ST MAGNUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2025 TICKET BROCHURE
WELCOME
We’re delighted to share the programme for the 2025 Festival which will, once again, fill the long daylight hours of midsummer with a wide range of events.
This year’s overarching theme is Earth: the soil, the land, the planet where we look at how we interact with the place that we live, how much artistic creativity has taken this as its starting point and even how we recycle.
There’s repurposed electric musical instruments in the unique theatre show Saved, a reflection of the life of the Orkney poet and nature writer Robert Rendall and new musical commissions that reflect upon the land and landscape in Fenella Humphreys’ solo recital. Many performers are ‘in residence’ and we’re pleased to be welcoming Echo Choir for a series of concerts (one alongside our own Festival Chorus), the pianists Mihai Ritivoiu and Nikita Lukinov and a number of writers, novelists and poets.
We’ll also be exploring some new venues around the mainland with events at Swannay Brewery and Deerness Distillery and a late-night concert in the Kirkwall Masonic Lodge.
We’re introducing three Magnus Saver Series for piano lovers, duo lovers and talk lovers where you can save on the ticket price by buying for the whole series . (See booking information)
We look forward to welcoming you to our events at the peak of midsummer.
Alasdair Nicolson Festival Director
BACH TO BABAJANIAN
NIKITA LUKINOV AND RESOL STRING QUARTET
Nikita Lukinov................................ Piano
Nikita Lukinov plays music that travels across centuries of keyboard writing and brings a collection of pieces by the rarely heard Armenian composer Babajanian. The programme concludes with a performance of Beethoven’s elusive concerto no. 4 in G Op.58 in an intriguing reduction accompanied by string quartet.
Heralded as an ‘exceptional talent’ by The Scotsman and a ‘rising star’ by BBC Music Magazine, Nikita Lukinov is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
JENNIFER WRIGLEY SOUNDS
OF FOLK
Jennifer Wrigley Fiddle
Laurence Wilson Piano
Multi-award winning Jennifer Wrigley is one of Orkney’s finest fiddle players and composers. Her long career has seen her perform all over the world and made her an ambassador for Orkney music over decades and a respected teacher of traditional fiddle.
Niall Campbell is a poet from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. His first poetry collection, Moontide, was published by Bloodaxe Books and won the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and Saltire First Book of the Year. Moontide was also shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and Aldeburgh Prize for Best First Collection. Noctuary, his second collection, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection in 2019.
A selection from these first two books were published in the U.S. as First Nights, part of the Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets. His latest collection, The Island in the Sound, was published in September of last year. Alongside writing poetry, Niall has worked as a librettist for both the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He is also the editor of the acclaimed poetry journal, Poetry London. He lives in Fife.
Joseph Haydn String Quartet in C (Apponyi) Op. 74 No 1
Caroline Shaw Plan & Elevation
Felix Mendelssohn String Quartet in F minor Op. 80
A concert that exploits the elegance of the string quartet with one of its masters, Haydn, in a joyous celebratory work and a more sombre and fiery work from the last months of Mendelssohn’s life. In between is a contemporary work by the celebrated composer Caroline Shaw which explores the architecture and landscape of the Dumbarton Oaks estate.
EVENT 4
SATURDAY 21 JUNE
Stromness Town Hall
Stromness
14:00
Tickets £22
Concession £20
Duration 75 mins
SAVED
Graeme Leak Creator and Performer
EVENT 5 & 7
SATURDAY 21 JUNE
Orkney Theatre
Kirkwall
16:30 & 19:30
Tickets £15
Concession £13
10% off 4 tickets
Duration 60 mins
Saved is a playful journey through sound, featuring rescued 70s home organs, cassettes, a turntable, AM radios, and a modified whisk. Graeme transforms everyday objects into instruments, blending familiar and unexpected sounds. The show asks, “Is this music, noise, or just sound?” Relax as sonic textures wash over you, blurring the lines between music and noise.
“Brian Eno, Bowie, Sparks, Kraftwerk and Morrissey - loved it”
- Martin Mendelssohn
“A musical alchemist. Graeme Leak’s poetic compositions feel like stepping into an idealised past” - Fringe Biscuit
“A quaint, ingenious use of pre-digital tech” - The Scotsman
“A love child of Buster Keaton and Bowie with scrap heap instruments!” - Ben Sturdy
THE FRAYED ATLANTIC EDGE
LITERARY HOUR
David Gange Writer (in conversation with Alasdair Nicolson)
David Gange is a writer, historian, and photographer based at the University of Birmingham, although he does much of his work on the open ocean in kayaks and other small rowed or paddled boats.
