International Classical Season 2009/2010

Th e I nternati o nal Cla s si c al Season

glasgow ’s concert halls

2009/2010

“A concert season that is a spectacularly virtuosic display of vision, ambition and innovation, mind-opening versatility�

THE HERALD

A N OT E F R O M T H E D I R E C TO R A very warm welcome to our International Classical Season, full of sparkle from the fantastic music right through to the champagne receptions!

I’m delighted to build on last year’s spectacular season, which was so aptly illustrated by Michael Tumelty: “What can only be described as sheer bloody-minded confidence in Glasgow’s Halls and the effectiveness with which they can house and deliver classical music in all its forms, shapes and sizes.” The Herald I am fortunate that I have been able to choose the most ideal acoustic space for each artist and fulfil a promise to bring you high quality, world class performances, with unrivalled diversity and wide ranging appeal.

This year we have done just that and bring celebrated solo performers and smaller chamber ensembles to City Halls to perform in a venue which is recognised for the quality of its acoustics, in partnership with BBC Radio 3 who will record the performances for broadcast. Taking place on Sunday afternoons, these recitals give a whole new exciting dimension to the season for you to enjoy.

We are also proud to bring internationally renowned orchestras and conductors to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, with a particular highlight this year being Valery Gergiev and his mighty Mariinsky Orchestra opening the season.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, our audience, for supporting the International Classical Season. I feel overjoyed to have been involved in bringing such high quality musicians to our city and I look forward to maintaining a close connection with what is a very special season in my new role as Director of Glasgow UNESCO City of Music.

I’m sure that you will agree that a fabulous season awaits us - I look forward to seeing you there.

Louise Mitchell Director

Contents VALERY GERGIEV with THE MARIINSKY ORCHESTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2&3 MURRAY PERAHIA with THE ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4&5 The Bohemians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6&7 IVO KAHÁNEK MIKLÓS PERÉNYI with BALÁZS SZOKOLAY THOMAS ZEHETMAIR and RUTH KILLIUS PAVEL HAAS QUARTET

Romantic Bach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8&9 JOANNA MACGREGOR PIETER WISPELWEY JACQUES LOUSSIER TRIO JAMES EHNES with ANDREW ARMSTRONG

SIR JAMES GALWAY 70th Birthday Recital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10&11 ANGELA HEWITT with THE BASEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12&13 Booking Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14&15

“Valery Gergiev's energy puts others in the shade” THE SCOTSMAN

Photograph: Baranovsky

Valery Gergiev the Mariinsky Orchestra A spectacular start to our International Classical Season - some of Russia’s finest musical talent perform one of the great Russian symphonies.

An inspirational and charismatic conductor, maestro Valery Gergiev is a dominant cultural figure in his role as Chief Conductor of the Mariinsky Orchestra, one of the oldest musical institutions in the country. He has a reputation for a passionate, electrifying, intense conducting style and has the power to mesmerise any audience.

“Valery Gergiev's energy puts others in the shade” THE SCOTSMAN

Tonight he directs the orchestra in the Leningrad Symphony, a piece very close to his heart.

A native Ossetian, last year he conducted the orchestra in a symbolic performance of the same symphony within the ruins of Tskhinvali, following Georgia’s attack on the South Ossetian capital.The orchestra also perform the astounding Correspondences, it too with a close link to Russia, through its basis on letters from Solzhenitsyn to Rostropovich and Vishnevskaya about his time in the Gulag. Gergiev and the Mariinsky performed the cycle to great acclaim in Russia last year, as part of Gergiev's celebration of Dutilleux's work.

Gergiev was given his first break in 1978 as assistant conductor of the Kirov Opera where he made his debut conducting Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace. Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength and he also holds the position of Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

No stranger to Scotland, Gergiev directed performances with both orchestras during the 2008 Edinburgh International Festival to great acclaim:

“a hugely evocative performance by Valery Gergiev and his Mariinsky Opera Company” THE HERALD

Sunday 18th October 2009, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Valery Gergiev Conductor Anastasia Kalagina Soprano Dutilleux • Correspondences Shostakovich • Symphony No.7 in C major, Op.60 (Leningrad)

Gla s g ow Royal C o n c ert Hall

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“You feel you are in the presence of a pianist with a unique spiritual connection to Bach” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

Photograph: Nana Watanabe

the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields One of the foremost interpreters of Bach, pianist Murray Perahia has become known for his intellectual approach to music, his deep knowledge of musical theory and his strong belief that Bach is the essence of all music.

