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Sun 03 Sep 2006

The spectacular Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert entertained residents and visitors alike across the city of Edinburgh tonight with thousands gathered in Inverleith Park, Princes Street Gardens and surrounding areas.

An estimated 250,000 people enjoyed a spectacular end to this year’s Edinburgh International Festival and the summer festival season. Garry Walker led the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s passionate and dramatic rendition of Prokofiev’s masterpiece Romeo and Juliet. In a wonderfully romantic moment in the red heart shapes painted with fireworks in the dark night sky drew gasps of admiration and emotion.

The largest annual pyro-concert in Europe celebrated 11 years of the Bank of Scotland’s support. As well as those lucky enough to have secured tickets to Princes Street Gardens, increased crowds of families took advantage of the free and un- ticketed facilities provided at Inverleith Park.

Over 100,000 fireworks weighing a total of 4.5 tonnes, lit up Edinburgh’s skies in an intricate and spectacular show which had onlookers gasping. Wilf Scott and Keith Webb yet again pulled off one of the most spectacular displays anywhere in the world, choreographed with precision timing to conductor Garry Walker’s beat.

Brian McMaster, Director, Edinburgh International Festival said: “I am really delighted that this year’s stunning Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert has provided thousands of locals and visitors across the city with a chance to celebrate the end of the Festival season in spectacular style.”

Karen Tighe, Acting Head of Sponsorship, Bank of Scotland said: "Yet again, the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert was absolutely tremendous. It is fantastic to think that a quarter of a million people enjoyed this spectacle all across the city. Our family viewing area at Inverleith Park draws more people each year and again was a huge success. We are thrilled to support the Fireworks Concert and would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication."

Roy McEwan, Managing Director, Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: "The SCO is delighted to work in partnership with the Bank of Scotland and the Edinburgh International Festival on this fantastic event. Prokofiev’s passionate and dramatic Romeo and Juliet conducted by Garry Walker and performed live by SCO, mesmerised audiences with it’s rich romantic fervour. The combination of spectacular live music, a unique city centre location and the amazing fireworks provided 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."

Chief Inspector George Bird of Lothian and Borders Police said: “The crowds were all well behaved and enjoyed a wonderful spectacle of fireworks and music.”

ENDS

Press information Susie Burnet or Jackie Westbrook 0131 473 2020 /

07810 383 091 / press@eif.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

General

1.The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert provides the traditional finale to the Edinburgh International Festival. It features stunningly choreographed classical music and fireworks on a grand scale, set against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh’s skyline. This year, the Fireworks Concert attracted over 250,000 people to various vantage points throughout the city.

2.Bank of Scotland has sponsored the Fireworks Concert since 1995 and has supported the Edinburgh International Festival since its inception in 1947.

3.For the fourth consecutive year, Bank of Scotland highlighted aspects of the 2006 Edinburgh International Festival by projecting exceptional images from this year’s productions onto the Castle Rock prior to the Fireworks Concert.

Fireworks Finale

4.Wilf Scott & Keith Webb, international fireworks artists designed the pyrotechnic display. It takes the team of 15 individuals six days to lay out all the fireworks including the famous waterfall.

5.The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert is the biggest 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, with up to 200 fireworks in each sequence.

Musical Notes

6.Garry Walker the popular Scottish conductor conducted this year’s Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert. Garry holds the positions of Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Permanent Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In the UK he has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and Scottish Symphony Orchestras, Northern Sinfonia, Hallé, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, Philharmonia and Scottish Chamber Orchestras. Abroad he has worked with the Bochum Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Gothenburg Symphony and NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover.

7.This year’s fireworks will be choreographed to Prokofiev’s passionate and dramatic Romeo and Juliet. Prokofiev’s masterpiece is rich with romantic fervour, wit and ceremony and as a ballet score it has the grace and poise which make it perfect for this concert.

8.The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is at the heart of the arts in Scotland. Formed in 1974 with a commitment to serve the Scottish community, the Orchestra is internationally recognised as one of the world’s foremost chamber orchestras.

Audience

9.For non-ticket holders The Bank of Scotland Family Viewing Area at Inverleith Park provided an ideal viewing area away from the crowds in Princes Street and was particularly suitable for younger children and families. This year the facilities at Inverleith Park featured a large screen with a live link to the orchestra in the Ross Bandstand. The concert was broadcast in the park and across the city by Radio Forth. Entertainment started from 7pm.

10.Princes Street and The Mound closed at 2:30pm and surrounding streets from 6:00pm to allow members of the public to congregate and view in safety. No tickets or passes were required for the city centre (only for Princes St Gardens).