His writing combines sensory experience of the ocean with histories of communities who’ve built their lives on seafaring in small boats. The Frayed Atlantic Edge (Harper Collins, 2019) used a 2,000km journey by kayak to approach Shetland, Scots, Gaelic, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish cultures. This book was joint winner of the Highland Book Prize and shortlisted for prizes including The Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing. Afloat (Harper Collins, 2024) includes wider NorthAtlantic geographies: Connemara and the Outer Hebrides, Saami Norway, Faroe, Greenland, Newfoundland and the Caribbean Sea.
Stevens & Pound present Ascending - a cross-genre concert full of original compositions and reimaginations following the creative evolution of classical composers who were inspired by the English Folk Revival. The duo pay homage to their respective musical backgrounds whilst letting imaginations run riot into an imagined future.
Including folk recompositions of iconic works such as Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, Holst’s The Planets and the BBC Last Night of the Proms favourite The Sailor’s Hornpipe, Stevens & Pound weave together the lilting fluidity of the folk idiom with the highresolution complexity of classical composition, to create a maverick sonic world that completely defies expectation.
AUSKERRY
SOUNDS OF FOLK
Lily Montgomery ............................Fiddle and Cello
Ingrid Tait Fiddle
Magnus Montgomery Guitar
Tom Montgomery ..........................Double Bass
Jamie Sutherland Percussion
Auskerry was formed in 2024 and represents a long tradition of young Orkney folk bands. They play a mix of Orkney, Shetland and Scottish tunes and guarantee a highly entertaining evening.
EVENT 9 SATURDAY 21 JUNE
The Sound Archive Kirkwall 21:30
Tickets £18
Duration 70 mins
HERE MEID
EVENT 10
SUNDAY 22 JUNE
Harray Hall
Harray
11:00
Tickets £24
Concession £22
Duration 70 mins
Ticket includes tea/coffee and a Cinnamon Bun from Eviedale Bakehouse.
A multi-talented duo on a mission to break down musical barriers, Eleanor and Gus have been captivating audiences with their unique combination of voice, guitar and double bass since their stunning debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall in 2023. From Dowland to Dankworth, Britten to Joni Mitchell and many lesser known composers, they will draw you into their musical world with a sublime combination of words, melodies, rhythms and harmonies.
SUNDAY 22 JUNE
FESTIVAL SERVICE
ST MAGNUS CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Rev. June Freeth Locum Minister
Michael Bell .................................... Choir Director
Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet in C major Op. 59 No. 9 (Rasoumovsky)
Robert Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat Op. 44
Beethoven wrote his early quartets for a Russian Count whose name adorns the set and they are vivid and dynamic pieces filled with typically Beethovenian contrasts and emotional changes of direction. Schumann’s quintet is regarded as one of the finest for this combination and was dedicated to his wife Clara who was to be the pianist at the premiere performance.
EVENT 11
SUNDAY 22 JUNE
Stromness Town Hall
Stromness
14:30
Tickets £22
Concession £20
Duration 90 mins
EVENT 12
SUNDAY 22 JUNE
St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall
19:00
Tickets £25, £22, £15
Concession £23, £20
Duration 75 mins
DVOŘÁK LUŽANSKÁ MASS
ECHO CHOIR
PRISMATIC WINDS
ST MAGNUS FESTIVAL CHORUS
Sarah Latto Conductor
Graham Shorter ..............................Festival Chorus Director
Jacques Ibert Trois pieces breves
Carl Nielsen ......................................Quintet
Antonin Dvorak Mass in D Op.86 (Lužanská)
The Festival’s own Chorus is joined by the wonderful choir, Echo, in a performance of Dvorak’s Mass in D written in 1887 for Josef Hlavka to celebrate the inauguration of a private chapel at his summer residence. Originally scored for organ, here this charming and gentle
SEVEN RINGS
ESCOCIA DUO
Katrina Lee Violin
Roberto Kuhn Versluys Classical Guitar
Repertoire to include
Egberto Gismonti
Ariel Ramírez....................................Alfonsina y el Mar
Astor Piazzolla Libertango, Escualo, Ave Maria
Ángel Villoldo El Chocio
Atahualpa Yupanqui .....................Huajra
Sete Anéis unveils the enchanting fusion of two cherished musical genres, folk and tango, evoking the soul and spirit of South America’s diverse cultures. Katrina and Roberto of the Escocia Duo demonstrate their glowing love of the music, seamlessly intertwining their instrumentation to weave narratives that capture the essence of each composition.