“You feel you are in the presence of a pianist with a unique spiritual connection to Bach” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

Following a potentially catastrophic hand injury, which meant he was unable to play for a number of years, he studied and analysed Bach’s work, gaining a new and more profound appreciation of the composer. Now back to full health, he has since been nominated for a 2009 BBC Music Magazine Award for his universally acclaimed recording of Bach’s Partitas Nos. 2, 3 and 4 as well as two Grammy awards.

Perahia is also current Principal Guest Conductor of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, well loved by Glasgow audiences and celebrated for its Baroque repertoire. Boasting a record-breaking discography, it is particularly well-known for its Mozart recordings. The orchestra recently gave highly acclaimed performances with both Joshua Bell and Michael Collins on the Royal Concert Hall stage as part of the International Classical Season:

“Hats off to the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, an orchestra in a thousand which gave a concert in a million” THE HERALD

Thursday 12th November 2009, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Murray Perahia Conductor and Soloist Bach • Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major (Notturno),T.288/7 Mozart • Piano Concerto No.17 in G major, K.453 Bach • Concerto No.3 in D major, BWV1054 Mozart • Symphony No.38 in D major, K.504 (Prague)

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Gla s g ow Royal C o n c ert Hall

Murray Perahia

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The Bohemians

In an exciting new departure for the International Classical Season, two series of Sunday afternoon recitals will take place at City Halls in partnership with BBC Radio 3 as part of the season.

Photograph:Andrea Felvegi

Ivo Kahánek

Miklós Perényi

Czech pianist Ivo Kahánek is renowned for his lyrical poeticism and outstanding virtuosity. After successful debuts at Beethovenfest Bonn and Prague Spring Festival he was invited in 2007 by the BBC to perform at the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under its chief-conductor Jiří Bělohlávek.

Amazingly talented Hungarian cellist Miklós Perényi has had a long and successful career as a performer and has also passed his talents on to others having held a professorship at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest since 1980.

“His performances are direct, at best cultivating a beautifully understated virtuosity...his reading of Gideon Klein’s fine Piano Sonata is quite simply excellent.”

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

with Balázs Szokolay

Perényi was honoured with the Kossuth Prize in 1980 and the Bartòk-Pásztory Prize in 1987, and has performed all over the world. This afternoon he appears with revered Hungarian pianist Balázs Szokolay, a recent winner of the prestigious Lizst prize.

Sunday 15th November 2009, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls

Sunday 22nd November 2009, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls

Ivo Kahánek

Miklós Perényi Cello Balázs Szokolay Piano

Piano

Mozart Piano Sonata in C major, K.330 Klein Sonata for Piano Janáček Sonata 1.X. 1905 (From the Street) Martinů Piano Sonata No. 1, H.350 Schumann Symphonic Etudes, Op.13

Dvořák Dvořák Dvořák Martinů Martinů Janáček Martinů

Polonaise in A major Klid (Silent Woods) from Ze Šumavy Op.68/5 Rondo in G minor, Op.94 Variations on a Theme of Rossini, H.290 Variations on a Slovak Folk Song, H.378 Pohádka Sonata for Cello and Piano No.2, H.286

Photograph: www.marcoborggreve.com

Photographs: Keith Pattison

Thomas Zehetmair Pavel Haas Quartet and Ruth Killius Following a glowing performance as part of the International Classical Season in 2007, Thomas Zehetmair and Ruth Killius return to the wonderful acoustics of City Halls.

This exceptional young quartet takes its name from the inspirational Czech composer Pavel Haas, a pupil of Leoš Janáček who was deported from Czechoslovakia and died in Auschwitz.

Winners of numerous awards including the Gramophone Award for chamber music and Newcomer of the Year in the BBC Music Magazine Awards, the Pavel Haas Quartet is passionately committed to the Czech repertoire.

As well as being an outstanding chamber musician, Zehetmair is a much sought-after soloist and the current Music Director of the Northern Sinfonia. Both he and Killius are known for dedicating a large part of their artistic activities to contemporary music, and have given a number of first performances including works

by Holliger.

The quartet made its debut at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2008 to great critical acclaim: “...we heard a riveting performance, loaded with flamboyance, passion and uncommon intimacy.”

