ISSUE 76 | SCO NEWS | MAY 2020
AT HOME WITH THE SCO
ALSO INSIDE: SCO WINS MUSIC AWARD | NEW SCO RECORDING | JOHN ADAMS
ISSUE 76 | SCO NEWS | MAY 2020
CONTENTS REGULARS 3
FOREWORD
4
LATEST NEWS
7
60 SECOND INTERVIEW
8
RECENT RECORDINGS
COVER FEATURE
27
26 PATRONS 40 THROUGH THE EYES OF... 42 YOUR SAY
04
FEATURES 10 SHAKER, NOT STIRRED
In the loop with composer John Adams
16 GREEN TEAM UPDATE 18 CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND UP Including Wind Academy and St Andrews Residency
27 AT HOME WITH THE SCO
10
With Aisling O’Dea, Marcus Barcham Stevens, Steve King, Louise Goodwin, William Stafford and Ruth Crouch
4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB +44 (0)131 557 6800 • info@sco.org.uk www.sco.org.uk The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC015039. Company registration No. SC075079.
Cover image Louise Goodwin ©Christina Kernohan | thetouchagency.co.uk
SCO NEWS|03
A WARM WELCOME TO SCO NEWS
FOREWORD An especially warm welcome to our latest
supported us in these difficult times – be
edition of SCO News.
it through direct donations or by kindly allowing us to keep the cost of pre-
First, and most importantly, on behalf
purchased tickets. We have also been
of everyone at the Scottish Chamber
heartened by the many people who have
Orchestra, I very much hope that you are
continued to subscribe to our next Winter
managing to keep safe and well during
Season. It really is very much appreciated
these extraordinary times.
and valued by us all. Thank you.
Secondly, I would like to express my
Throughout the challenges and disruption,
heartfelt thanks for all the wonderful
it has been uplifting to hear and see many of
messages of support and friendship we
our musicians performing from their homes.
have received from so many of you over the
Through our specially created ‘Live in Your
last few weeks. Cancelling concert after
Living Room’ weekly e-performances,
concert, as well as all our Creative Learning
we hope that the spirit of friendship
activities and other events (many of which
and love of making music, which runs so
have been years in the planning) has, to say
deeply throughout the Scottish Chamber
the least, been utterly soul-destroying and
Orchestra, is going some way towards
I know that you have all been as bitterly
helping you manage in these difficult days.
disappointed as we have. So, it has been a great boost to our spirits to know just how
It goes without saying that we all miss
much the SCO means to you. Like you, we
seeing, speaking with and making music
are all extremely keen to be back in business
for our audiences across Scotland. It is our
and to see our wonderful orchestra on stage
fervent hope that we will all be
again just as soon as possible.
back together again just as soon as possible.
The current crisis has of course brought very many challenges to people all around
In the meantime, I do hope you
the world, not least the financial worries
enjoy reading our latest
that come with being unable to work and
SCO News.
undertake business for such an extended and unknowable length of time. The SCO
With all my best wishes
is not immune to those concerns and so I should also like to take this opportunity of
Gavin Reid
thanking all of you who have generously
Chief Executive
04|SCO NEWS
LATEST NEWS In these extraordinary times, it can feel a little as if the world has stopped and that time is standing still. However, whilst we may not currently be able to welcome you to our concerts and projects as usual, things continue to develop, change and roll ever onwards at the SCO. Here are some recent news items from us to keep you in the picture.
Soundmoves project in 2019
© Sandy Butler
MUSIC AWARD –––––– It was congratulations all round when our Creative Learning project SCO Soundmoves won The Scottish New Music 2020 Award for best Community/Education Project in April. SCO Soundmoves is a unique music and movement project for primary schools, produced as part of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Wester Hailes Residency.
–––––– If you’d like to find out more about the project and watch the short films that were created as part of it, visit www.sco.org.uk/latest/1683-soundmoves-music-movies
SCO NEWS|05
BORN TO RUN –––––– For all you new-found runners out there, we thought we’d share an SCO story of triumph and inspiration. Some of you may not know her as she rarely appears on stage, but on Saturday 29 February our wonderful Finance Officer Mary Gibson (pictured bottom left), alongside
SUMMER TOUR
that the remainder of
her friend Irene, were
––––––
the tour dates will also
the first Scottish women
For over 40 years, the
have to be cancelled. We
to complete their 500th
arrival of spring in
are of course continuing
Parkrun!
Scotland has seen the
to follow the latest
SCO gearing up to hit
advice from the Scottish
An incredible achievement,
the road on our annual
Government and will be
so belated congratulations
Summer Tour.
keeping you updated via
Mary! Thank you for always
our emailers, website
making us laugh and here’s
Taking in a wonderful
and social media just as
to breaking many more
mix of venues across the
quickly as we can.
records.
country, these tours have long been a highlight for everyone at the SCO, giving us a unique opportunity to reconnect with the communities that we’ve been touring to for many years and to make new friends along the way. This year, sadly, we already know that the June dates that we had programmed cannot go ahead and it may be
06|SCO NEWS
HELLOS AND GOODBYES
delighted to welcome
arrivals and departures,
Lily Caunt as our new
we also said a temporary
––––––
Community Engagement
goodbye and good luck
At the beginning of April
Officer. Lily is a graduate of
to Chorus Manager Jenny
we bade a fond farewell
the Royal Northern College
Searle as she prepared
to our Community
of Music and the University
for her new arrival. Jenny
Engagement Officer
of Bristol. Originally from
will be back with us next
Joanna Burns. Joanna
the Scottish Borders,
Season, but until then we
(pictured above) was with
she studied at St Mary’s
give a perfectly pitched
the SCO from 2016 and in
Music School and was a
SCO welcome to Jessica
her time with us worked
flute pupil of Lis Dooner
Massey who will be
on a multitude of Creative
(formerly of the SCO). Lily
covering Jenny’s Maternity
Learning projects,
joined us full time in April.