From the lively rhythms of tango to the poignant strains of folk melodies, every work is a testament to the ensemble’s dedication to preserving and reimagining these traditional sounds.
The Lodge is only accessible via stairs, with no lift or wheelchair access available. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
EVENT 13
SUNDAY 22 JUNE
Kirkwall Masonic Lodge
Kirkwall
21:00
Tickets £18
Concession £16
Duration 60 mins
The Masonic Hall bar downstairs will be open from 20:00 for refreshments.
EVENT 14
SUNDAY 22 JUNE
The Sound Archive
Kirkwall
21:30
Tickets £18
Duration 70 mins
LEESIK AND CARTWRIGHT
SOUNDS OF FOLK
Kristina Leesik Fiddle
Heather Cartwright Guitar/Singer
Kristina Leesik and Heather Cartwright are a Glasgow based fiddle and guitar duo but Kristina hails from Sweden and Heather from Cumbria. Heather has recently been touring with Kris Drever and Kristina is part of the award winning band Tern and here they bring many cultures together in their partnership and explore tunes old and new.
PICTURES AND REFLECTIONS OF MAY AND JUNE NIKITA
LUKINOV
Nikita Lukinov Piano
Piotr Tchaikovsky “May” and “June” from Seasons Op.37a
Franz Liszt Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Franz Liszt .........................................
Transcendental Study No.8
“Wilde Jagd”
Claude Debussy Reflets dans l’eau, Ondine
Modest Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
A grand scale sonic art gallery is the theme of this recital with Tchaikovsky conjuring the atmosphere of the months of the year (here the starlit nights of May and a barcarolle for June), a wild hunt from Liszt and some watery impressions by Debussy bringing us to the best known work that leads us through an exhibition seen through the eyes of Mussorgsky.
EVENT 15 MONDAY 23 JUNE
Stromness Town Hall
Stromness
11:00
Tickets £20
Concession £18
Duration 70 mins
EVENT 16
MONDAY 23 JUNE
The Music Room
Sanday Community School
Sanday
16:00
Tickets £20
Sanday resident £15
Tickets are limited for this event
Duration 60 mins
FERRY TO SANDAY IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS TICKET
Book ferry via Orkney Ferries www.orkneyferries.co.uk
ORPHEUS IN HIS COTTAGE FESTIVAL ON TOUR
Mihai Ritivoiu Piano
Peter Maxwell Davies
Franz Schubert
Alasdair Nicolson ...........................
Three Sanday Places (Knowes o’ Yarrow, Waters of Woo and Kettletoft Pier)
Impromptu Op. 142 No. 1 in F minor, D 935
Magnus IV. Orpheus in his cottage Claude Debussy Préludes (Les collines d’Anacapri, Des pas sur la neige, Ce qu’a vu le vent d’Ouest)
We pay tribute to Peter Maxwell Davies in the year that would have been his 90th Birthday with a concert played on his piano on the island that was his final home in Orkney. Mihai Ritivoiu presents music inspired by the island by Max himself as well a tribute by Festival Director Alasdair Nicolson. Places, the land and the elements all inspire the works including the snow, wind and hills of Debussy’s preludes.
A laureate of several international competitions, including the George Enescu Competition in Bucharest, Mihai Ritivoiu has performed in major halls throughout Europe and Japan. He has given concerts with such orchestras as the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, MDR Leipzig, Romanian Radio Orchestra and George Enescu Philharmonic Bucharest.
NIGHT TRAIN TO ODESA
LITERARY HOUR
Jen Stout
(in conversation with Alasdair Nicolson)
Jen Stout is a journalist, writer, and radio producer from Scotland, frequently working in Ukraine. Originally from Shetland she has lived in Germany and Russia. Her empathetic and vivid coverage on the deportations in Kharkiv region was shortlisted for an Amnesty Media Award. Her first book, Night Train to Odesa, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and won the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award.
As war began, Jen Stout left Moscow abruptly, ending up on a border post in southeast Romania, from where she began to cover the human cost of Russian aggression. Her first-hand, vivid reporting brought the war home to readers in Scotland as she reported from front lines and cities across Ukraine.
