Andrew Caskie (husband of Rebecca, who is playing Kate in Yeoman), the organist at Palmerston Place Church, is giving a complete (and free!) performance of Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur on the magnificent organ in Dunfermline Abbey at 7.30pm on Saturday 28 November.

Forming one of the greatest organ works of the twentieth century, the nine movements of the work are full of radiant and evocative music that illuminate the message and poetic images of Advent and Christmas.  Each of the movements will be preceded by a reading of the Scripture verses that Messiaen referenced at its head.

Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock, two of Scotland’s finest musicians, kick off the winter programme of quality live music presented by the Dunfermline Arts Guild in the Carnegie Hall at 7.30pm on Sunday 18 October.

Concert details for the whole season can be downloaded at this link. Season tickets are only £40, which enables you to enjoy six very varied concerts for the price of four. Talk to Martin Tarr if you want to get a feel for how good these concerts are.

Vince Gray, the regular leader of our orchestra, invites us to the Cromlit’s Lilt concerts of Baroque Classics, with music by Vivaldi, Corelli and Handel. Two performances: at 6.30pm on Sunday 6 September at Auchtertool Kirk (donations at the door); at 7.00pm on Sunday 13 September at St Margaret’s Memorial RC Church, East Port, Dunfermline (tickets at the door – £6.00; £5.00 concessions; children free). More details on the links, or on their Facebook page.

“They sing choruses in public — that’s mad enough!” If you fall into this category, you’ll want to join Frances McCafferty and conductor Oliver Rundell at Waverley Care’s “Come and Sing” at Wellington Church, Southpark Avenue, Glasgow on Saturday 26 September. “An exciting opportunity to explore a wonderful selection of choruses from best-loved operas. From the beautifully moving Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco, to the sumptuous Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen, there will be something for every taste.”

Rehearsal 11.00am to 5:00pm and concert at 6.00pm. Details and a booking form at this link.

Fife Opera have announced that their 2015 production will be Gounod’s masterpiece  Faust. Taster sessions at 7.30pm on the last two Wednesdays of this month (22/29 April) at the Hunter Halls, Kirk Wynd, Kirkcaldy, offer  “a chance to come along and have a wee nosey and see just how fun Fife Opera rehearsals can be!”  Details on the linked poster.

… is the intriguing title of Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society’s concert at 3.00pm on Sunday 15 March at Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy and at 7.00pm on Tuesday 17 March at Dunfermline High School. The Tuesday concert is in aid of Cancer Research UK, and tickets are £8.00 for adults, £4.00 for children.

The orchestra, whose leader, Vince Gray, is also the regular orchestral leader for our show, has chosen a challenging programme to illustrate the theme. Full details if you click the image.