Leave.
Family Festivals featuring
In April we also said
the delightful Stan and
goodbye to SCO and
Mabel. Fortunately for
University of St Andrews
UPDATE! JENNY AND WILL HAVE A GIRL!
us, Joanna had clearly
Graduate Trainee, Fiona
––––––
ignored the old show
Croal. It has been great
Chorus Manager Jenny
business adage to never
having Fiona with us, and
Searle and her husband
work with children or
we thank her for all her
Will are happy to
animals.
hard work and wish her all
announce the arrival of
the very best for the future.
Francesca Aroha Kempton
including our fantastic
Sad though we were to see Joanna go, we are
Searle – born on 23 April Lastly on the subject of
weighing 8lb 7oz.
60
SECOND INTERVIEW RODERICK WYLIE SCO Chorus Member Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you
What has been your favourite SCO Chorus
came to join the SCO Chorus?
experience / concert to date?
I joined the Chorus in 1994, having previously sung
It’s impossible to choose just one concert /
with the Scottish Chamber Choir for 15 years. I
experience. Amongst my favourites are Elijah
was lucky to have had an inspirational Head of
conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, such a
Music at school and so was able to sing works such
great opportunity to be conducted by him in a
as Bach’s two Passions, the Brahms Requiem and
rich choral masterpiece; the Bach St Matthew
other mainstream choral works while at school.
Passion conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras and with soloists including Ian Bostridge and
What is your favourite thing about singing in the
Simon Keenlyside; and the two piano version
Chorus?
of Brahms’ Requiem we performed with Greg
The enforced break from singing certainly makes
Batsleer (Chorus Director) in St Andrews in
me realise how much I miss it, and how much I rely
2014. However, the most moving performance
on it. There’s not one single favourite thing, but I
was 2019’s Seven Last Words from the Cross,
would say that the social side is as important as the
composed and conducted by Sir James. The
actual singing. There aren’t many activities where
experience of learning such a challenging
a group of people with an age range of over 50
work was topped off by an intense and
years get together. Singing helps me relax from the
rewarding concert week.
André Cebrián Garea
day job as Practice Manager of a busy GP surgery, and the weekly rehearsals on a Monday set me up
How do you think Greg has improved the
for the rest of the week. There is something special
Chorus over the last 10 years?
about concert weeks when we get together with
Many have commented that the Chorus’
our friends in the Orchestra to make music.
sound has developed greatly during these years – it is a fuller and more intense sound,
If you could perform any piece with the SCO,
and I think also that his attention to detail
what would it be?
means that when our conductor arrives for the
I am going to cheat as there are so many – most
concert week he or she can take the Chorus in
of all I would love Sir James MacMillan to write
whatever interpretative direction they want. It
something for us to perform, but the two pieces
is also true that Greg, along with Gavin Reid,
I have never sung with the Chorus that I’d like to
has greatly strengthened the bonds between
perform are Handel’s early masterpiece Dixit
the Orchestra and its Chorus, and this can
Dominus, and the chamber orchestra version of
be seen at concerts in the way we perform
Durufle’s Requiem.
together.
08|SCO NEWS
SCO MUSIC
RECENT RECORDINGS BIZET CARMEN SUITE NO 1 & SYMPHONY NO 1 GOUNOD PETITE SYMPHONIE
‘FRANÇOIS LELEUX AND THE SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SECURE A SUITABLY EXUBERANT AND BOISTEROUS PERFORMANCE IN BIZET AND GOUNOD.’
Mail on Sunday
SCO NEWS|09
ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ‘HERE’S A REAL GEM... LELEUX LEADS THE SCO’S CRACK WIND SOLOISTS IN A SPRIGHTLY ACCOUNT OF THE GOUNOD AND HAS A DELICIOUS WAY WITH THE BIZET PIECES...’ The Sunday Times
Looking for something uplifting and
to offer our usual postal order service.
inspiration whilst staying at home?
However, in the meantime the CD is
Then can we humbly suggest that our
available for home delivery via
recently-released recording of music
www.amazon.co.uk and we will of
by Bizet and Gounod, conducted by the
course be selling the CD at the SCO
ever-ebullient François Leleux, could be
merchandise desk come the start of the
just what you need.
20/21 Season.
As we’ve highlighted on this page,
Fans of François Leleux will no doubt
there has been a superb critical
be happy to know that there are
response to this recording and so we’re
two chances to see him in the new
delighted that Bizet: Carmen Suite No
Season. Firstly, in January 2021 for a
1 & Symphony No 1 – Gounod: Petite
programme of Mozart, Dvořák and
Symphonie conducted by François
Beethoven and then in March 2021
Leleux is now available to buy online
for an evening of Fauré, Debussy,
via www.linnrecords.com
Canteloube and, aptly enough, Bizet.
–––––– As the SCO offices are currently
Full details can be found on our website
closed, we are unfortunately unable
www.sco.org.uk
‘BEAUTIFULLY MELODIC, THE PIECE HAS THE FLUTE TO THE FORE IN THE SLOW SECOND MOVEMENT, AND THE HORNS LEADING THE PACK IN THE SCHERZO.’
The Herald
10|SCO NEWS
BY DAVID KETTLE
SHAKER, NOT STIRRED IN THE LOOP WITH COMPOSER JOHN ADAMS
SCO NEWS|11
Think of John Adams and you might immediately think: minimalist. One third of a triumvirate of US composers – alongside Philip Glass and Steve Reich – who devise music based on repetition and gradual change, hypnotic soundscapes and propulsive rhythms. Well, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Certainly, two recent high-profile outings for Adams’ music in Scotland – the Harmonium
Project that launched the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival, and Scottish Opera’s recent staging of his first opera, Nixon in
China – go a long way to confirming that minimalist reputation. But strictly speaking, that’s pretty much the Adams of three or four decades ago. From the perspective of 2020, Adams’ minimalism looks like a relatively brief flirtation, and more of a means of satisfying his remarkable expressivity than a sign-up to any particular dogma. He’s undoubtedly America’s most celebrated and most often performed composer. And you can see why, with his colourful, vibrant, deeply expressive music. And with his sometimes © Vern Evans
disarming blend of flippant humour and deep seriousness: this was the man, after all, whom the New York Philharmonic commissioned to compose a memorial to the victims of 9/11.
