From Enlightenment back to the Dark Ages

Published on Sunday 23 August 2009 22:38

IT WAS the kind of hitch the Edinburgh International Festival was probably not envisaging when it chose the 18th-century Enlightenment as its theme for the Year of Homecoming.

What cruel irony, too, that it was the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment that was plunged into darkness mid-performance at the Usher Hall – just days after a 25 million makeover was unveiled.

One of the festival's flagship concerts was delayed by almost half an hour of "endarkment" on Saturday night when the stage lighting failed as soprano Joyce DiDonato was performing.

There were two attempts to bring the lights back before the audience was told a blown fuse was to blame, the hall's general manager, Karl Chapman, being heckled as he tried to explain what had gone wrong.

Conductor Sir Roger Norrington entertained the full house of 2,300 with a few wisecracks before emergency lighting was pressed into action and the concert could continue.

Soloist DiDonato went on to give a stirring performance, and was rewarded with a standing ovation.

A faulty lighting board blamed for the blackout was replaced yesterday morning ahead of baritone Bryn Terfel's concert last night.

Festival officials last night expressed their disappointment with the disruption to the concert, but praised the performers and the audience for the way they dealt with the situation.

One member of the audience, writer and arts consultant Fiona Graham, 62, from Roseburn, said:

"The orchestra, the conductor and the singer coped with good grace and humour and tried to make a joke of it, but I'd expect the hall's management would have got an absolute rollicking from the festival."

The Usher Hall's management have been plagued with problems over the venue's long-awaited refurbishment, which saw it run millions of pounds over budget and over a year behind schedule. They have also suffered a series of technical problems with the venue's box office in recent months.

The refurbishment of the venue has seen new technical facilities, backstage areas, catering facilities, toilets and dressing rooms installed. But the city council insisted Saturday night's problems were un-connected with the revamp, completed just hours before the festival's opening concert on 14 August.

A spokesman said: "There was a problem with the lighting deck which was down to a faulty connection with the stage lighting. It wasn't possible to bring in a new lighting deck last night, so it was decided to continue with the emergency lighting on."

Mr Chapman said: "It's unfortunate the audience had to experience a delay because of a technical glitch. Our staff made arrangements to ensure the show could continue successfully and our technical team replaced the faulty piece of equipment in the morning."

A spokeswoman for the festival said: "A new lighting deck has been installed and we are not anticipating any further problems. The festival is disappointed the concert was interrupted but we are extremely grateful to our artists for their outstanding response and would like to thank the audience for its patience."

Susan Nickalls, The Scotsman's reviewer at the concert, said: "Most people in the audience realised that there was nothing much that could be done about it. It was just one of those things. Most of the audience were probably feeling sympathy with the singer, but she is a true professional and didn't seem to let if affect her."