In May 2026, the Kammerphilharmonie Freiburg will embark on a special concert tour of Scotland. Together with the Meadows Chamber Orchestra from Edinburgh, the ensemble will present three concerts in Edinburgh, St Andrews and Haddington.

The programme focuses on works that express musical elegance and emotional depth in diverse ways. Central to the repertoire is Ludwig van Beethoven’s "Symphony No. 4" – a work often overshadowed by its more famous neighbours, yet one that captivates with its lightness, wit and striking contrasts. Composed between the heroic Eroica Symphony and the iconic Fifth, it reveals Beethoven’s lyrical and playful side.

A very different sound world is opened up by Maurice Ravel’s "Le Tombeau de Couperin". Originally written as a piano suite and later orchestrated by the composer, the work blends Baroque forms with an Impressionist musical language. Beneath its elegant and at times almost cheerful surface lies a profound layer of meaning: each movement is dedicated to a friend of Ravel’s who died during the First World War. The result is music that is both agile and melancholic, delicately balancing memory and the present.
The close collaboration between the orchestras from Germany and Scotland goes far beyond a shared performance. It represents an encounter grounded in exchange and mutual inspiration, and in a shared understanding of music as a universal language that transcends national borders. When musicians from Freiburg and Edinburgh come together as a single ensemble, a unique artistic energy emerges, making each concert a distinctive experience.

Set within the atmospheric concert venues of these three Scottish towns, the performances promise evenings of musical intensity and cultural exchange. We warmly invite you to experience these special concerts. Be inspired by the energy of the two orchestras and the timeless power of these works – admission is free.