© Vern Evans
SCO NEWS|13
HE’S UNDOUBTEDLY AMERICA’S MOST CELEBRATED AND MOST OFTEN PERFORMED COMPOSER. AND YOU CAN SEE WHY, WITH HIS COLOURFUL, VIBRANT, DEEPLY EXPRESSIVE MUSIC.
Adams’ music features prominently across
active in New England, Adams’ childhood
four concerts in the Scottish Chamber
home. And it’s hard not to see parallels between
Orchestra’s 2020/21 season, and the featured
the shaking and trembling that notoriously
works provide some telling insights into the
characterised their ecstatic, trance-like
contrasting sides of his musical personality.
worship, and the sense of mounting euphoria generated by Adams’ remarkable music.
To begin at the end (or at the beginning), way ahead in March 2021 is one of Adams’ earliest
Shaker Loops shows Adams the
works, and what’s probably his most famous
experimentalist, under the influence of arch-
example of ‘pure’ minimalism: Shaker Loops.
agitator John Cage, sticking a mischievous
The piece had a long and troublesome genesis,
middle finger up at the strictures and mind-
beginning as an experimental piece for three
boggling complexities of the avant-garde
violins unveiled in a San Francisco loft in 1976,
musical thought he’d been taught. But even
then morphing into a string quartet for the
in those early days, he had his reservations
Kronos Quartet, before finding its final form
about so-called minimalism. It might be great
as a string septet, with an alternative version
for generating a hypnotic sense of musical
for string orchestra. And if you’re looking for
ecstasy, but could it translate into music of
the scurrying repetitions and hypnotic vistas
emotional subtlety, of developing moods and
of minimalism in Adams’ music, then this is
ideas?
one place to find them. What strikes listeners about Shaker Loops, however, is the piece’s
Adams remembers an epiphany in 1976 – the
breathtaking sense of energy, its feeling of
same year the three-violin version of Shaker
rushing headlong forward in time, and the
Loops was premiered – when, driving in
exquisite sheen of its radiant, consonant
the Sierra Nevada foothills in his adopted
harmonies.
California with Götterdämmerung blaring from his car stereo, he abruptly realised of the
The Shaker bit of its title refers not only to the
sheer expressive power of Wagner’s music.
‘shaking’ required from the string players to
(Just listen to Adams’ massive semi-symphony
produce the music’s tremolo effects, but also
Harmonielehre, which virtually quotes Mahler’s
to the religious sect that had been particularly
Tenth, to hear the impact.)
14|SCO NEWS
Yet he had also been immersed in jazz and © Christine Alicinos
pop from a young age: his father had played clarinet and saxophone in swing bands since the 1930s, and he remembers rushing from his Harvard lectures on complex serial counterpoint to return to his room to listen to Jimi Hendrix or John Coltrane. Avant-garde complexity, experimental anarchy, Wagner, Mahler, jazz, rock: crucially, Adams quickly realised that all these were highly evolved and immensely complex styles, albeit in their own different ways. And truth to be told, that mix of styles and genres has always been evident in his music. Adams’ 1993 Violin Concerto, which Josef
HIS FATHER HAD PLAYED CLARINET AND SAXOPHONE IN SWING BANDS SINCE THE 1930S, AND HE REMEMBERS RUSHING FROM HIS HARVARD LECTURES ON COMPLEX SERIAL COUNTERPOINT TO RETURN TO HIS ROOM TO LISTEN TO JIMI HENDRIX OR JOHN COLTRANE
Špaček plays with the SCO in November, sounds almost like a long, free-flowing jazz solo in its long-limbed violin lines, and you can still
in a work that draws directly on his early
hear the remnants of minimalist repetitions in
immersion in the music of Coltrane, Charlie
its chugging accompaniments.
Parker, Wayne Shorter and many others. But it’s a chameleon concerto, a piece that doesn’t
More directly inspired by jazz, however – not
set out to sound like jazz but nonetheless often
surprisingly – is Adams’ 2013 Saxophone
does, a work that offsets its smoky, sultry
Concerto, which Jess Gillam performs with
episodes with passages making full use of
the SCO in March 2021. Adams followed in
the dazzling colours of a classical orchestra,
his father’s footsteps as a clarinettist in his
Adams’ characteristic pulsing energy pushing
childhood, going on to perform in several
everything ever onwards.
professional East Coast orchestras. So it’s no surprise that he felt a particularly strong
There’s a lot going on in Adams’ music. But if
connection with his instrument’s half-brother,
you fear you need a doctorate in musicology
THERE’S A LOT GOING ON IN ADAMS’ MUSIC. BUT IF YOU FEAR YOU NEED A DOCTORATE IN MUSICOLOGY TO APPRECIATE IT – WELL, THAT WON’T BE NECESSARY.
