04/09/2006
Found it Here : http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1306252006
MORE than 100,000 fireworks lit up the Capital's skyline in a spectacular celebration to bring the curtain down on Edinburgh's Festival season.
A massive 4.5 tonnes of fireworks rained over Edinburgh Castle to the sounds of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra playing in time with the explosions. A crowd of almost 30,000 spectators gathered in Princes Street Gardens and Princes Street, Calton Hill and North Bridge. Up to 3000 watched Europe's largest annual pyro-concert from Inverleith Park as thousands more heard it broadcast live on radio.
Sponsors Bank of Scotland said 250,000 people had access to the sights or sounds of the fireworks concert in some form. Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, conducted by Garry Walker, provided an inspiring accompaniment to the blaze of light, and the famous waterfall firework sequence sent showers of sparks cascading down the Castle Rock. In a wonderful moment of romanticism, red heart shapes painted with fireworks against the dark sky drew gasps of admiration from the throngs watching in the city centre.
Firework artists Wilf Scott and Keith Webb's stunning display comprised 150 firing sequences, each containing up to 200 fireworks.
The Castle was completely tinted red at one point, in a display which took the team of 15 individuals a total of six days to lay out on the battlements. Police said the crowd was well behaved and dispersed quietly after the 45 minute concert, which began at 9pm. Every available blade of grass on Princes Street Gardens was taken up with people laid out on rugs, fold-up chairs or cushions to enjoy the event.
Some were drinking champagne to toast the end of Edinburgh International Festival in style, whilst others contented themselves with a warming flask of tea. For those who didn't make it into the city centre, Radio Forth broadcast the concert live. Facilities were also laid on at Inverleith Park, where crowds watched a large screen with a live link to the orchestra in the Ross Bandstand.
Aoife McDonald, 29, a teacher from Australia who now lives in Leith, was amongst those who viewed the display up close from Princes Street Gardens. She went well-prepared and was sprawled out on an exercise mat, with a bottle of wine and a punnet of strawberries. She said: "This is the first time I've bought a ticket for the show. Last year I watched it from Calton Hill. It was good, but there is more atmosphere here and the orchestra made it really magical.
42-year-old Jimmy Weston, an engineer from Stockbridge, said he didn't usually like classical music but the live orchestra combined with the fireworks had been very stirring.
He said: "The best bit was when you saw the sequence of red hearts over the castle. That was really something. "It's only our second year living in Edinburgh and I am really impressed with the way this city celebrates its festivals. All in all it was a terrific experience."
Valerie McAllister, 73, from Granton, said she was a veteran of the finale concert, so had wrapped up well and brought a packet of biscuits and a flask of tea in anticipation of how cold it could be.
She said: "I was just glad it stayed dry. There was a bit of a nippy wind, but it didn't seem to affect the pyrotechnics and it certainly didn't affect my enjoyment. It just seems to get better every year."
Princes Street and the Mound were closed from 2.30pm and barriers shut off the surrounding streets from 6pm to allow members of the public to congregate and view in safety. Chief inspector George Bird said: "The crowds were all well behaved and enjoyed a wonderful spectacle of fireworks and music."
Brian McMaster, director of 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 to the city with the chance to celebrate the end of the Festival season in spectacular style."
Roy McEwan, Managing Director, Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: "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."
Karen Tighe, acting head of sponsorship at Bank of Scotland, said: "Yet again the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert was absolutely tremendous.
"Our family viewing area at Inverleith Park draws more people each year and again was a huge success.
"It is fantastic to think that a quarter of a million people enjoyed this spectacle all across the city."
Found it Here : http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1306252006
MORE than 100,000 fireworks lit up the Capital's skyline in a spectacular celebration to bring the curtain down on Edinburgh's Festival season.
A massive 4.5 tonnes of fireworks rained over Edinburgh Castle to the sounds of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra playing in time with the explosions. A crowd of almost 30,000 spectators gathered in Princes Street Gardens and Princes Street, Calton Hill and North Bridge. Up to 3000 watched Europe's largest annual pyro-concert from Inverleith Park as thousands more heard it broadcast live on radio.
Sponsors Bank of Scotland said 250,000 people had access to the sights or sounds of the fireworks concert in some form. Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, conducted by Garry Walker, provided an inspiring accompaniment to the blaze of light, and the famous waterfall firework sequence sent showers of sparks cascading down the Castle Rock. In a wonderful moment of romanticism, red heart shapes painted with fireworks against the dark sky drew gasps of admiration from the throngs watching in the city centre.
Firework artists Wilf Scott and Keith Webb's stunning display comprised 150 firing sequences, each containing up to 200 fireworks.
The Castle was completely tinted red at one point, in a display which took the team of 15 individuals a total of six days to lay out on the battlements. Police said the crowd was well behaved and dispersed quietly after the 45 minute concert, which began at 9pm. Every available blade of grass on Princes Street Gardens was taken up with people laid out on rugs, fold-up chairs or cushions to enjoy the event.
Some were drinking champagne to toast the end of Edinburgh International Festival in style, whilst others contented themselves with a warming flask of tea. For those who didn't make it into the city centre, Radio Forth broadcast the concert live. Facilities were also laid on at Inverleith Park, where crowds watched a large screen with a live link to the orchestra in the Ross Bandstand.
Aoife McDonald, 29, a teacher from Australia who now lives in Leith, was amongst those who viewed the display up close from Princes Street Gardens. She went well-prepared and was sprawled out on an exercise mat, with a bottle of wine and a punnet of strawberries. She said: "This is the first time I've bought a ticket for the show. Last year I watched it from Calton Hill. It was good, but there is more atmosphere here and the orchestra made it really magical.
42-year-old Jimmy Weston, an engineer from Stockbridge, said he didn't usually like classical music but the live orchestra combined with the fireworks had been very stirring.
He said: "The best bit was when you saw the sequence of red hearts over the castle. That was really something. "It's only our second year living in Edinburgh and I am really impressed with the way this city celebrates its festivals. All in all it was a terrific experience."
Valerie McAllister, 73, from Granton, said she was a veteran of the finale concert, so had wrapped up well and brought a packet of biscuits and a flask of tea in anticipation of how cold it could be.
She said: "I was just glad it stayed dry. There was a bit of a nippy wind, but it didn't seem to affect the pyrotechnics and it certainly didn't affect my enjoyment. It just seems to get better every year."
Princes Street and the Mound were closed from 2.30pm and barriers shut off the surrounding streets from 6pm to allow members of the public to congregate and view in safety. Chief inspector George Bird said: "The crowds were all well behaved and enjoyed a wonderful spectacle of fireworks and music."
Brian McMaster, director of 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 to the city with the chance to celebrate the end of the Festival season in spectacular style."
Roy McEwan, Managing Director, Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: "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."
Karen Tighe, acting head of sponsorship at Bank of Scotland, said: "Yet again the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert was absolutely tremendous.
"Our family viewing area at Inverleith Park draws more people each year and again was a huge success.
"It is fantastic to think that a quarter of a million people enjoyed this spectacle all across the city."