Stories from the night trains, birthday parties, military hospitals and bunkers: stories from the ground, from a writer with a deep sense of empathy, always seeking to understand the bigger picture, the big questions of identity, history, hopes and fears in this war in Europe.
EVENT 17 MONDAY 23 JUNE
Kirkwall Baptist Church
Kirkwall 17:30
Tickets £18
Concession £16
Duration 60 mins
EVENT 18 MONDAY 23 JUNE
St Magnus Cathedral
Kirkwall
19:00
Tickets £25, £22, £15
Concession £23, £20
Duration 60 mins
A BLUE TRUE DREAM OF SKY
ECHO
Conductor
Sarah Latto
Samuel Coleridge Taylor The Sea Shell
Judith Weir a blue true dream of sky
Kenneth Leighton God’s Grandeur
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina .... I Vaghi Fiori
Anon Improvisation on Why did you separate me from the Earth?
Echo Ensemble has quickly become one of the celebrated new ensembles in the world of choral music and the group’s first album Innocence has been nominated as Best Newcomers in the BBC Music Magazine Awards. They have been ensemble in residence at Ryedale Festival, with the LPO and have specialised in collaborative work
SHARING AND GATHERING GRANT McQUADE DUO STEVENS & POUND
Eleanor Grant Voice and Double Bass
Gus McQuade Guitar
Delia Stevens Percussion
Will Pound Melodeon
This concert brings together two duos whose instrumental combinations might be said to be ‘unusual’. Here they present a wide and varied programme and collaborate for the first time.
Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade have quickly grown a reputation for work that stretches across genres and places Renaissance lute songs next to Joni Mitchell. Eleanor’s soaring voice sheds new light on a host of familiar music and amidst these are some of her own songs. Delia Stevens and Will Pound examine a host of well known music in their unique combination exploring new ways of looking at and hearing the very familiar.
EVENT 19 MONDAY 23 JUNE
St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall
21:30
Tickets £22
Concession £20
Duration 70 mins
EVENT 20
TUESDAY 24 JUNE
Stromness Town Hall
Stromness
11:00
Tickets £20
Concession £18
Duration 60 mins
THE GREAT PASSION
Fenella Humphreys Violin James Runcie Writer
J.S. Bach
Toccata and Fugue BWV 565
J.S. Bach Partita in D minor BWV 1004
James Runcie’s novel, The Great Passion, tells the story of young Stefan Silbermann, sent to train as a singer in Leipzig under the Cantor Johann Sebastian Bach. Based on true events, Stefan lives with the Bach family through joyful chaos and heart-rending tragedy and witnesses the creation of some of Bach’s greatest works - most notably the great St Matthew Passion.
In this beautiful collaboration, James is joined by the award-winning violinist Fenella Humphreys. Readings from his work and insightful commentary are intertwined with Fenella’s playing of selected Bach pieces for solo violin, including her own special arrangement of the famous Toccata and Fugue BWV 565 and the heartbreaking Partita in D Minor.
WILD LOCH MOUNTAIN
PRISMATIC WINDS
Leila Marshall Flute
Irena Klimach Oboe
Matthew Jansen Giraldo
Robert Newth
Emma Simpson
Malcolm Arnold
Felix Mendelssohn
Frank Sinatra You Make Me Feel So Young
Robert Newth Wild Loch Mountain Lomond Thyme
Grazyna Bacewicz Kwintet
George Gershwin Summertime
Robert Newth Scottish Fantasy
Here we have a selection of music which is firmly rooted in Scotland but which visits Poland and American jazz on its travels. Notable in the midst of some familiar music and tunes is the Kwintet by the Polish composer Bacewicz. Until recently her name was not so familiar but there is a large body of very fine music. The ensemble’s own horn player has put pen to paper to create two works which feature some well known tunes. Prismatic Winds is made up of players who are recent graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall 13:00
Tickets £23, £20, £12
Concession £21, £18
Duration 70 mins
EVENT 22
TUESDAY 24 JUNE
St Ninian’s Kirk
Deerness
15:30
Tickets £20
Concession £18
Duration 60 mins
The seats in St Ninian’s offer Presbyterian comfort so feel free to bring a cushion. Parking is limited at the church so a shuttle bus will operate from Deerness Community Hall car park. Last shuttle 15:15.
ANYONE LIVED IN A PRETTY HOW TOWN
ECHO CHOIR
NIALL CAMPBELL
Sarah Latto Conductor
Niall Campbell Poet
Music to include
Benjamin Britten Hymn to St Cecilia
Judith Weir Vertue
Geoff Haynes....................................
