Edinburgh-based choir record Zoom performance for special event

A choir who planned to travel to Scotland from countries all over the world has recorded its performance via Zoom for a special online event on Sunday.

The Nightingale Choir, which is based in Edinburgh, also has members across the UK and in Europe as well as Japan, Myanmar, Taiwan, China and the USA.

The Nightingale Choir, which is based in Edinburgh, also has members across the UK and in Europe as well as Japan, Myanmar, Taiwan, China and the USA.

The choir was invited to perform at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh to coincide with a major exhibition of work by the Scottish artist Edward Atkinson Hornel (1864-1933), which was forced to close after only one month last year due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Instead, choir members have gathered together virtually from their homes across the world using Zoom to record a special performance that will be broadcast free on the City Art Centre’s Facebook page at 12:30pm on Sunday.

Margaret Findlay, Learning and Public Programmes Manager for Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, said: "The Nightingale Choir digital event is an example of how you can bring people together over the miles, united in community song.

"The result is powerful and emotional and speaks very strongly of where we are at the moment."

The E.A. Hornel exhibition was to be the first major retrospective of the artist for more than 35 years, re-evaluating his work in light of around 1700 photographs which he used to create his paintings, including his interpretations of Japanese culture.

Although the gallery is currently closed, staff have worked hard to deliver many of the planned accompanying events digitally.

The Nightingale Choir's performance will include classical choral pieces and diverse songs from the countries where members are from, including Japan.

Other events that will be available online will include cultural events planned in partnership with the Japanese Consulate. They include lectures, tours and creative workshops, as well as Japanese events including dance, music, a kimono showcase, a Tea Ceremony digital event, an origami workshop and a digital fashion show.

Ms Findlay added: "We have collaborated with the Japanese community in Edinburgh to jointly provide a platform to present authentic Japanese themed cultural events and performances in contrast to the more Westernised view of Japan in Hornel's paintings."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription at https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions.