Wynton Marsalis brings 'All Rise' symphony to Edinburgh Festival as opening statement

Wynton Marsalis's first symphony, "All Rise," will open this year's Edinburgh International Festival at Usher Hall. The 1999 work is a grand hybrid scored for a 15-piece jazz band, a 50-piece orchestra and a 100-piece choir, bringing together more than 200 performers on stage. Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be joined by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and massed choirs for the opening night.

Marsalis, now 64, describes the piece not as a solitary statement but as a collaborative effort. He credits soundtrack writer James Oliverio for teaching him orchestration, Austrian bassoonist Milan Turković for help with woodwinds, and the late conductor Kurt Masur as a key influence. Masur, who had been drafted into the German army at the end of World War II, pushed Marsalis to write for the New York Philharmonic and warned about the dangers of fascism, drawing parallels between post-war Germany and the American South.

Unlike some of Marsalis's more polemical works, "All Rise" is designed to bring people together. He explains that the symphony draws on shared American musical roots—tango, choro, ragtime, Anglo-Celtic fiddle music and New Orleans marches—while seeking common ground between classical and jazz traditions. He notes that in classical music basses don't play continuously, but in jazz they do, and percussion serves a different role; finding intersections is essential.

The symphony is also infused with spiritual and religious elements. Marsalis says he has always had strong, non-denominational faith, and he points to contradictions in Christianity, such as the poor savior and the wealthy church. His text draws from both the Bible and the Muslim call to prayer.

On a personal note, Marsalis recently married Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, who serves as festival director. Their daughter Elise was born in May 2024. The couple currently maintain a long-distance relationship, with frequent calls and FaceTime chats. Marsalis says he fell in love with Benedetti while writing a violin concerto for her, impressed by her meticulous feedback during rehearsals.

After nearly four decades, Marsalis is stepping back from his executive leadership role at Lincoln Center, though he will remain artistically involved during a transition. He says he is not planning to hover over successors, pointing to talented musicians in the orchestra who could carry on his work.