New European Ensemble & Ali Smith
Part of Cowdray Hall Lunchbreak Concert Series
As part of soundfestival 2026, The New European Ensemble from The Netherlands presents a programme of new music written to accompany Scottish author Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet novels. Works by Kate Moore (Australia), Alice Yeung (Hong Kong), Seung-Won Oh (South Korea) and Sara Zamboni (Italy) illuminate the themes present in the novels and include readings from the author herself.
soundfestival
22 – 31 October 2026
Northeast Scotland’s ‘generous, all-inclusive’ celebration of new music returns with a richly curated programme shaped by the theme of attentive listening, an invitation to slow down and immerse fully in all aspects of sound. Audiences are encouraged to engage deeply with listening as an active, shared experience.
New works by Bekah Simms, Claudia Molitor, Alistair MacDonald, Ben Lunn and Neil Smith sit alongside a vibrant lineup of international and home-grown performers, including Canada’s Bozzini Quartet, Scotland’s Red Note Ensemble, soprano Mimi Doulton, and the New European Ensemble in collaboration with author Ali Smith. Together, they create a dynamic and exploratory festival experience.
For full programme details, visit www.sound-scotland.co.uk