Last night at Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall a 40th birthday celebration was held. It was in 1979 that this beautiful Georgian church embarked on becoming a favourite medium-sized venues in Scotland. A perfect space for chamber music, this beautiful space has over the 40 years however hosted a wide range of music, from Nina Simone, to David Byrne, to major orchestras such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Last night, following a short speech from Chair of the Board of Trustees, Nigel Griffiths, the mostly invited audience was treated to a varied programme from Edinburgh’s own Steven Osborne on piano with German Alban Gerhardt on cello. After a genteel first half (Schumann’s 5 Stucke im Volkston and Brahms’ Cello Sonata in F Major Op, 99) the second half breathed fire, particularly the final Ravel pieces (Alborada del gracioso, Habanera and Tzigne).

One looks forward to the next 40 years of programming at this remarkable space.