Sunday 29th November 2009, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls

Sunday 6th December 2009, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls

Thomas Zehetmair Ruth Killius

Violin Viola

Skalkottas Duo for Violin and Viola,AK45 Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola in G major, K.423 Holliger Drei Skizzen Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola in B flat major K.424 Martinů Madrigale

Gran d Hall, C ity Halls

The Bohemians mini-series will celebrate music from the cultural crossroads of Europe with performances from some of the continent’s most respected chamber musicians in this repertoire.

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THE SCOTSMAN

Veronika Jarůškova Kateřina Gemrotová Pavel Nikl Peter Jarůšek

Violin Violin Viola Cello

Schubert Quartettsatz (Movement for String Quartet) in C minor, D.703 Janáček String Quartet No.1 Haas String Quartet No.2, Op.7 (From the Monkey Mountains)

Romantic Bach The wonderful second series of matinee recitals as part of the International Classical Season is Romantic Bach, which follows on from BBC Radio 3’s 2007-2008 Secret Bach series. Romantic Bach celebrates Bach’s legacy and influence on future generations.

Photograph: Peter Williams

Joanna MacGregor

Pieter Wispelwey

Internationally renowned English pianist Joanna MacGregor is highly innovative and creative. Not afraid of a new challenge, her experience in the world of chamber music is wide and she has premiered many landmark compositions.

MacGregor recently re-worked Bach's incomplete work The Art of Fugue for orchestra and jazz musicians.

Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey was the first cellist ever to win the Netherlands Music Prize.

A flamboyant and powerful performer he is equally at ease on the contemporary or the period cello and therefore covers an extremely wide repertoire.

This afternoon she performs the monumental Goldberg Variations composed by Bach for Goldberg to play to cure the insomnia of Count Kaiserling, the former Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony.

Known for his stylistic awareness and phenomenal technical mastery, he has appeared as a recitalist all over the world including at the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall and Sydney Opera House to great acclaim: “a responsive and impassioned interpreter without using virtuosity for its own sake” THE NEW YORK TIMES

Sunday 21st February 2010, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls

Sunday 28th February 2010, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls

Joanna MacGregor Piano

Pieter Wispelwey Cello

Bach

Bach Bloch Reger Walton Britten

Goldberg Variations

Suite for Solo Cello No.5 in C minor, BWV1011 Suite for Solo Cello No.1 Suite for Solo Cello No.2 in D minor, Op.131c No.2 Passacaglia for Solo Cello Suite for Solo Cello No.2 in D major, Op.80

MusicaliTea

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Jacques Loussier Trio Noted French pianist Jacques Loussier and his trio are world renowned for their amalgam of classical works with brilliant jazz improvisations.

His original Play Bach Trio, first created in 1959, was a resounding success with 15 years of tours, 6 million records sold and several gold disc awards.

Loussier himself has composed over 100 scores for film and television and his most famous recording is Air on a G String that was used for the Hamlet cigar advertisements in the UK for over 35 years.

Sunday 21st March 2010, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls Jacques Loussier Piano André Arpino Drums Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac Bass A programme of Bach,Vivaldi and Chopin, featuring jazz adaptations

James Ehnes

Photograph: Benjamin Ealovega

with Andrew Armstrong Winner of five Juno Awards and a 2008 Grammy, leading Canadian violinist James Ehnes rapidly established a pre-eminent reputation among concert violinists. He has performed with a number of renowned conductors and orchestras to great acclaim: “The spotlight was on James Ehnes, the redhot Canadian violinist. His technique is blistering, giving an utter conviction to whatever he plays.” THE SCOTSMAN This afternoon he appears with outstanding pianist Andrew Armstrong, praised by critics for his passionate expression and dazzling technique.

Sunday 28th March 2010, 3pm Grand Hall, City Halls James Ehnes Violin Andrew Armstrong Piano Schumann Violin Sonata No.1 in A minor, Op.105 Bach Partita No.3 for Solo Violin in E major, BWV1006 Beethoven Sonata No.9 in A major, Op.47 (Kreutzer Sonata)

Gran d Hall, C ity Halls

Relax and enjoy the atmosphere at City Halls with a delicious selection of sandwiches served with soup, followed by cakes and unlimited tea or coffee from 1.30pm for just £6.20.

Spaces are in high demand, so be sure to pre-book by calling our Box Office, although it is possible to pay on the day.