SCO NEWS|15
to appreciate it – well, that won’t be necessary. What really marks out Adams’ music is its
ADAMS WITH THE SCO ––––––
deep sense of direct communication and
ADAMS, BRUCH & TCHAIKOVSKY
expressivity – part of which, it has to be said,
Conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev
is the composer’s sometimes eyebrow-raising
24-26 September in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth
humour. There’s a lot of quirky comedy in the titles he chooses – from his well-known Short
The Quilter Cheviot Benedetti Series
Ride in a Fast Machine to his recent piano concerto Must the Devil Have All the Best Tunes?, given its European premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival. And it’s there, too, in Adams’ music itself, from the audacious, Liberace-inspired excess of his gloriously over-the-top Grand Pianola Music to the hyperactive invention of his Chamber Symphony and its sequel, Son of Chamber Symphony (performed by the SCO in 2018),
–––––– ADAMS & MOZART Conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev 26 & 27 November in Edinburgh and Glasgow Our Glasgow concert is proudly sponsored by
inspired by the cartoon music of Carl Stalling and Raymond Scott. There’s a lot of humour, too, in the Adams piece that launches the SCO’s season in September. The Chairman Dances is what Adams describes as an ‘out-take’ from his opera Nixon in China,
–––––– FARRENC, ADAMS & BEETHOVEN Conducted by Joana Carniero 3-5 March in Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow Proudly sponsored by
in which Mao’s terrifying wife Jiang Qing invites the great Chairman to emerge magically from his iconic portrait and dance with her at a state banquet. With its swooping, movie-style themes, its heart-on-sleeve sentimentality, and even its witty closing imitation of an ancient gramophone slowly winding down, it’s unashamedly funny. But it’s shot through with melancholy, too, and full of the cleverness and depth of meaning that characterise the eclectic but immediate output of one of today’s most fascinating composers.
–––––– ADAMS, BACH & MOZART Conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev 10-12 March in St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow Proudly sponsored by
16|SCO NEWS
GREEN TEAM UPDATE
KEEPING IT GREEN BY SCO CELLO DONALD GILLAN
At a recent SCO Green Team committee
examples are the Black Wood of
meeting it was proposed that we should
Rannoch, Rothiemurchus and Aberbethy
consider supporting an environmental
in Speyside and part of Glen Affric.
charity with the intention of having trees planted to ‘carbon offset’ the
Glen Affric is at the heart of the TFL
impact of SCO touring.
target area which is a huge area of roadless mountain, glen and barren
I was delighted when someone
moorland to the west of Loch Ness,
suggested that Trees For Life might
stretching all the way to the sea on the
be a suitable charity to support as I
West Coast. TFL’s vision is holistic: the
have been an enthusiastic supporter
return of the forest including not just
of TFL for many years. The mission of
trees but also the various extirpated
TFL, founded in 1989, is to restore the
species of animals such as lynx, beaver
Caledonian Forest to a large area of the
and boar, and more controversially, wolf,
Highlands of Scotland. The Caledonian
whilst simultaneously enriching human
Forest, a vast primeval mixed woodland
lives with healthy wild nature. The dream
once clothed most of the Highlands, but
of wolves roaming the glens of Scotland
has been reduced over the centuries
is a long way off and may never happen,
to a few scattered remnants. Notable
however the reintroduction of Red
SCO NEWS|17
OUR COMMITMENT ––––––
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is committed to operating in a sustainable manner, in the production and presentation of its Concerts, Creative Learning work and in the yearround operations of the organisation. To achieve this, we take responsibility in monitoring our environmental impact and reducing our avoidable carbon emissions. All staff are expected to work towards reducing waste and increasing sustainability through a range of measures promoted through our Green Team.
Squirrels is an example of a current TFL
and meaningful.
project. I have participated three times in such As part of this holistic vision, TFL offers
weeks. My favourite was in remote upper
opportunities for people to volunteer to
Glen Affric, staying in a basic ‘but ‘n’
participate in conservation weeks which
ben’ bothy miles from the nearest road.
run from Spring to Autumn. During these,
Spending all day outside in the mountain
volunteers, with training and guidance,
elements, working with a small disparate
spend the week planting trees, removing
team of volunteers with the shared
invasive non-native vegetation, removing
intention of helping in the recovery of
redundant fencing, seed collecting and
a badly damaged ecosystem was a
many other tasks required for forest
profoundly rewarding experience.
restoration. The broader intention of the volunteer programme is to provide
I’m excited that my colleague in the
an opportunity for people of diverse
Orchestra Gordon Bragg is also
backgrounds to make close contact
planning to take part in the volunteer
with nature and actively participate in
programme.
ecological restoration. People tend to find
––––––
these experiences uplifting, therapeutic
See www.treesforlife.org.uk for more information
18|SCO NEWS
CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND UP
SCO WIND ACADEMY In partnership with St Mary’s Music School
© David Anderson
“… IT WAS VERY MOTIVATING.
Following the success of the SCO String
ALL THE PLAYERS WERE REALLY
Academy in 2019, we were delighted to
GOOD AND IT WAS LIKE PLAYING IN A PROFESSIONAL GROUP. I AM REALLY EXCITED BY IT AND INSPIRED. AND SO ARE MY BROTHER AND SISTER WHO WENT TO THE CONCERT. IT WAS GREAT.” SCO Wind Academy Participant
launch SCO Wind Academy in partnership with St Mary’s Music School in early 2020. The inaugural SCO Wind Academy offered a new, free opportunity for school-aged wind players to work with top professionals over a series of three Sunday afternoon sessions in the centre of Edinburgh. Devised and led by oboist and educator Fraser Kelman and
SCO NEWS|19
“EXCEPTIONALLY WELL ORGANISED, BENEFICIAL TO PARTICIPATE IN, EXCELLENT TEACHING AND FUN TO BE A PART OF.” SCO Wind Academy Parent
tutored by SCO musicians, the SCO Wind Academy was open to flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn players who had reached at least Grade 6. The project was attended by 30 young wind players from twelve local authorities, with over half the attendees living outside Edinburgh and in some cases travelling to join us from as far afield as Argyll & Bute and Dumfries & Galloway. The project benefitted from the support of peer mentors from St Mary’s Music School who assisted with practicalities and helped participants to get to know each other during breaks. Repertoire included music by Bizet, Mozart, Szymanowski and Arnold, some familiar and some not so wellknown. An informal concert on the last afternoon showcased some top-quality ensemble playing from the young people and we are therefore very excited to announce our new youth orchestra, SCO Youth Academy, in partnership with St Mary’s Music School. The first project is due to take place in November 2020, with String and Wind Academy projects continuing in early 2021.
