Video gives taste of art fest line-up
Churchgoers in Perth City Centre were delighted to return to St Matthew’s Church on Easter Sunday.
This was the first time that the Tay Street Church of Scotland building had been able to welcome worshipers.
At future Sunday services music will once more be provided by organist Michael Ellacott, who will lead the people in song, but unfortunately the congregation is still not permitted to sing.
Appropriate physical distancing and sanitising facilities will be in place and we are all required to wear face coverings.
Now, as before to follow Scottish Government regulations, there are only 50 spaces available inside St Matthew’s.
For each 11am Sunday service, spaces should be booked on ‘Eventbrite’which helps with the church’s Track and Trace procedures.
The booking link is https:// www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ sunday-worshiptickets-127686837769 or see www.perthstmatthews.org.uk
St Matthew’s will live-stream the service using the following Zoom link at 11am: https://zoom.us/j/95 375321288?pwd=Z0ZQckF2dEVp cmNUTWtPdmZxeUhGQT09
Perth Festival of the Arts has made a video showcasing some of the incredible musical performances it hopes will entertain online this year.
The programme will keep PFA firmly connected to the Fair City, with the event running from May 20-29.
In this, the festival’s 49th year, Perth Festival of the Arts is planning to combine world-class musicians and singers with a drive-in cinema weekend.
President of the PFA committee David Brand recorded his first video broadcast to outline the programme for this year.
David said the event was different this year, not taking place in the real Perth venues of the past runs, but would be “diverse” and “safe” for a challenging year.
He shared details of appearances by highly appreciated orchestral, choral and ensemble groups, a flurry of classical concerts plus jazz, indie, rock, folk, drama, literature, film and visual arts events.
There will be an opportunity to hear from violinist Nicola Benedetti who will be performing with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Award-winning Perthshire folk musicians Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton will be curating a special one-off festival gig and helping showcase other county-bred musicians.
One of the highlights of this year’s programme is the launch of a new national cross-genre music series ‘Scotland Trending’, which showcases no less than 16 rising stars in music in Scotland.
PFA will welcome back top string musicians The Scottish Ensemble.
This special concert with uplifting and joyful music by the Scottish Ensemble, being broadcast on May 20, has been filmed at the Byre at Inchyra, a beautifully restored rustic barn in Perthshire, and is billed to be “a celebration of the arrival of summer”.
The orchestra is “delighted” to open the festival, with Perth being one of their regular concert stages and much-loved places to perform.
On May 21 music transmitted from an empty Perth Concert Hall will come from Spanish saxophonist Manu Brazo, violinist Claudia Uriarte and pianist Prajna Indrawati for their REVIVE concert.
On day three of PFA, Saturday, May 22, the internationally-loved choral singers The Sixteen perform an evening concert. This will be followed by a virtual live interview and Q&A with the choir’s conductor and founder Harry Christophers CBE.
Sunday, May 23 brings a piano recital by Isata Kanneh-Mason who will be performing sonatas by Mozart and Barber.
She has agreed to play Chopin Ballade No2 and Gershwin’s Three Preludes.
Isata was number one in the UK classical charts during 2019 with her debut album ‘Romance,’ which drew popular and critical acclaim.
Out at Scone Palace, there will be drive-in cinema with movies like ‘Grease’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’ to enjoy.
ArTay will happen online this year, showcasing amazing pictures and works of art for sale.
Tickets for the cinema and online festival are now on general sale via www. perthfestival.co.uk