Anyone lived in a pretty how town
Echo Ensemble join with poet Niall Campbell for an afternoon of sung and spoken word in the beautiful acoustic of St Ninian’s Kirk by the sea at Deerness. Featuring British composers, the centrepiece of this concert is Britten’s masterpiece the Hymn to St Cecilia. Echo Ensemble has quickly become one of the celebrated new ensembles in the world of choral music and the group’s first album Innocence has been nominated as Best Newcomers in the BBC Music Magazine Awards. They have been ensemble in residence at Ryedale Festival, with the
TELL ME GOOD THINGS
LITERARY HOUR
James Runcie Author (in conversation with Alasdair Nicolson)
James Runcie is the author of twelve novels, four plays and a memoir. He is also an award-winning documentary film-maker, playwright and literary curator. He has been Artistic Director of the Bath Literature Festival, Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, London, and Commissioning Editor for Arts on BBC Radio 4. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a member of both the Crime Writer’s Association and The Detection Club. From his detective novels set in Grantchester to fiction about the creation of J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion to a memoir about his wife, Marilyn Imrie, James has fascinating stories to tell.
EVENT 23 TUESDAY 24 JUNE
Kirkwall Baptist Church
Kirkwall 17:30
Tickets £18
Concession £16
Duration 60 mins
TUESDAY 24 JUNE
St Magnus Cathedral
Kirkwall
19:30
Tickets £25, £22, £15
Concession £23, £20
Duration 90 mins
SPONSORED BY
IMPRESSIONS IN THE MISTS
MIHAI RITIVOIU
Mihai Ritivoiu Piano
Peter Maxwell Davies Farewell to Stromness
Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata Op. 28 in D major “Pastoral” Leoš Janácek In the Mists
Franz Liszt Années de pèlerinage: Chapelle de Guillaume Tell, Au bord d’une source, Vallée d’Obermann
Claude Debussy Préludes: Les collines d’Anacapri, Des pas sur la neige, Ce qu’a vu le vent d’Ouest
A recital programme which transports us across countries, landscapes and through the elements and weather. Several sets of elusive impressions bring us Liszt’s time in Switzerland, the delicate melancholy of Janacek’s Mists and Debussy’s fleeting sketches of snow, wind and hills. Beethoven’s sonata bears the name ‘pastoral’ and, though he did not name it, has a sense of the countryside with its drones and gigue-like final movement.
Mihai Ritivoiu was born in Bucharest and studied there at the National University before coming to the Guildhall in London. He is a laureate of many international competitions and is a regular recitalist across venues in Europe.
SETE ANÉIS ESCOCIA DUO
Katrina Lee Violin
Roberto Kuhn Versluys Classical Guitar
Egberto Gismonti ...........................Sete Anéis, Agua e Vinho, Palhaco
Sete Anéis unveils the enchanting fusion of two cherished musical genres, folk and tango, evoking the soul and spirit of South America’s diverse cultures. Katrina and Roberto of the Escocia Duo demonstrate their glowing love of the music, seamlessly intertwining their instrumentation to weave narratives that capture the essence of each composition.
From the lively rhythms of tango to the poignant strains of folk melodies, every work on this album is a testament to the ensemble’s dedication to preserving and reimagining these traditional sounds.
EVENT 25 WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
Hoy Heritage Centre
Hoy 13:00
Tickets £18
Concession £16
Duration 60 mins
FERRY TO HOY IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS TICKET
Book ferry via Orkney Ferries www.orkneyferries.co.uk
FROM SANDAY
Fenella Humphreys .......................Violin
Robert Saxton
EVENT 26
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
St Magnus Cathedral
Kirkwall
13:00
Tickets £23, £20, £12
Concession £21, £18
Duration 70 mins
SPONSORED BY
Fledgling Bird
Michael Small ..................................Prism
Kaija Saariaho
John Paul von Westhoff
Bon Vent
Suite no. 5 in D minor
Marcus Rock ....................................Tendrils and Tremors
★ Scottish Premiere ★
Astor Piazzolla
Laura Shipsey
Ailie Robertson
Sally Beamish
Heinrich Biber
Maxwell Davies
Tango Etude no 4
Stormfield Songs
★ Scottish Premiere ★
Skydance
The Lone Seafarer
Passacaglia
Last Postcard from Sanday
Fenella Humphreys is a multi award-winning violinist and regular at the Festival and whilst she is very at home in the standard repertoire she has been a tireless advocate, commissioner and performer of new music. Here she presents a fascinating array of music - including two Scottish premières – inspired by sea, sky, wind, birds and much more.