–––––– More details can be found www.sco.org.uk/academy
––––––
Youth Academy is kindly supported by The Marigold Whittome Memorial Trust ––––––
20|SCO NEWS
CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND UP
ORCHESTRA IN RESIDENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS The Scottish Chamber Orchestra has been
dedicated to researching the impact of music
performing in St Andrews as part of its main
on toddlers, this provided an opportunity for
concert season for many years and since
researchers to chat to parents and to interact
2009 has been Orchestra in Residence at
with the children. This is the second year that
the University of St Andrews. Developed
we have worked with ABC Lab and we plan to
in partnership with the University Music
continue the partnership with Big Ears, Little
Centre, the Residency aims to integrate
Ears events at the Laidlaw Music Centre next
the SCO into the cultural life of St Andrews
year.
and the surrounding areas of Fife through an annual programme of orchestral and
Storytelling for Primary Schools
chamber concerts, social events, workshops,
Sheila Kinninmoth (Storyteller) and Aisling
masterclasses and community orchestra
O’Dea (SCO Violin) devised and led
activities.
storytelling workshops linked to the SCO’s concert featuring Janáček’s The Fiddler’s Child.
YOUNG AUDIENCES
The story took its inspiration from the tale on
Big Ears, Little Ears
which Janáček’s composition is based. Drawing
Gordon Bragg, Siún Milne, Jessica Beeston and
upon themes in the music, the workshops
Eric de Wit presented an engaging programme
were designed to engage children with the
of music, storytelling and musical games. The
music and its meaning. Aisling coloured the
audience consisted of families and two large
storytelling with musical interludes, extracts
groups of children from local nurseries and the
and improvisatory accompaniment based
ABC Lab (University of St Andrews School of
upon key motifs in Janáček’s music.
Neuroscience Baby and Child Lab) provided creative play activities for children and families
Workshops took place at three local primary
before the concert. As part of the ABC clinic is
schools and the children were captivated by the story and the music. Teachers reported
“AMAZING PERFORMANCE. WONDERFUL TO SEE AISLING DUETTING WITH THAT EXQUISITE VIBRAPHONE. STUNNING!” Audience member
that this was an extremely positive opportunity for their pupils to take part in a high-quality musical event within the school environment, and we will return with another series of workshops linked to SCO repertoire next academic year.
Nikita Naumov with student musicians at the University of St Andrews
LUNCHTIME CHAMBER CONCERTS
Scholarship holder to perform works by
Our annual programme of lunchtime
Dvořák and Bottesini. 127 members of the
chamber concerts in St Andrews enables
public attended this concert, the largest
SCO musicians to curate their own
audience ever recorded for the Music
programmes and allows audiences to
Centre’s Wednesday series!
get to know the musicians and enjoy wonderful chamber music in an intimate
COACHING
environment. We also now include a ‘side-
Masterclasses and Workshops
by-side’ opportunity for students to perform
Peter Franks (SCO Principal Trumpet) gave
alongside SCO musicians each year.
a trumpet masterclass in October 2019 and, in February 2020, Nikita Naumov led an
Strung Out
orchestral playing workshop for cellists and
Aisling O’Dea (SCO Violin) was joined by
double bassists.
Tom Hunter (Vibraphone) and composer Jeremy Thurlow (Electronics) for a
Music Centre Youth Orchestra
fascinating programme of contemporary
The Music Centre Youth Orchestra, launched
works by Philip Glass and Jeremy Thurlow,
in 2016, meets weekly to rehearse a variety
performed with atmospheric lighting effects.
of music to perform at StAFCO Winter and Spring concerts. The group is conducted
All About the Bass
by Gillian Craig and supported by three
Nikita Naumov performed Vasks’ solo Bass
University of St Andrews students who play
Trip and was joined by the University of
alongside and coach the children.
St Andrews Music Centre Cedric Thorpe
In February, Nikita Naumov joined the Youth
Davie String Quartet and a Double Bass
Orchestra at one of their rehearsals.
22|SCO NEWS
All About the Bass: Nikita Naumov performs with students from the University of St Andrews
St Andrews and Fife Community
This state-of-the-art building will serve
Orchestra (StAFCO)
as a flexible rehearsal space, a high-
This orchestra meets on a weekly basis to
tech recording facility and an intimate
make music and have fun. There are no
performance venue. The SCO’s first
auditions and everyone is welcome, from
event in the new Centre took the form
adult learners to advanced musicians
of a workshop for cello and double bass
and people who have not played in years.
scholarship students led by Nikita Naumov.
There are two informal concerts each year
The building is set for full completion
to showcase the work of the orchestra.
by summer 2020, and we look forward
StAFCO also benefits from coaching
to welcoming people from across the
sessions from SCO musicians and the
university and wider communities to SCO
opportunity to perform with SCO players
events such as masterclasses, lunchtime
at the annual Spring concert. Nikita
concerts and Big Ears, Little Ears in this
Naumov (SCO Principal Double Bass)
wonderful new space!
attended a StAFCO rehearsal in February
––––––
to provide coaching, guidance and new
More details can be found at
ideas. StAFCO really enjoy working with
www.sco.org.uk/academy
Nikita, having performed Bottesini’s Double Bass Concerto No 2 with him at their Spring Concert in 2019. The Laidlaw Music Centre In January 2020, the new Laidlaw Music Centre in St Andrews officially opened its doors to students and the local community.
