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Fri 01 Sep 2006

This week the Edinburgh International Festival is building up to its annual spectacular finale on Sunday 3 September at 9.00pm with the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert performed live by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Preparations are underway as the city gets ready for one of the world’s greatest fireworks concerts. Choreographed to a live orchestral performance, this immensely popular event regularly attracts audiences of over 250,000 people viewing from vantage points across the capital.

Scotland’s internationally acclaimed young conductor Garry Walker is rehearsing with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for their performance of Prokofiev’s passionate and dramatic Romeo and Juliet.

Meanwhile, international fireworks artists Wilf Scott and Keith Webb are hard at work up at the Castle with their expert team of 15 individuals laying out all the fireworks including the famous waterfall.

The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert is the biggest annual event of its kind in Europe with over 100,000 fireworks set off from the Castle. 4.5 tonnes of explosives with well over 150 firing sequences will be used along with up to 200 fireworks in each sequence.

Forth Radio 1 and 2 will be broadcasting the Concert live on the night, enabling members of the public to tune in and experience the full atmosphere of the event from wherever they choose to view it.

Brian McMaster, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival said: ‘“The Bank of Scotland Fireworks concert offers locals and visitors a chance to celebrate the end of the Festival season in spectacular style. We are delighted that with the continued support of the Bank of Scotland, thousands of people across the city will enjoy the grand finale to what has been a wonderful Festival.”

Karen Tighe, Acting Head of Sponsorship, Bank of Scotland said, “We are delighted to once again be providing the viewing area at Inverleith as part of our sponsorship of the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert. It is part of our commitment to make the fireworks more accessible to the public and bring the spectacular night to the widest possible audience.”

Roy McEwan, Managing Director, Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: "The SCO is delighted to be going into another period of partnership with the Bank of Scotland and the Edinburgh International Festival on this fantastic event. The combination of spectacular live music, a unique city centre location, the amazing fireworks and a superb family viewing area in Inverleith Park enables us to cater for everyone's needs and provide an unforgettable experience for literally hundreds of thousands of people of all ages."

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Tourism at The City of Edinburgh Council, said: "The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert is always a popular event in the city’s diary and a fantastic finale to the Festival. For families who would prefer to avoid the Princes Street crowds, Inverleith Park will once again be a great alternative to enjoy the spectacular views of the fireworks and the castle."

Neil Richardson, Assistant Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, said: “The fireworks display is always a popular event and we hope the family-friendly atmosphere generated over the previous years continues.

“There is always a large crowd expected in the city centre and public safety is our main consideration. While we want people to enjoy themselves, we want them to be safe too. There will be police and stewards on duty on the night who are there to help you. Please follow their advice. We would ask that people do not bring glass or bottles to the event.”

For further information on the concert, members of the public are advised to contact the Edinburgh International Festival Hub Tickets on Tel: 0131 473 2000 / www.eif.co.uk