EIF Announces LOVE IN A LIBRARY Library Guerrilla Operas for 11-16 June

Silence will be broken by gentle song and hearts set fluttering among the dust jackets as Edinburgh International Festival's new series of guerrilla operas is set to get pulses racing in Edinburgh's libraries next week. From Monday 11 June to Saturday 16 June daily performances of Love in a Library will take place in (where else!) the romance section of libraries across the city as part of Edinburgh International Festival's year round outreach programme.

Love in a Library tells, through a selection of songs, the story of a long-lasting unrequited love between a librarian and an avid reader and of the moment they finally reveal their true feelings to each other.

Performed by soprano Emma Morwood (the loveliest librarian in the Lothians) and tenor Chris Elliot (who's admired her from afar) and accompanied by pianist Sam Hutchings these guerrilla performances take place during opening hours and are set to take library users by surprise.

Dates, times and locations will be announced the afternoon or morning before each performance (we wouldn't want to put too much pressure on the shy sweethearts) at http://twitter.com/#!/edintfest and http://www.facebook.com/edinburghinternationalfestival.

Sally Hobson, Head of Programme Development, Edinburgh International Festival, said: 'The Festival works throughout the year with people across Edinburgh to find new ways to explore, enjoy and learn from the arts.

'Love in a Library is a new project which we hope will surprise and charm, and bring song and some uplifting moments into everyday life. It's been great fun to bring the project together with the support and enthusiasm of the libraries and the musicians taking part. We're all really looking forward to next week.'

Love in a Library is the Festival 2012 pilot project exploring surprise live performances in unexpected places to unsuspecting audiences.

Will next week's lovers end up with their hearts renewed or will they be left on the shelf?

Emma Morwood, soprano, was born in Northern Ireland and is now based in Scotland. She has been awarded the Eva Turner Award for Potential Dramatic Sopranos. Emma has sung with many orchestras and choral societies across the UK, in oratorio and concerts. This is her first engagement with the Edinburgh International Festival. 

Chris Elliot, lyric tenor, is a winner of the John Ireland Song Prize and was one of 50 young artists chosen by Opera Now Magazine as a rising star. He was the Head Chorister at Durham Cathedral and works regularly for the Edinburgh International Festival in the Art of Listening Recital programme..

Sam Hutchings works as an accompanist for leading organisations across Scotland, including the Edinburgh International Festival.

Photo Credit: Claudine Quinn.

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