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Treat yourself to Afternoon Tea before the performance.

“...there was only one word for Galway: inimitable” THE HERALD

Photograph: Paul Cox

One of the most sought after performing artists of our time,

“the man with the golden flute” Sir James Galway returns to Glasgow for his 70th Birthday Recital.

A supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire, he is a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries.

The hard-working musician has achieved legendary status and has enjoyed an illustrious career. Galway was principal flute with the Berlin Philharmonic before he was 30 and has sold over 30 million recordings worldwide, performed with the world’s great conductors and has been honoured with a knighthood and an honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of St Andrews.

Most recently he was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and he continues to look for new and innovative approaches to music.

He has limitless ambition and vision, and shows no signs of slowing down having recently recorded music from the jazz suites of Claude Bolling, with the addition of Afro Cuban percussion, and collaborating with Grammy nominated Cuban timba music group,Tiempo Libre.

“...there was only one word for Galway: inimitable” THE HERALD

Sunday 16th May 2010, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Sir James Galway Flute Lady Jeanne Galway Flute Programme to be announced

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70th Birthday Recital

Gla s g ow Royal C o n c ert Hall

Sir James Galway

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“A triumph of charm and caprice, depth and integrity” THE HERALD

Photograph: Karen Robinson

Angela Hewitt the Basel Chamber Orchestra Hailed as “the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time” (THE GUARDIAN), Angela Hewitt made quite an impression on her last visit to Glasgow as part of the International Classical Season in 2008.The city was fortunate to be included in her world tour in which she performed Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier across two recitals.

“A triumph of charm and caprice, depth and integrity” THE HERALD

Highlights of recent seasons include her debuts in Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw and a North American tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Hewitt is known for her passionate and captivating performances:

“The Canadian pianist is one of the reliably mesmerising musicians of the day. You sit entranced… it would have been more accurate to say I was floating just below the ceiling” THE SUNDAY TIMES

We are thrilled to welcome her back, this time with the Basel Chamber Orchestra, to perform a programme of Bach keyboard concertos. Founded in 1984 by graduates of various Swiss conservatoires, this delightful orchestra now ranks among Europe’s greatest chamber orchestras. The BCO has further sharpened its profile as a Baroque ensemble both through a number of highly acclaimed tours, performing alongside stars such as Magdalena Kozena, Cecilia Bartoli and David Daniels, and through its CD recordings.

Thursday 20th May 2010, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Angela Hewitt Piano Bach • Concerto No.7 in G minor, BWV1058 Martin • Pavane Couleur du Temps Bach • Concerto No.5 in in F minor, BWV1056 Martin • Etudes for String Orchestra Bach • Concerto No.1 in D minor, BWV1052

Gla s g ow Royal C o n c ert Hall

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SEATING information GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL Lower Level Seating Plan

I £28

II £22

Circle Seating Plan

III £15

Valery Gergiev with the Mariinsky Orchestra Murray Perahia with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Sir James Galway - 70th Birthday Recital Angela Hewitt with the Basel Chamber Orchestra

GRAND HALL, CITY HALLS Lower Level Seating Plan

Balcony

All seats priced at £12 Ivo Kahánek Miklós Perényi with Balázs Szokolay Thomas Zehetmair and Ruth Killius Pavel Haas Quartet Joanna MacGregor Pieter Wispelwey Jacques Loussier Trio James Ehnes with Andrew Armstrong

For the latest information

BOOKING

Save up to 15% and enjoy complimentary champagne The ideal accompaniment to your excellent evening of musical entertainment!

FREE PARKING As a special benefit for all those who subscribe to the 4 concerts at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, parking will be available free of charge on concert nights in the Buchanan Galleries’ Car Park - for more details see overleaf.

24 HOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

Number of concerts

Discount on ticket price

4

5%

We understand that booking ahead can be difficult so don’t worry, if you change your mind we’ll give you your money back. We guarantee a full refund on all International Classical Season tickets up to 24 hours before the performance. No questions asked!

8

10%

MUSICALITEA

12

15%

Buy tickets for 4 concerts or more and take advantage of some great value discounts:

Buy for all 4 concerts at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and you’ll receive an invitation to 2 interval Champagne Receptions, one of which includes the exclusive chance to attend our Opening Night

Our Romantic Bach mini-series of concerts will be accompanied by the option of Afternoon Tea before the performance. Book for MusicaliTea at the same time as paying for your tickets and you can enjoy a delicious selection of sandwiches served with soup, followed by cakes and unlimited tea or coffee from 1.30pm for just £6.20.

