This year the Queen’s Hall is celebrating 40 years as a concert venue and this concert is part of that anniversary.
I, of course, am old enough to not only remember when the Queen’s Hall became an essential part of Edinburgh’s musical scene, but also before that when it was a Church of Scotland Kirk. No doubt some of the old parishioners might have been a bit shocked to see it tonight. The chairs had all been removed and downstairs had become a dance hall with people dancing away to Latin American music (including your critic!) and, as one church puts it, “dancing can lead to fornication”!
Tonight’s concert is in two parts. Before the interval, we experience a great Spanish evening organised by Alba Flamenca, who have been performing and teaching flamenco for more than ten years. Saliha Haouachi has organised a great show called Flamenco Soul, bringing together Edinburgh-based performers with visiting Spanish singers, dancers and musicians to create the authentic feel of flamenco, what the Spanish call duende, the soul of the music and the culture it represents. There are three fabulous flamenco dancers, all women, and they produce an exceptional programme of dance in solo and duo form. They are backed up by a very fine click here to read the full review