Fauré at Dunfermline Abbey
You may have heard the Robin Chapel Choir at one of their sold-out performances of Carols by Candlelight at Fire Station Creative. This is an opportunity to hear them in the majestic setting of Dunfermline Abbey.
It is a very special year for the choir as 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Lieutenant Robin Tudsbery’s passing in the final days of World War II. During the early part of the war, Robin was entrusted with guarding King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and their daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. He was just 25 when the armoured car he and two comrades were traveling in was blown up by a mine in the German town of Kutenholz. In his memory, his parents, Sir Francis and Lady Tudsbery, built the beautiful Robin Chapel in Edinburgh. To mark this anniversary the Robin Chapel Choir will be performing this special concert in Dunfermline Abbey featuring the wonderful Requiem by Fauré and I was glad by Hubert Parry which was performed at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The concert is being presented to raise funds for a visit to Germany by The Robin Chapel Choir which will be dedicated to fostering unity and remembrance. It includes a concert with a German choir in Hannover, a special ceremony at Becklingen War Cemetery — Robin’s final resting place — and a performance at a former prisoner-of-war camp near Sandbostel.
The Robin Chapel Choir are recognized as one of the foremost choirs in Scotland. Their growing reputation has led to sold-out events at Holyrood Palace, Falkland Palace, Fire Station Creative in Dunfermline and Perth Museum. A particular highlight was the invitation to perform at a special service to mark the arrival of the Stone of Destiny at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Tickets are £15 each and can be purchased from: www.tuttievents.com
Red carpet unrolled!
This is the Carnegie Hall foyer as you haven’t see it before, ready to welcome Provost Jim Leishman last evening to the launch of our World Première of The Jury’s Out … you’ll see the ribbon cutting in next week’s Dunfermline Press. Listening to Jim’s entertaining speech were a number of invited guests from NODA, the city community and neighbouring societies, most of whom stayed to enjoy a memorable first night. Lots of complimentary comments in the Tiffany Bar afterwards!
Thank you to everyone who was part of our very responsive audience, and to those who’ve bought tickets for our performances tonight at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm. To those who haven’t yet committed to come, remember that in less than 36 hours time you will have lost the opportunity to enjoy the show, so please turn up at the box office early!
Set to open … tonight!
Click the image to read on-line what today’s Dunfermline Press has announced – that our well-loved Provost Jim Leishman will be launching our show. It’s not to late to plan to come to this World Première at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall tonight at 7:30pm. Or treat someone you love to our Valentine’s Day performance, also at 7:30pm, and find out whether true love triumphs in the end. Or, if coming out at night no longer appeals, come to our matinée at 2:30pm on Saturday 15 February. Whichever you come to, you won’t be disappointed.
[If you’re wondering why we look festive, it’s because Dave Wardle came to our pre-Christmas rehearsal!]
Recognise these characters?
Joan Johnson as The Fairy Queen
Our Facebook page has been very busy recently … and we thought you might be intrigued by this random compilation of pictures that have appeared in posts. Most are of members of our chorus, whose imaginations have been given free rein to adopt their choice of a G&S character that might suit the settings of The Jury’s Out. Yes, you know that Act 2 will be in a courtroom, but where will Act 1 be staged? To find out, you’ll need to buy a ticket and come along!
Our grateful thanks to Val McManus for her hard work and imagination.
Banging the drum!
No, these guys aren’t trying to outdo David Wilson, the percussion player in our orchestra, but they are trying to get the message across to passers-by in the Kingsgate Shopping Centre that they should support local live music and that this is really a show worth seeing. If you haven’t yet committed to coming to our new G&S show, The Jury’s Out, why not take a visit to our Box Office? You can come on the opening night, 13 February, when our World Premère will be launched by Provost Jim Leishman, to our second show on Valentine’s Day, or our matinée on Saturday 15 February. Whichever you decide, we’re sure you’ll not regret coming.
A call to action
As seen on our Facebook page, Dr Daly is giving Sally very precise instructions about brewing a jorum of tea! Have you got your tickets for the new G&S show, The Jury’s Out, (13–15 February, Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline)? If not, take a visit to our Box Office!
PS: If you’re a G&S aficionado, and think “Surely that’s a quote from The Sorcerer?), you’d be right … but it’s also a line in Act 1 of Linda Milne’s new show. To find out how it all works, and what else you’ll recognise from other Savoy operas, you’ll just have to make a bee-line for the Carnegie Hall next month.
Sweet singing in the choir!
You know it’ll soon be Christmas when your shopping is accompanied by carol-singing … so thank you both to the staff at Tesco’s Dunfermline Fire Station store for their welcome and for the use of their facilities, and to the members of the public who responded with kind words and generous donations, raising £700 for our funds. Thanks also to the members who made music for a total of 8 hours over recent days, especially to our accompanists Willie and Anne. We got the message out, both about our Society and our next show, and hopefully some of those who took fliers will be encouraged to book to see The Jury’s Out.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year … provided, of course, that we get some figgy pudding!
Next appearance
You’ve just missed a chance to see the Society on stage, but we’ll be back at Carnegie on 18–20 February 2027 with a sparkling production of that perennial favourite, The Gondoliers.
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