Reception.

PRE-PAY for your SOUVENIR PROGRAMMES Save time and money by ordering your concert programmes when booking your tickets at our box office or online. Each programme contains insightful programme notes on the works being performed that evening and also full biographies of the artists taking part. Programmes are available to order in advance at £2.50 (full price £3).

www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/international

0141 353 8000

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DISCOUNTS & offers

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CONCESSION TICKETS A concessionary rate of £2 off each ticket is applicable to senior citizens, students and the unwaged. Please note this discount cannot be applied to tickets bought as part of a subscription season.

COMPANIONS AND CARERS GO FREE We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy our concerts. Should you be unable to attend one of our events without assistance we’ll make sure your companion or carer can come along free of charge. Just ask our box office for your extra free seat when booking your concert tickets.

ACCESS The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and the Old Fruitmarket are accessible to those with mobility difficulties.There are lifts to all levels and the auditorium is equipped with an induction loop and an infrared assisted hearing facility. Our staff are on hand to help you to your seat, just let us know your requirements in advance and we’ll be happy to help. Please call 0141 353 8000 for more details, or ask when booking your tickets.

PARKING Exclusively for Concert Hall patrons - the Buchanan Galleries offer parking at a reduced rate of £1 from 5.30pm to 11.30pm. This offer is available on presentation of your concert ticket at the Car Park Control Room at the Killermont Street entrance before the concert. You can also now purchase your ticket in advance at the Control Room. Full season subscribers will be able to park for free on concert evenings.

ABOUT GLASGOW’S CONCERT HALLS www.glasgowconcerthalls.com GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL Sauchiehall Street, City Centre Opened during Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is a landmark venue in the city centre. Each year it plays host to the best in classical, folk, world, jazz and popular music and is home to the traditional music festival, Celtic Connections, each January. The auditorium can seat 2,459 people when all areas are in use.

CITY HALLS AND OLD FRUITMARKET Candleriggs, Merchant City Located in the heart of the city, the City Halls re-opened in January 2006 after a £15 million refurbishment. Glasgow’s oldest purpose-built performance space with a traditional ‘shoebox’ auditorium, its acoustics are renowned throughout the world. The auditorium can seat 1,036 people.

Forming part of the City Halls complex, the Old Fruitmarket really has to be seen to be believed.

This entrancing space, which once actually was a working Fruitmarket, has kept all of its period charm including its lofty vaulted roof, cast iron columns and balcony. Cabaret style, the venue seats 450 people.

All details were correct at time of going to print, but may be subject to change.

Glasgow’s Concert Halls is an operating name of Glasgow Cultural Enterprises Ltd which is a registered Scottish charity no: SC002932 Brochure designed by map.ref.ltd. {0141.429.7956} • cover image : iStockphoto.com

Th e I nternati o nal C las s i c al S e as on concert diary 2009/2010 VALERY GERGIEV with the Mariinsky Orchestra Sunday 18th October 2009, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

City Halls, Glasgow

MIKLÓS PERÉNYI Sunday 22nd November 2009, 3pm

City Halls, Glasgow

THOMAS ZEHETMAIR and RUTH KILLIUS Sunday 29th November 2009, 3pm City Halls, Glasgow PAVEL HAAS QUARTET Sunday 6th December 2009, 3pm

City Halls, Glasgow

JOANNA MACGREGOR Sunday 21st February 2010, 3pm

City Halls, Glasgow

PIETER WISPELWEY Sunday 28th February 2010 3pm

City Halls, Glasgow

JACQUES LOUSSIER TRIO Sunday 21st March 2010, 3pm

City Halls, Glasgow

JAMES EHNES Sunday 28th March 2010, 3pm

City Halls, Glasgow

SIR JAMES GALWAY 70th Birthday Recital Sunday 16th May 2010, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall ANGELA HEWITT with the Basel Chamber Orchestra Thursday 20th May 2010, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

BOX OFFICE

0141 353 8000 www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

Romantic Bach

IVO KAHÁNEK Sunday 15th November 2009, 3pm

The Bohemians

MURRAY PERAHIA with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Thursday 12th November 2009, 7.30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall