The St Magnus Festival, held in Kirkwall and Stromness in Orkney, has been celebrating its 50th anniversary with a week-long programme of music, dance, and drama. Founded by composer Peter Maxwell Davies and poet George Mackay Brown, the festival has stayed true to its roots, covering music vaguely within the 'classical' genre with an emphasis on Scotland and the Nordic countries.
One of the highlights of the festival was the performance of Lucine Musaelian, who sang traditional Armenian and early 17th-century Italian music, accompanied by herself on the viola da gamba. Her natural and gorgeously accurate soprano voice, untainted by operatic convention, was a breathtakingly beautiful experience.
The festival's willingness to push boundaries and challenge expectations was evident in the performance of Mozart's Requiem in the breeze block auction hall of Kirkwall's livestock market. The music was performed by a large chamber orchestra and a hundred-plus strong choir, drawn from all over the islands.
The festival's imaginative programming has been a hallmark of its success, with a range of talented musicians and composers showcasing their work. From Samson Tsoy's mesmerising recital in Stromness to the performance of American and New Zealand percussion works in St Magnus Cathedral, the festival has offered something for everyone.