Roland Dyens ..................................Libra Sonatine
Frederic Mompou Suite Compostelana
Heitor Villa-Lobos Etude X
Ronaldo Miranda ...........................Appassionata
An atmospheric programme of music for guitar in the newly refurbished old cheese-making room at the Swannay Brewery.
Music from Brazil, Belgium, France and Spain with Mompou’s musical portrait of Santiago de Compostela at its heart. Gus McQuade is a rising star amongst the younger generation of guitarists and recently received the New Elizabethan Award from the Musicians’ Company and made his debut at the Wigmore Hall.
EVENT 27 WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
Swannay Brewery Birsay 15:30
Tickets £18
Concession £16
Duration 60 mins
EVENT 28
WEDNESDAY
25 JUNE
Kirkwall Baptist Church
Kirkwall 17:30
Tickets £18
Concession £16
Duration 60 mins
BECOMING A COMPOSER
LITERARY HOUR
Errollyn Wallen ................................Composer (in conversation with Alasdair Nicolson)
Errollyn Wallen is one of the UK’s most performed composers and here talks to fellow composer Alasdair Nicolson about her life and work and her move to Orkney.
In 2024 Errollyn was made the Master of the King’s Music and this year sees many premieres, performances and record releases notably a collection of her orchestral works. At home both in chamber music, orchestral music and opera, she has a fast growing catalogue of works.
B’ THE SHORE
JOHNSMAS FOY
A glimpse into the life and works of Robert Rendall
Written by Issy Grieve and Greer Norquoy ORKNEY VOICES
Robert Rendall was significant figure in his day, and good friend of George Mackay Brown, having published three poetic collections and two scientific works about seashore life and shells. Here a new multi media presentation brings together music, visuals, poetry and the character of Rendall himself with ‘live’ painting from Ingrid Grieve during the performance.
EVENT 29
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
EVENT 32
THURSDAY 26 JUNE
Stromness Town Hall
Stromness
18:00
Tickets £16
Concession £14
10% off 4 tickets or more
Duration 60 mins HERE MEID
EARTH, SOIL, THE LAND
Karen Tweed Accordion
Karen Street Accordion
With special guest Andy Tweed Saxophone
EVENT 30
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
Dashing Deer
Deerness Distillery
Deerness
19:30
Tickets £20
Concession £18
Duration 60 mins
HERE MEID
Karen Tweed and Karen Street come from polar opposite musical backgrounds yet are utterly inspired by each other and the same musical giants such as Piazzolla, Pärt or Karen Carpenter. Whether injecting jazz twists into traditional Irish music or gliding cheeky classical-inspired motifs into musette waltzes, they delight in breathing playfulness around wherever their accordions take them. Respected composers, this concert will include new pieces inspired by ‘A Glisk of Sun’ which are selected articles of ‘countrywoman’ Bessie Skea, whose weekly column for the Orcadian Newspaper lasted for forty years.
DISTILLER’S PLATES
Add a Distiller’s Plate to your ticket for £20.50 – hearty for one or good to share. Pre-order required for this event. See more details on www.stmagnusfestival.com. Drinks to be purchased separately if required. The Dashing Deer bar will be open from 7pm and remain open after the event.
THE PILGRIM’S PATH
Gemma McGregor Flute
Katherine Wren Viola
Sheila Garson Speaker
Gemma McGregor
The Pilgrim’s Path
Gemma McGregor has created a new work based around the story of St Magnus and which follows points on the Magnus Way – a pilgrimage route in Orkney which leads to St Magnus Cathedral and where the relics of Magnus are to be found. Against the backdrop of the Sails for St Magnus which are great canvases hung between the medieval pillars, the performers will present six new pieces whose titles are inspired by George Mackay Brown. The music will be interspersed with the spoken word.
Participants in the First Orkney Accordion Course and local musicians
During the days of the 2025 Festival there will be an Accordion Course taking place with participants drawn to Orkney to learn, play together and work on new music. This concert presents the work done on this course and presents new arrangements of music specially made for accordion ensemble. The sound of a multitude of accordions, with some other special guests, promises to be a riot of sound and a joyful celebration of the accordion to round off this first partnership between the Festival and the Karens.