––––––
Kindly supported by Kinburn (St Andrews) Charitable Trust, New Park Educational Trust, Mrs M A Lascelles Charitable Trust and DC Thomson Charitable Trust
SCO NEWS|23
CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND UP
SOUNDMOVES
project in 2019 are a testament to the
––––––
creativity and artistry of everyone who
We’re over the moon that SCO Soundmoves
took part, and you can watch them by
has won a Scottish New Music Award!
following the link below.
–––––– Soundmoves is a unique music and
www.sco.org.uk/soundmoves-movies
movement project for primary schools,
www.newmusicscotland.co.uk/
produced as part of the Scottish Chamber
awards2020-community-education/
Orchestra’s Wester Hailes Residency, in which professional musicians and pupils co-
SCO VIBE | WHEC
create all content – generating a real sense
––––––
of collective ownership and shared pride.
Another Wester Hailes Residency project,
The wonderful films from the Soundmoves
SCO VIBE | WHEC, brings together pupils
24|SCO NEWS
from pupils of all ages at Wester Hailes Education Centre to create and perform with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The SCO has been working in the school since 2017 to support the regeneration of the music department and promote the benefits of creativity within the school by running regular music workshops which enable pupils to make music together, explore their creativity and grow in confidence. In October 2019, the SCO team spent three days writing new music with seventeen pupils and were invited back in December to perform in the school’s first Christmas concert with its three feeder primary schools.
–––––– You can watch the short video featuring one of SCO VIBE | WHEC’s greatest hits “We need peace!” at www.sco.org.uk/whr
Stan and Mabel and the Race for Space concert
A BUSY START TO 2020 –––––– The Creative Learning programme is
around the Perth Concert Series, kindly
always particularly busy during January
supported by The Gannochy Trust, SCO
and February, and this year was no
musicians took part in a Come and Play
exception. Weekly SCO ReConnect
event at which 70 local young musicians
workshops took place on a dementia
and adult amateurs worked with musicians
assessment ward at the Royal Edinburgh
from all three orchestras for a day of
Hospital and Dots & Lines workshops for
orchestral music-making at Perth Concert
nursery children continued in Wester Hailes.
Hall. And as part of the SCO’s celebration
We piloted a new SCO Wind Academy in
of Beethoven’s 250 anniversary we
partnership with St Mary’s Music School
hosted Explore Beethoven, a morning of
and ran the second NEW VIBE project
talks and performances at St Cecilia’s
in partnership with NHS Lothian’s Child
Hall, Edinburgh. Paul Whittaker OBE
and Adolescent Mental Health Services
talked about his own and Beethoven’s
(CAMHS), with exceptionally positive
experiences as deaf musicians, and
results. You can find out more at www.sco.
Gordon Bragg (SCO Violin) gave an
org.uk/nvarticle
illustrated talk exploring Beethoven’s impact on string quartet writing, followed
As part of the joint initiative between SCO,
by a performance of Beethoven’s Grosse
RSNO, BBC SSO and Horsecross Arts
Fuge by Kana Kawashima, Gordon Bragg,
to develop Creative Learning activities
Jessica Beeston and Eric de Wit.
SCO NEWS|25
primary school teachers, and children’s hospital and hospice workshops. We also worked with several of our school and charity partners to provide free tickets for community groups to attend the main Family Festival events at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms and Glasgow City Halls.
––––––
Our Wester Hailes Residency is kindly supported by The Castansa Trust, The Robertson Trust, Paul and Clare Rooney, The Christina Mary Hendrie Trust, Mrs Rowena Goffin’s Charitable Trust, Cruden Foundation, The Stevenston Charitable Trust, The Nancie Massey Charitable Trust, Geraldine Kirkpatrick Charitable Trust and Anonymous
––––––
Our ReConnect programme is kindly supported by the Morton Charitable Trust
SCO FAMILY FESTIVALS ––––––
WIN £250 ––––––
SCO Family Festivals, proudly sponsored
250 SOCIETY
by Baillie Gifford, are an important event in
Just £5 a month as a member of the
the SCO calendar, allowing us to introduce
250 Society gives you the chance to
young families to the whole orchestra
scoop £250 in our monthly draw at
every February. This year, thanks to the
the same time as knowing that you
generous support of The Gannochy Trust,
are contributing towards the SCO’s
we were able for the first time to welcome
Creative Learning programme.
over a thousand primary school pupils and teachers to a free schools’ version of this
Please join us in congratulating recent
year’s Stan and Mabel and the Race for
winners of our 250 Society:
Space concert at Perth Concert Hall.
––––––
February – Katherine M Howe
Tickets are now on sale for next year’s
March – Dr Pamela J Harper
Festival here: www.sco.org.uk/ffsm
April – Alistair Horn
Our linked outreach programme consisted
To learn more about the 250 Society
of schools’ performances in Wester Hailes,
or to join now, contact Laura Hickey on
online resources and training sessions for
0131 478 8344.
26|SCO NEWS
PATRONS
CEO Gavin Reid with Patrons Gordon Kirk and Jack Bogle
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE SCO One of the best parts of
is truly uplifting to know
this combined financial
my role as Development
how much love there is for
contribution makes a huge
Officer is getting to know
our special SCO.
difference to our ability
SCO Patrons, whether that
to plan for the year ahead
is in person at concerts
SCO Patrons help to fund
with more confidence. If
and events or simply by
the work of the Orchestra
you would like to play your
chatting on the telephone.
through their annual or
part in helping the SCO
It has undoubtedly
monthly donations, and
continue to be the vibrant
been challenging for
organisation we all know
us adapting to working
and love, then please do
from home, but the lovely
join our family of SCO
conversations we have
Patrons.
been able to have, as
––––––
well as the messages of
To find out more about
support we have received
supporting our work, simply
from across the country,
get in touch with me at
have given me and my
laura.hickey@sco.org.uk or
colleagues a great deal of
0131 478 8344. I would love
pleasure and gratitude. It
to hear from you!
When we asked some of the SCO players how they are keeping busy and staying positive during this challenging time, they told us it was with a mixture of birdsong, Bach, baking, broadcasting, babies and Bartรณk. Oh, and practice. Lots of practice. So some things never change. Read on to find out more.
AT HOME WITH THE SCO COVER FEATURE
28|SCO NEWS
AT HOME WITH THE SCO AISLING O’DEA FIRST VIOLIN
After a six-month sabbatical from the
It was quite a strange experiment and
SCO, I was due to return on 30 March
new experience, but I then approached
when we were to be joined by the
a couple of colleagues to see if we could
wonderful Andrew Manze and Xavier de
collaborate and it worked! Steph and I
Maistre, but suddenly we found ourselves
played a couple of Berio duos together
on this diversion route, not entirely sure
and Siún, my wonderful desk partner, and
as to where the destination may be.
I are working on another couple of Bartók duos this week.
One thing I noticed pretty much straight away was, when in my garden here
Another thing I’ve discovered is lemon
in the New Town of Edinburgh, how
and rosemary polenta cake; I never bake!
beautiful the birdsong is and how every
Looking through kitchen cupboards and
evening we can see Venus so clearly in
discovering foods and spices I never knew
the sky – no airplanes, no street noise,
we had, I’ve been having fun discovering
no suitcases being dragged over the
new dishes and having the time to do it.
cobbles – peace and quiet. Back in late
That said, I miss performing and making
March and missing playing with fellow
live music and look forward to when we
musicians, I discovered the Acapella App
can all be together sharing music with you
on my phone. When asked to contribute
all again.
to the social media presence for the SCO I remembered I have the two volumes of
In the meantime, take care and see you in
all Bartók’s 44 violin duos so decided to
the not too distant future.
try this app out and played a beautiful Slovakian song playing both parts myself!
All the best, Aisling
I MISS PERFORMING AND MAKING LIVE MUSIC AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER SHARING MUSIC WITH YOU ALL AGAIN
SCO NEWS|29
COVER FEATURE
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SCO NEWS|31
AT HOME WITH THE SCO COVER FEATURE
STEVE KING VIOLA
This lockdown period resembles the time my
One ‘Lockdown Project’ I’ve spent quite a bit
lovely wife Anne and I spend at our cottage
of time involved in, and which you may have
which is located in a very remote part of
seen shared across different social media
the west coast of Scotland. It’s so nice and
channels, has been with my Heriot-Watt
peaceful there where we enjoy doing the
#OneWatt Voices. As some of you know, I
simple things in life, like cooking, reading and
am also Director of Music at Heriot-Watt
walking our dog. It is also an environment
University, and like many other Institutions,
where I feel inspired and tend to get a lot of
we have had to think creatively on how to
work done, including my Heriot-Watt work, so
connect with our students and larger ‘online
I guess you could say that in some ways, life at
audience’. As I was contemplating how much
home right now, is not much different to those
we would dearly like to revert to ‘life as we
trips away.
knew it pre-lockdown’ – it occurred to me that my #OneWatt Voices who sing at the Heriot-
However, that is not to say that there haven’t
Watt graduations have sung the 1970’s hit:
been some low points in this ‘new reality’. The
‘I want you back’, by the Jackson 5 on a few
cancellation of concerts, for me, was incredibly
occasions. “Let’s make a remote video of
disappointing, albeit understandable in the
them singing this”, I thought, and shared the
present climate. I do remind myself of how
idea with the group. The students were fully
very lucky I am to be part of an orchestra that
up for this and recorded their parts remotely
plays music with some of the world’s finest
on their iPhones in their houses, kitchens and
musicians. I really miss this privilege and
bedrooms from all around Scotland, England,
the camaraderie of working alongside my
Spain and Germany.
amazing, cherished friends and colleagues. My nephew, Simon King, an amazing Regarding my viola, I am practising every
musician, got involved and mixed everyone’s
day to keep the sound and technique of my
individual recordings to create the final track.
playing up to par and I’ve chosen music and
It was enormous fun, inspirational and hard
exercises that really focuses on that, such
work but so, so worth it when we finally heard
as Bach’s Fantasia Chromatica, Stravinky’s
the final production. If you have seen it, I hope
Elegy and my project ‘Music from the Scottish
it lifts your spirits as it does mine, and makes
Enlightenment’.
you smile.
32|SCO NEWS
AT HOME WITH THE SCO MARCUS BARCHAM STEVENS PRINCIPAL SECOND VIOLIN
I should have been playing in an SCO
scene in Scotland and around the UK, we
concert in Eden Court Theatre in Inverness
are aware that for many music-lovers,
on 22 March at 4 pm, and so my wife
concert-going is at the heart of their social
Christina Lawrie and I decided to post our
life. Going to concerts can be a lifeline,
first online #ConcertFromOurLivingRoom
bringing friendship and a sense of purpose
at that exact time.
and focus, at the same time as enabling people to experience the thrill of live
We still have lots of family up there and
performances of great music. With all that
know lots of concertgoers and music-lovers
in mind, we decided to set up a regular
in and around Inverness, Newtonmore
concert series from home.
and Nairn who would have been looking forward to seeing us, so it seemed
Getting to grips with the technology has
like a good way to mark the cancelled
been a big challenge. We had to learn how
performance. It was also a lovely way for
to operate a video camera, work out how
our little girl to wish Happy Mother’s Day
to set up mics and good lighting, set up a
to her two grandmothers.
