60 SECOND INTERVIEW

THE INTERNATIONAL OPERA AWARDS 2019

––––––Congratulations to our Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev on winning The International Opera Awards 2019 ‘Newcomer Award’ – an award which recognises an artist who had a breakthrough year in 2018.

Bravo Maestro!

PARLIAMENT RECOGNITION AND NOMINATION FOR INCREDIBLE DISTANCE PROJECT

––––––We are pleased to share the news that our project Incredible Distance has been short-listed in the Scottish Awards for New Music 2019 in the Community / Education category. Incredible Distance is a partnership project with WHALE Arts which is part of our three-year residency in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. It is an audio-visual exhibition created by members of the community, who have worked in collaboration with the composer, Suzanne Parry and workshop leader, Emma Smith.

The result is an original audiovisual installation that explores the sonic and visual identity of Wester Hailes. It captures snapshots of daily life through the collection of found sound, imagery, film and original musical composition

There was also a Motion in the Scottish Parliament by Gordon Macdonald MSP, wishing us all luck at the awards ceremony, which takes place on 13 May 2019 in Glasgow!

INTERCONNECT – A CONCERT OF NEW STUDENT WORKS SUNDAY 2 JUNE, 3PM ––––––Interested in hearing from some of our future composers? Come and enjoy our collaboration with Edinburgh College of Art Composition Students at the Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show! Seven final year BMus Composition students have worked alongside SCO musicians to develop their compositions, which will be premiered by Aisling O’Dea (Violin), Felix Tanner (Viola), Philip Higham (Cello), Brontë Hudnott (Flute) and Gillian Horn (Bassoon).

–––––– Details of how to book your free ticket for this event are at sco.org.uk/whats-on.

PROM 55: SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND SCO CHORUS

––––––We are delighted to be performing Handel’s last, and perhaps greatest, oratorio, Jephtha, at this year’s BBC Proms on Friday 30th August! Conductor and long-time friend of the Orchestra, Richard Egarr, conducts this devastating story of the warrior Jephtha commanded by God to sacrifice his daughter Iphis. Tenor Allan Clayton is the conflicted Jephtha, with Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique as Iphis. –––––– Tickets are on sale now from the Royal Albert Hall box office.

RECORDING

––––––Last summer we were fortunate to premiere a new theorbo

concerto – not something that happens very often! A theorbo is a large lute which is generally heard in 17th and 18th century repertoire, and incidentally could also be heard in our “Brilliance of the Baroque” programme with Richard Egarr in March this year. The performer on both occasions was Matthew Wadsworth, and composer Stephen Goss wrote his new concerto especially for Matthew.

We have since released a recording of the Theorbo Concerto which takes its ‘principle of interwoven narratives’ from David Mitchell’s mind-bending novel Cloud Atlas, whose six connected stories are set in different times and places.

It is in four movements – a Baroque suite of sorts – separated by three interludes. There are many stylistic references, from Baroque to blues and boogie-woogie. There is even a Shostakovian waltz and a Mexican huapango!

As always, Wadsworth finds the greatest expressive potential in the smallest element without losing sight of the whole. He has the ideal collaborators in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under Benjamin Marquise Gilmore. Gramophone Magazine

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SECOND INTERVIEW NIKITA NAUMOV

You’ve performed internationally with many incredible orchestras and ensembles, what makes performing with the SCO special? I remember the first time I played with SCO, I couldn’t believe the sound of the Orchestra, it was such an incredible standard of music-making. There’s a real passion and energy in the Orchestra, people really care about the musical details.

Next Season you will be performing the UK premiere of Peter Eötvös’ Double Bass Concerto ‘Aurora’ – do you approach a new commission in a different manner to existing repertoire? Have you spoken to the composer about the piece? How would you compare playing as a soloist to playing Principal Double Bass? I haven’t spoken to the composer yet about the piece, I’m really looking forward to see what he has written! Playing as a soloist is always nerve wracking but I’m excited to show the sound of the Double Bass to our audiences.

Outside of your concert, what are you most looking forward to in the 2019/2020 Season? Playing with our new Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev! He is bringing a huge variety of interesting programmes for us to explore!

––––––Nikita Naumov Plays Eötvös Double Bass Concerto on 19, 20 and 22 March in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness Conducted by Thomas Zehetmair