Article Source: Scottish Ensemble
Last Updated: 29 October 2025 14:24
Visiting Aberdeen, Inverness, Dunblane, Dundee, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Perth from 02 – 11 December 2025, the tour will once again bring enchanting evening performances to churches and venues across the country, inviting audiences to escape the biting winter nights and enjoy the warmth and serenity of a musical journey by candlelight. The 75-minute performances will offer a captivating programme, including music by JS Bach, Mozart, Phillip Glass, Caroline Shaw, and Erkki-Sven Tüür.
This year’s tour will also see the ensemble perform the UK premiere of Moments of Memory VI, a new work by Valentin Silvestrov. Known for music of serenity and transcendence, Valentin Silvestrov is a Ukrainian composer currently living in exile in Germany. His new piece has been co-commissioned by Scottish Ensemble, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Arctic Philharmonic, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music for NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra. This piece marks the third composition supported by the Calder Commissioning Fund, created through a transformative donation, made in memory of Scottish Ensemble’s late founder John Calder.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “It’s a delight to once again have the chance to bring our players and our performances to these stunning spaces around Scotland. Year-by-year Concerts by Candlelight is always one of the highlights of our musical calendar, and we’re already looking forward to enveloping our audiences in the warmth of this beautiful music.”
One of Scottish Ensemble’s 2025 Young Artists, viola player Lauren Jack, will also make her debut with the Ensemble during the Concerts by Candlelight tour. Our Young Artists Programme, delivered in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) helps train the next generation of string musicians by offering a year-long programme of paid opportunities and development experiences.
Lauren Jack, 2025 Young Artist, said: “The side-by-side project with Scottish Ensemble was a highlight of my year at RCS. I loved the project – I found that the way all the musicians talked about and embodied the music was so inspiring. They really encouraged us to think about all the dimensions of the music we were playing and approach it from lots of different angles. The week was different from anything I’d done like that before. I love chamber music, but I hadn’t done much playing in a string ensemble of that size before – I absolutely loved it and I’m really excited to be joining the musicians on tour for Concerts by Candlelight.”
Tickets range from £13 - £25 and are free for under 16s. Tickets are available from scottishensemble.co.uk
Concert by Candlelight, Scottish Ensemble's celebrated long-running winter tour, returns for eight awe-inspiring performances in intimate settings around Scotland this December.
READ MORE
Dobbies is encouraging customers to come along to their nearest store and to be the first to shop exclusive Black Friday offers at its late-night shopping event, in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.
READ MORE
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed to inspire cosy autumn getaways and early festive escapes across Scotland.
READ MORE
Nominations are open for the highly anticipated Scottish Excellence Awards 2026, a celebration of Scotland's hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
READ MORE
Dobbies is hosting a free-to-attend monthly gardening workshop on Sunday 2 November, for children across the country to discover how they can encourage winter birds into the garden.
READ MORE
The public are urged to take part in the Scottish Government's consultation on planning laws, warning that the changes could put the country's live music venues and pubs at risk.
READ MORE
Fife-based performance wear specialist, Keela, celebrates team member’s international success at the 11th Virtus World Athletics Championships in Brisbane, Australia.
READ MORE
The shortlisted titles for this year’s Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards, were announced at Blackwell’s bookshop in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has unveiled the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2025’s title and £20,000 prize, as well as five Sound of Young Scotland finalists.
READ MORE
Eden Mill has cut the ribbon on its landmark new distillery and visitor centre on the banks of the Eden Estuary, just outside the historic Home of Golf.
READ MORE
There's loads to see and do – from pet friendly days out to breakfast with dinosaurs, loch tours and much more!
READ MORE
Keela, the Scottish outdoor clothing brand, and Mountaineering Scotland Launch ‘Within You’, an new three-month campaign, inspiring Confidence, Connection, and Adventure in the Outdoors!
READ MORE
Scotland's national celebration of books, Book Week Scotland, returns from 17th to 23rd November and tickets are on sale now!
READ MORE
Dobbies Garden Centres is lifting community spirits this season with a Christmas tree donation across the country, in partnership with Needlefresh.
READ MORE
Former Celtic and Scotland football heroes to join ex-player with MND on 150-mile March of The Day to raise funds to help tackle the disease.
READ MORE
Amy MacDonald, Hue and Cry, Nathan Evans and The Saint PHNX Band, Skipinnish, Shay O'Dowd and James Emmanuel are among the first winners to be announced for the GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards!
READ MORE
Scotland’s colourful past bursts to life this October as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) returns with its popular Living History programme for the school holidays.
READ MORE
The Scottish Government's Women and Girls in Sport Week launches this week, celebrating the power of movement and encouraging women and girls of all ages to get active in ways that work for them.
READ MORE
With the October school holidays fast approaching, ScotRail has unveiled a new, affordable way for families to make the most of the break!
READ MORE
Seachdain na Gàidhlig will return in 2026, under the banner Use It or Lose It – and organisers are encouraging people across Scotland and the global diaspora to get behind the rallying cry.
READ MORE
Brits are now picking up the cafetière, with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts revealing a 10% rise in coffee sales across its 32 UK hotels and resorts in the past year.
READ MORE
Some of the latest horror blockbusters – alongside creepy classics, enchanting family favourites and the ever-popular Twilight Saga – will all be heading to Vue venues this Halloween.
READ MORE
Christmas has come early as Dobbies Garden Centres kicks off the season in style at its Christmas Launch Weekend which takes place from Thursday 9th to Monday 13th October.
READ MORE
Children's Classic Concerts return with their popular Halloween concert performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh later this month!
READ MORE
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, Scotland's national music prize, has today revealed the 20 outstanding albums on 2025's Longlist.
READ MORE
For the first time, Beatson Cancer Charity has joined forces with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to highlight the vital role blood donors play in the treatment of blood cancers.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.
READ MORE
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE