Elspeth Burdette Archives - The Glasgow Guardian



Celtic Connections 2023: Bonny Light Horseman

10th February 2023

Reinventing old folk songs, the trio of established musicians project their chemistry to an ecstatic audience. Last Sunday, Bonny Light Horseman returned to Celtic Connections for a second time following their festival debut in 2020. The three members who form the core of the group are each well-established musicians in their own right: in addition ...


Celtic Connections 2023: Sammy Rae and The Friends

6th February 2023

High energy and good vibes only from the New York based group. In the heart of the east end, a stone’s throw from the Barrowlands and the Glasgow Green, the crowd flooding out of St. Luke’s was all smiles. The energy was high, and an overwhelming sense of positivity and optimism was palpable.  For those ...


Celtic Connections 2023: Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas

6th February 2023

Troll Techno and more as the thriving duo play one of the headline weekend slots. Celtic Connections is not just about honouring Scottish music. It is also about finding solidarity, and celebrating cultural and musical connections with musicians from across the globe. This concert was no exception. The performance opened with a classically inspired Celtic, ...


Review: Ainadamar by Scottish Opera @ Theatre Royal Glasgow

2nd November 2022

Elspeth reviews Scottish Opera’s brand new production. “What a sad day it was in Granada; the stones began to cry…” Thus begins Scottish Opera’s new production of Osvaldo Golijov and David Henry Hwang’s Ainadamar: a visual and auditory spectacle created through music, poetry, and dance. The opera is centred around the life and work of ...


Review: RSNO’s Season Opener @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

16th October 2022

Writer Elspeth critiques the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s debut performance, with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring as the centrepiece. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) returned to the stage for their 2022-2023 season opening concert. Their diverse programme was rife with revolution, featuring Stravinsky’s infamous Rite of Spring as its centrepiece. Conducted by Thomas Sønderg�...


Review: The Seal Woman @ Harbour Arts Centre

16th October 2022

Writer Elspeth makes the trip down to Irvine to review the Scots Opera Project’s production of the ‘Celtic Folk Opera’. Anyone familiar with Nordic or Celtic folk tales will be aware of the legend of the selkies, or the ‘seal folk’: part seal, part human creatures who shed their seal skins a few times a ...