Vive la France • Opera Festival •
Join Opera Caledonia for a day of concerts & events celebrating the vast variety of musical & dramatic styles of French opera, set in the stunning surroundings of the Institut français d’Écosse!
About Vive la France • Opera Festival •
| 29th November 2025 | |
| Lunchtime Concert 1pm - 2pm / The Auld Alliance 4pm - 5pm / Evening Recital 7.30pm - 9pm | |
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Institut francais d Ecosse Institut français d'Ecosse West Parliament Square, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1RF |
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| Day Pass £50 (all three events) / Lunchtime Concert & The Auld Alliance £15 / Evening Recital £25 | |
| Visit the event website here | |
| Facebook information can be found here | |
| Follow operacaledonia on Instagram | |
Individual event tickets & day passes are available.
Lunchtime Concert (1pm)
Andrew Long violin • Derek Clark piano
An enjoyable concert of operatic transcriptions for violin and piano, showcasing the melodic splendour of French opera. Hear Wieniawski’s devilish Fantasy on Gounod’s “Faust”, Drdla’s Fantasia on Offenbach’s “Les contes d’Hoffmann” and Sarasate’s virtuosic “Carmen Fantasy” alongside music from Massenet’s “Thaïs” and “Mignon” by Thomas. Performed by Andrew Long, who’s previous positions have included Associate Leader with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North, alongside Derek Clark, Scottish Opera’s celebrated former Head of Music.
The Auld Alliance (4pm)
Join Derek Clark, Scottish Opera’s former Head of Music, for a discussion on the development of French opera and its portrayal in Scotland.
Evening Recital (7.30pm)
Roland Wood baritone • Derek Clark piano
Join internationally celebrated baritone Roland Wood and Scottish Opera’s celebrated former Head of Music Derek Clark as they perform a selection of musical highlights from the French operatic and song repertoire. A compère will guide the audience through the programme, giving background to the pieces performed and putting them into their musical context. Interval refreshments included.
Dining Options:
With the Institut français d’Écosse remarkably located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, there are many restaurants and cafés in the local area to enjoy a spot of lunch or dinner between concerts and events. The Institut français d’Écosse houses its own on-site restaurant, Le Bistrot.
• • •
Individual event tickets & day passes are available to purchase.
Day Pass: £50.00 – entry to all three events
Lunchtime Concert (60mins): £15.00
Puccini in Scotland (60mins): £15.00
Evening Recital (90mins): £25.00 (includes interval refreshments)
Children aged 10 and above are welcome to attend all events. They must have their own ticket and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Artists and programme are subject to alteration.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
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