Scottish Tunes Feature in Spectacular Celebration

Favourite Scottish Tunes Feature in Spectacular Celebration

Wellington audiences are in for a Highland treat when the international smash hit show Scotland The Brave comes to the city on Saturday 19 July.

Favourite Scottish tunes including Annie Laurie, Amazing Grace, Highland Cathedral, The Blue Bells of Scotland, and of course Scotland The Brave feature in the show alongside less known numbers which music director and conductor Sean O’Boyle promises will “delight”.

With more than 100 performers on stage, Scotland The Brave is a true celebration of Scottish music, dance and song and is on in Wellington on Saturday 19 July at the Michael Fowler Centre at 2pm and 8pm.

Sean, who is a well-know Australian music arranger and composer and has worked as a recording producer with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on more than 100 CDs, has been music director and conductor of Scotland The Brave since 2005 and says audience members never fail to respond to their favourite tunes.

“But there are some interesting stories behind some of the best-known Scottish reels and tunes. Highland Cathedral is one of the most loved tunes for bagpipes, but interestingly it was written by a couple of German men. It’s still a great tune though and very much well-loved.”

Scotland The Brave previously toured to Wellington in 2001, but Sean says he has since rearranged the entire show and this is a completely new production.

“It still has all the old favourite tunes, but I have stamped my own unique style on it – the music is lush and romantic and sounds very much like a Hollywood soundtrack unfolding.”

Scotland The Brave features more than 100 performers with Wellington’s Vector Wellington Orchestra, Orpheus Choir and City of Wellington Pipe Band and Drums Corps as well as local Highland dancers joining touring soloists on stage.

“I come in a few days before the show and work with the individual groups and then put different combinations together, but not everyone gets to be together until the final dress rehearsal.

“It’s great though – rather than working with 150 people on stage all at the same time, I get to work with smaller groups and it is more personal.”

Next year Sean heads back to Canada with Scotland The Brave and says he is looking forward to working with groups there again, and then the show has its premiere at the prestigious Lincoln Center in New York.

“That will be amazing. It’s an incredible venue and New York is one of my favourite cities in the world.”

Don your tartans and kick up your heels at Scotland The Brave at the Michael Fowler Centre on Saturday 19 July at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are available through Ticketek on 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or online at www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media