Dancing with Dvorák

Season 2017/18 Poster image for our Dvorák Symphony No 8 concerts

Dvorák and the SCO in Season 2017/18. Thoughts from Dr Martin Ennis, University of Cambridge

For his ninth and final season as Principal Conductor of the SCO, Robin Ticciati has chosen a programme based round works by Antonín Dvořák. In doing so, he revisits some of the repertoire championed by Sir Charles Mackerras, his immediate predecessor. A turn to Dvořák after several seasons exploring core Austro-German music may seem surprising; however, the widespread image of Dvořák as standard-bearer for Czech music can be misleading.

For a start, some of the pieces we tend to see as quintessentially Czech are, in fact, representative of a pan-Slavic movement. The work that established Dvořák’s broader reputation, the Slavonic Dances, was criticised by no less a figure than Smetana as a hodgepodge of different Eastern European traditions. Moreover, the range of Dvořák’s output, which is focussed on the iconic genres of symphony and string quartet, suggests a composer whose musical world was not so far removed from his great contemporary, Brahms. In truth, Dvořák, like Tchaikovsky, was an internationalist: he happily identified with ‘mainstream’ European culture while employing some couleur locale.

Long-term supporters of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will doubtless be intrigued to see how Ticciati’s approach to Dvořák differs from that of Mackerras. However, interpretation is not just a matter of individual temperament: with orchestras like the SCO, which boasts many distinguished instrumentalists among its ranks, interpretations result from engagement and (often unspoken) negotiation between director and players. In short, the readings we shall hear this season grow out of experiences shared over the past decade. Building creatively on established traditions has been the hallmark of Ticciati’s tenure at the SCO – just as it was of Dvořák’s compositional career – and the coming season promises a highly stimulating envoi

––––––Dr Martin Ennis is Senior Lecturer in Music at the Faculty of Music and Fellow and Director of Music at Girton College, Cambridge. He taught Robin Ticciati when he was a student there.

––––––For more information on all our Dvořák concerts please visit our website at: https://www.sco.org.uk/whats-on?composer=10 ––––––The Glasgow concert is proudly sponsored by

Finland Honours Roy McEwan-Brown

We are really proud of our former long-serving Chief Executive Roy McEwan-Brown. In March at a ceremony at The Finnish Ambassador’s Residence in London, Roy received the Award of Knight 1st Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland from Her Excellency Päivi Luostarinen, Ambassador of Finland to the United Kingdom.

He received this honour for services in fostering and promoting Finnish Composers, Artists and Conductors over several decades in his roles as Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (19932016) and earlier as Director of the MacRobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling (1981-1991).

Her Excellency Päivi Luostarinen commented: “This sustained and vigorous support of Finnish music by Roy McEwan-Brown has not gone unnoticed by the Joint Board of the Order of the Lion of Finland, which was established in 1942 for Merit and is open to both Finnish citizens and nationals of other countries. The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, has graciously authorised the award to Roy McEwan-Brown. I am personally delighted to be able to make this award which represents strong evidence of cultural and artistic friendship between Finland and Scotland in this, the 100th year since Finnish Independence”.

During the decade beginning 1996, the SCO performed works by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius no fewer than 75 times. Roy was also behind commissioning new works by Finnish composers including Lotta Wennäkoski. Her work Verdigris was commissioned to celebrate the 150th birthday of Jean Sibelius, and received its World Premiere at the Younger Hall, St Andrews, on 28 October 2015. Performances in Edinburgh and Glasgow followed shortly after. Other Finnish composers that Roy commissioned include

IN HIS TIME AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: ROY COMMISSIONED THE FOLLOWING WORKS FROM FINNISH COMPOSERS:

Einojuhani Rautavaara – Autumn Gardens.

This received its world premiere at the BBC Proms and was performed ten times throughout Scotland.

Jukka Tiensuu – Missa.

Clarinet Concerto ‘Missa’ was premiered by soloist Kari Kriikkuu.

Lotta Wennäkoski – Verdigris.

Commissioned to mark the 150th birthday of Sibelius and premiered in 2015.

UK Premieres in the 1990s included works by Kalevi Aho, Magnus Lindberg, Eero Hammeeniemi, Einojuhani Rautavaara and Olli Mustonen.

Two works by Jean Sibelius received their UK Premieres

– The Countess’s Portrait and The Maiden in the Tower Suite (Orchestrated by Tuomas Hannikainen)

Finnish Musicians who Roy invited to collaborate with the SCO included:

Jukka Pekka Saraste, Paavo Berglund, John Storgårds, Okko Kamu, Tuomas Hannikainen, Pekka Kuusisto, Juho Pohjonen, Kari Krikku, Mikku Franck, Hannu Lintu, Susanna Mälkki and Sakari Oramo.

Einojuhani Rautavaara and Jukka Tiensuu. He programmed the UK premieres of works by Kalevi Aho, Magnus Lindberg, Eero Hämmeeniemi and Olli Mustonen.

The SCO also performed the UK premiere of two works by Jean Sibelius – T he Countess’s Portrait and The Maiden in the Tower Suite, which was orchestrated by Tuomas Hannikainen.

A future Scottish Premiere which Roy programmed prior to his retirement is Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Percussion Concerto ‘Incantations’. It will be conducted by the composer’s compatriot John Storgårds, and performed by the much-loved Scot Colin Currie. Performances are in Dumfries, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness on the 28th February to 3rd March 2018.

As well as composers, Roy is also a conspicuous supporter of leading Finnish conductors and musicians. Over the years those he invited to the SCO included Jukka Pekka Saraste, Paavo Berglund, Okko Kamu, Juho Pohjonen, and Pekka Kuusisto.

On receipt of the award, Roy said: “Having admired Finland since I discovered some of its music in my teens, this recognition comes as a wonderful surprise and a great honour. As a small country which has invested so much in culture and creative talent – through music, architecture, literature, art and design – Finland is an inspiration to us all and it has been a great privilege to help celebrate its achievements throughout my career, both at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and before at the University of Stirling” ––––––Rautavaara Percussion Concerto John Storgårds – Conductor Colin Currie – Percussion 28 Feb - 2 May 2018 Dumfries | Edinburgh | Glasgow

YOUR ORCHESTRA, YOUR SAY...

––––––Your opportunity to comment and have your say. Whether it is via social media or by sending us a letter, we love to hear from you. ––––––

Thank you SCO and Chris Jarvis! We had the best time ever at Stan and Mabel today! One little girl is desperate to learn the violin now. Elaine Wilson, Facebook

FANTASTIC INITIATIVE! Thanks @SCOmusic Scottish Chamber Orchestra to give free tickets to young people Mar Carmena @mar_carmena

Super evening. Orchestra on top form but even it was eclipsed by the sound of the piano in Llŷr Williams imperious performance, glorious. Loved Alexander’s conversation with the orchestra in the Mozart and the closing bars of the Berg spellbinding… Thank you!. Mr and Mrs Donaldson, Beethoven The ‘Emperor’ attender (Customer email)

An electric performance tonight @SCOmusic @TheSixteen of @jamesmacm’s startling Stabat Mater. Big crowd from school – thank you SCO! St Mary’s Music School @stmarys_music Still reverberating after seeing the awesome @NickyBenedetti @theusherhall @SCOmusic last night. Breathtaking, dizzying talent. Orla O’Loughlin @orlaoloughlin1

“As we were newbies, we were completely blown away by the performance, the energy and enthusiasm that each musician put in created a breath taking display. The conductor was marvellous and was one whose passion for the piece was clear. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be attending again” (Customer email)

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