Deep Wheel Orcadia is based on the award-winning verse novel by Harry Josephine Giles. A fusion of performance, music and image tells the story of Astrid – who, on return from art school on Mars, meets Darling, a Martian hiding on a space station struggling for survival. Written in Orkney dialect, this spellbinding production includes music by BAFTA-winning composer Atzi Muramatsu with direction by Susan Worsfold.
An exciting promenade performance set amidst the ancient landscape of Sandwick in the Elemental Garden of Legend and Lore and round the fireside with stories from the midsummer world of Orkney. An opportunity to be transported to the mysterious and magical world of The Trowie Healer o’ Shapinsay -a traditional Orkney Island Folk Tale around the ancient Islanders’ belief of ‘Abeun The Hill’ - and The Two Fiddlers by George Mackay Brown.
EVENT 35 & 36
FRIDAY 27 JUNE
Storytelling and Folklore Centre Sandwick
14:00 & 19:00
Tickets £16
Duration 90 mins
EXHIBITION LOST AT SEA
The exhibition makes use of an astonishing private collection of model boats. Conceived by gallery owner and ship’s captain, Maiwenn Beadle, the installation is in memory of friends who didn’t come back.
20 - 27 JUNE
Ship of Fools Gallery Kirkwall 10:00 - 16:00
Admission Free Closed Sunday
ST MAGNUS SAVER SERIES
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
– We regret that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase.
– The management reserves the right to cancel a performance without prior notice due to exceptional circumstances which may be out of our control. In such an instance ticket holders will be offered an alternative performance or a refund.
– Latecomers will only be admitted when there is an appropriate break in the performance.
– Concessions are for schoolchildren, full-time students and registered unemployed. Concession tickets may be subject of proof of status.
– The use of photographic equipment and video cameras is prohibited during the performance.
– Mobile phones must be switched off during the performance.
DATES
Magfest Members Priority Booking opens at 10am on Monday 31 March 2025. General Booking from 10am on Monday 7 April 2025.
– In person at St Magnus Festival Box Office, 13 Albert Street, Kirkwall
– On the door for performances that are not sold out.
For general enquiries please email boxoffice@stmagnusfestival.com.
PRICING AND SEATING
To give greater customer choice the Festival has banded ticket prices for many events. Please note that the lowest price is for unreserved seats and/ or seats which offer very limited views of the performance area. In St Magnus Cathedral this will include some seats with no view. Unreserved seats are available from the opening of ticket booking.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OR ASSISTANCE
If you have special seating requirements or have a query regarding access, please contact the Festival office by telephoning 01856 871445 or email boxoffice@stmagnusfestival.com. We will do our best to satisfy seating requests at all venues.
FESTIVAL TRANSPORT
Most Festival events take place in Kirkwall or Stromness which are 15 miles (30 mins) apart. On weekdays and weekends there is a regular daytime bus service. Details and timetables are available from the VisitScotland Information Centres in Kirkwall and Stromness.
CATERING WITHIN EVENTS
Please be aware that our food may contain or come into contact with common allergens, such as dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soya and wheat.
MAGFEST MEMBERS SUPPORTERS OF ST MAGNUS
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Since 1977, St Magnus International Festival has been at the heart of Orkney’s cultural life. Every June, we stage a variety of world-class events set against the backdrop of Orkney’s magical midsummer.
Our Magfest Members play a vital role in helping us maintain the quality of Festival performances and the associated community and education projects year after year.
BENEFITS INCLUDE
– Personalised Membership Card
– Priority Booking ahead of general booking (access to 2 tickets per event)
– Regular Newsletter Updates
– Exclusive Member Event with Festival Director and Artists
– Acknowledgement of Support in Festival Programme
– Complimentary Festival Souvenir Programme Book
– Discount on Festival Merchandise
– Savings on select last-minute tickets
Become a MAGFEST MEMBER to access priority booking and other exciting benefits online at Support Us - Magfest Members
Scan the QR code below.
OUT AND ABOUT
– Harray Hall, Harray
– Sanday Community School, Sanday
– St Ninian’s Kirk, Deerness
– Hoy Heritage Centre, Hoy
– Swannay Brewery, Birsay
– Deerness Distillery, Deerness
– Orkney Folklore and Storytelling Centre, Sandwick
please contact the Festival office. St Magnus International Festival, 13 Albert Street, Kirkwall KW15 1HP
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