Edinburgh: Late April 2014

John Bennett Special Programs & Housing Officer

Date

April 16, 2014

Art and Culture

Architectural Gems in Lego: Through 20 April, Riddles Court

Created solely from Lego, Brick Wonders is Warren Elsmore's creation of ancient, natural and modern marvels. Featuring an impressive modern airport, a replica of a pyramid, a safari and for all avid stargazers the Aurora Australis, Brick Wonders takes both young and old on a special adventure.

Visitors to Riddle's Court experience the surrounds of one of Edinburgh's own hidden marvels, a fascinating 16th century merchant's house secluded behind the Royal Mile. All proceeds from Brick Wonders help save what is one of Edinburgh's oldest remaining courtyard houses.

Bruno Munro: Field of Light: Through 26 April, St Andrew Square

Installation artist Bruce Munro sets up 9500 glass spheres and then turns on the lights to make us all ohh and ahh.

Helen Storey: Dress of Glass and Flame: Through 30 April, Summerhall

Sculptural dress made of glass and flame, originally exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2013.

New Acquisitions at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One: Through 30 April, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One

A display of recent additions to the Museum's collection, including prints by Picasso, Cezanne and Hockney, paintings by Joan Eardley, and many other works.

AR Hopwood: Throughout the End of April, Talbot Rice Gallery

Films, photography and documents investigating the role of photographic images in the creation of fake childhood memories in research conducted by Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Warwick, Kim Wade.

A Wide New Kingdom: The Celtic Revival in Scotland: Throughout the End of April, Talbot Rice Gallery

An overview of the impact of the Celtic Revival on Scotland, with paintings, illustrations, books, photographs, manuscripts and other ephemera showing how Scottish artists, writers and musicians arrived at a new appreciation of the nation's Celtic heritage.

In Fine Fashion: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion: Throughout the End of April, The Queen's Gallery

The Tudors and Stuarts were among the best-dressed dynasties in British history, and this exhibition looks at the ways in which fashion conveyed important information about status, using paintings, drawings, miniatures and rare examples of surviving clothing from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Music, Comedy and Dance

BBC SSO: Runnicles Conducts Mahler 9: 27 April, Usher Hall, 4pm

Towards the end of the Cold War, the late Lewis Thomas wrote that listening to Mahler'sSymphony No 9 made him think about 'death everywhere, the dying of everything, the end of humanity'. There's no doubt that Mahler had something similar in mind, even if he did his best to complete a tenth symphony before bacterial endocarditis carried him off aged only 50. Here, this mournful masterpiece is paired with Arvo Pärt's plangent Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten. Donald Runnicles conducts.

Eddi Reader: 25 April, The Queen's Hall, 7pm

The popular folk pop chanteuse, known for her work with Fairground Attraction and often called upon to add her voice to other people's records tours her latest album Vagabond.

Lunchtime Concerts: 16, 19, 23 April, St Giles Cathedral, 12.15pm

St Giles' Cathedral offers free lunchtime concerts from visiting artists.

Brassed Off: 29-30 April, King's Theatre, 2.30 or 7.30pm

Musical adaptation of the popular film, here directed by Damian Cruden.

Hamish Napier & Adam Sutherland: 29 April, Leith Folk Club, 7.30pm

Folk duo on fiddle and keys.

Hebrides Ensemble: Pierrot Lunaire: 18 April, Traverse Theatre, 8pm

Arnold Schoenberg's feverish 1912 melodrama for voice and chamber ensemble is full of paradoxes: is it for the concert hall or the theater stage? Is it high art or cabaret? Why is the male central character written for a soprano? It's one of his most entertaining and accessible pieces, and a defining work of 20th century music. This performance features acclaimed young Tasmanian soprano Allison Bell, replacing Anna Huntley, who is indisposed.

Glenn Wool: The Jokes I'm Most Fond Of: 30 April, The Stand 8.30pm

Wool chooses a selection of different jokes each night from his outstanding career that's spanned 20 years of TV and live gigs.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

Edinburgh International Science Festival: Through 20 April, Various Venues

Edinburgh International Science Festival is a high profile and dynamic educational charity. Each year it delivers one of Europe’s largest Science Festivals; a primary school education programme which tours across Scotland and a variety of international projects including its role as Major Programme Partner for the Abu Dhabi Science Festival.