250 young people from The MGA Academy of Performing Arts who will warm your hearts and lift your spirits with a selection of traditional, pop and silver screen yuletide classics.
Carols by Candlelight on 19 December is a sublime concert of carols and seasonal classics, staged in full 18th Century costume in an evocative candle-lit style setting. Performed by the fabulous Mozart Festival Orchestra, it will also feature Rowan Pierce as soprano, Michael Bawtree as conductor and the Consort of Voices choir.
Just as the name Osmond is synonymous with music, they are also known for their TV Christmas Specials since the early 70s. Performing songs from a career spanning over 6 decades, join Merrill & Jay Osmond for The Osmonds Rocking Christmas on 7 December that will get you out of your seats!
There really is something for everyone this Christmas at Edinburgh’s favourite venue, whether it be festive films screenings, spectacular carol singing or magical orchestral music. Come one and all to the Usher Hall this December where a warm yuletide welcome awaits you!