In Monday’s (8/24) Scotsman, Brian Ferguson writes, “It was the kind of hitch the Edinburgh International Festival was probably not envisaging when it chose the 18th-century Enlightenment as its theme for the Year of Homecoming. What cruel irony, too, that it was the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment that was plunged into darkness mid-performance at the Usher Hall—just days after a £25 million makeover was unveiled. One of the festival’s flagship concerts was delayed by almost half an hour of ‘endarkment’ on Saturday night when the stage lighting failed as soprano Joyce DiDonato was performing. There were two attempts to bring the lights back before the audience was told a blown fuse was to blame. … Conductor Sir Roger Norrington entertained the full house of 2,300 with a few wisecracks before emergency lighting was pressed into action and the concert could continue. Soloist DiDonato went on to give a stirring performance, and was rewarded with a standing ovation. A faulty lighting board blamed for the blackout was replaced yesterday morning ahead of baritone Bryn Terfel’s concert last night.”
Posted August 25, 2009
