Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

Burnsfest: 1 February, Scottish Storytelling Centre

A programme of events based around the works of Oor Rabbie, including storytelling, theater, exhibitions and a ceilidh.

Bruce Munro: Field of Light: Throughout the Beginning of February, St Andrew Square

Installation artist Bruce Munro sets up 9500 glass spheres and then turns on the lights to make us all ohh and ahh.

The Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors: Through 7 February,  Old College, 4pm

Outdoor installation of Xia Nan's installation of 80 illuminated, colorful statues, taking inspiration from the Terracotta Warriors but featuring family groups rather than soldiers. Presented by the University of Edinburgh in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Robert Burns's Glenriddell Manuscripts: Throughout the Beginning of February, National Library of Scotland

View Burns' volumes of his unpublished poems and letters for his friend, Robert Riddell of Glenriddell.

Citizens of the World: David Hume & Allan Ramsay: Throughout the Beginning of February, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Too few Scots are aware that Scotland has its own Enlightenment, and a hugely influential one at that, with a world-class philosopher in David Hume, an equally heavy-hitting economist in Adam Smith, an outstanding painter in Allan Ramsay, plus less well-known intellectual giants like Hutcheson, Ferguson, Reid and others.

Mammoths of the Ice Age: Throughout the Beginning of February, National Museum of Scotland

Ever wanted to see a woolly mammoth? This interactive touring exhibition (from The Field Museum, Chicago) allows you to feel mammoth fur, have a close look at their tusks and meet Lyuba, a detailed replica of a 42,000 year old baby mammoth.

Tickling Jock: Comedy Greats from Sir Harry Lauder to Billy Conolly: Throughout the Beginning of February, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

A major exhibition of portraits of Scotland's funny men and women. The subjects are a long and illustrious list, with music hall stars and TV comedy heroes from Sir Stanley Baxter, Rikki Fulton and Una Mclean to Ivor Cutler, Ronnie Corbett and the Big Yin himself. There are 'On Air' booths for you to listen to clips of them at work, and you can even record your own comedy performance, if you're not scared of potentially soul-crushing embarrassment.

Allan Ramsay at 300: Through 9 February, Scottish National Gallery

A major display showcasing the gallery's collection of drawings by Allan Ramsay, marking the artist's 300th birthday.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Mairi Orr: 4 February, Leith Folk Club, 7.30pm

Scottish folk mixed with American roots.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra: 40th Birthday Concert:  6 February, Usher Hall, 7.30pm

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra celebrates 40 years of being one of the most invigorating music ensembles in the country with a concert reuniting it with the great Maria João Pires. Martin Suckling has written a specially commissioned work for the occasion; Pires joins for Chopin's Piano Concerto No 2, and the finale is Beethoven's rip-roaring Symphony No 5. The question remains, though – will the SCO be willing to pay Warner/Chappell hundreds of pounds in royalties for a commercial performance of Patty & Mildred Hill's 'Happy Birthday to You'?

Evita: Through 8 February, The Edinburgh Playhouse, 2.30pm or 7.30pm

The Lloyd Webber musical is loaded with sing-along songs including 'Oh What a Circus', 'You Must Love Me' and 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina'.

Orchestra of Scottish Opera: 7 February, The Queen's Hall, 7.30pm

Emmanuel Joel-Hornak conducts musicians from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and advanced student singers from the opera programme in arias from operas inspired by the works of Sir Walter Scott.

University of Edinburgh Lunchtime Concert: 7 February, Reid Concert Hall, 1.10pm

The University of Edinburgh's Reid School of Music holds regular lunchtime concerts featuring visiting artists.

Meadows Chamber Orchestra: 8 February, Greyfriar's Kirk, 7.45pm

For 40 years, the Meadows Chamber Orchestra has been one of the leading amateur orchestras in Scotland.

Edinburgh Quartet: 8 February, Summerhall, 9pm

Scotland's premier string quartet was founded in 1960 and maintains close relationships with composers all over the UK, as well as playing dozens of concerts a year in venues all over the country.

Angela Hewitt: 10 February, The Queen's Hall, 7.45pm

Angela Hewitt has been described as 'the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time', and her recordings of Bach, Beethoven and others have been given numerous awards.

The Hebrides Ensemble: The Lads in their Hundreds: 11 February, The Queen's Hall, 7.30pm

The Hebrides Ensemble mark the centenary of WWI with a programme that celebrates the recurring themes: loss, tragedy, defiance and hope. They play Debussy's Berceuse Heroique, Butterworth's Six Songs for a Shropshire Lad and the programme is sandwiched between two Rorems War Scenes: 'Night Battle' and 'The real war will never get in the books.'

Hebrides Ensemble with Marcus Farnsworth: 11 February, The Queen's Hall, 7.30pm

In a programme designed to commemorate the outbreak of WWI, baritone Marcus Farnsworth joins the Ensemble for George Butterworth's Six Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad', appropriately considering that Butterworth was the most promising English composer to have died in the conflict. The programme also includes extracts from…

RSNO: Romantic Valentine's Day Classics: 14 February, Usher Hall, 7.30

The RSNO's annual Valentine's Day concerts are all about love and music.

Meet the Fiddle: 15 February, The Scottish Storytelling Centre, 2pm

Gica Loening and Jenny Gardner introduce those interested in learning to play to the Scottish fiddle, introducing its music and traditions.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

New Scotland, New Culture: 7 February, Summerhall, 7pm

What does the prospect of Scottish independence mean for Scottish culture? A panel of musicians, artists, poets and politicians hash it out in this conceptual event, which spans performance and conversation.

Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Cornelia Parker: 13 February, National Museum of Scotland, 7pm

Sculptor and installation artist Cornelia Parker talks about her found art practice and her take on Henry Moore's sculptural mantra 'Truth to Materials.'