YouTube channel, learn the hard way about the need for video compression software
Having started this project, it’s now our
(our laptop broke down!) and join Twitter
plan to keep the concerts going all the
(yes, we are very late to the Twitter party!).
way through the lockdown period. One of our main aims has been to share the
We have received so many messages
solace and joy of music in this strange time,
since starting our living room concert
and to maintain a sense of community
series, and we have replied to every single
and connectedness. The lockdown was
one received to date. People have been
necessary and we were relieved when it
telling us how much they miss their own
was announced, but it’s a heartbreaking
music-making, in chamber groups and
situation for so many reasons. One of
local orchestras, and we have been happy
the things which saddened us was the
to make suggestions about isolation
loss of community. Knowing the music
repertoire, and even remote duo work!
SCO NEWS|33 NEWS|xx
COVER FEATURE
xx|SCO NEWS
SCO NEWS|35
AT HOME WITH THE SCO COVER FEATURE
LOUISE GOODWIN TIMPANI / PERCUSSION
Hello readers, lockdown Lou here.
Personally, I have been struggling with feeling that I’m a little useless – without
When asked how lockdown is going, I can’t
going to work and playing I feel quite
help but be reminded of the opening scene
purposeless, and I’m sure that many
in that early noughties classic film, ‘About
people across all industries are feeling
a Boy’. In it, Hugh Grant lives alone in a
the same. However, I have been very
very swanky house with no need to work as
uplifted listening to radio broadcasts of
he receives a constant stream of royalties
the SCO, and our Schubert recording with
from his father’s 70’s Christmas No1. In his
Maxim. As well as enjoying the beauty of
opening scene, he talks through how he
the music, it’s a reminder of a normality
spends his time;
that feels so distant at the moment. I miss the Orchestra and working so much and
‘I find the key is to think of a day as units of
cannot wait to get back in the same room
time...
with everyone and play for ourselves and
... each unit consisting of no more than 30
for you, our audience.
minutes. Full hours can be a little bit intimidating...
I won’t end on a negative though – every
... and most activities take about half an
day I am cheered by little things that
hour.’
I don’t normally notice. Today’s funny event; we’ve just received a text from
When I reflect on it, it seems that I’ve
our neighbour (we text our neighbours
been coping with all of this in a similar
now that we have had time to meet them
way. Obviously without the Christmas
and chat – a great positive) saying that
No1 royalties and swanky house (maybe
he’s just caught one of our cats coming
Christmas 2021, SCO?). What have I been
out of a window in the flats opposite.
doing during lockdown? Well, a string of
I wondered where Tig went all day, it
different activities helps me spend those
seems he’s got a second family who are
‘units of time’ – reading a book, going for a
probably even more generous with the
run, cleaning the flat, sitting in the garden,
treats!
cooking and washing up and more cooking and washing up, and all of a sudden it’s time
Hope to see you all soon, stay safe.
for a G&T and telly and sleep. And repeat.
Lou.
36|SCO NEWS
AT HOME WITH THE SCO WILLIAM STAFFORD SUB-PRINCIPAL CLARINET
Warm greetings to you all and I hope you are doing well throughout this unusual period. It is heartening to know that, despite the physical distance, we are still very much in each other’s thoughts and united as a family. Throughout this time I have been living quite simply and much of my inspiration has come through the unfolding spring life taking place around me – the trees of Greyfriars Kirkyard coming into leaf, the
clarinet. I have been enjoying exploring its
appearance of golden-yellow gorse on
soothing tonal qualities. We were due to
Blackford Hill, the cherry blossoms coming
be using these instruments in March in a
into bloom on The Meadows, and the birds
Baroque programme with Maxim.
singing outside my window. I feel fortunate to live in such beautiful surroundings.
I share a flat with my husband Sky, and we have been enjoying cooking (he has
Music has continued to provide a source of
introduced some new dishes), practising
happiness for me. It has been lovely to hear
yoga and meditation, and occasionally
so many online offerings from musicians all
playing table tennis. He is a wonderful
over the world. I have particularly enjoyed
dancer and has introduced me to some
the contributions of my colleagues in
online dance improvisation classes.
the SCO and thank you so much for your generous feedback and encouragement. I
It has been lovely to keep in touch with
have had the opportunity to make friends
friends and family through online means.
with a new instrument – the chalumeau.
Warmest wishes once more and looking
It was developed in the late Baroque era
forward to the time when we can enjoy
and is the predecessor of the modern-day
concerts in the same room again!
COVER FEATURE
xx|SCO NEWS
SCO NEWS|39
AT HOME WITH THE SCO COVER FEATURE
RUTH CROUCH ASSISTANT LEADER
Whilst I miss performing for an audience
concerts with Maxim when we get back to
and making music with my SCO friends
performing again, and am reading Jaap
and colleagues, I am actually enjoying
Schröder’s performer’s guide to Bach’s
the opportunity to do more practice and
solo violin works. Another interest is in
to reflect on and research music. I am
the physical side of violin playing and
also continuing to teach my students
how to avoid unnecessary tension. I have
from St Mary’s Music School and the
a long acquaintance with the Alexander
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on
Technique and have found its principles
Zoom, which has taken a lot of time
very valuable in my own playing but
(and frustration!) to set up. The sound
would like to have more anatomical
and synchronisation aren’t ideal, but
knowledge to pass on to my students. I’m
it is helping to keep them going during
doing quite a bit of reading around this
lockdown.
subject too.
As a professional musician I find it is
All this probably sounds very ‘anoraky’!
hard to feel bored or lonely as I am used
I must say that the highlight of my day
to spending hours with only my lovely
in lockdown involves going for a walk
violin for company. I feel a bit sorry for
locally, coinciding with my daughter
my neighbours as I have been practising
and 8-month-old granddaughter – at
many more scales than usual and doing
a suitable distance of course – who live
a lot of technical work – partly to try
nearby.
things out before I let them loose on my unsuspecting students. I also have more
I wish our audience all the best during this
time to try out playing with a baroque
difficult time and look forward to seeing
bow, which will be useful for some of the
you all again as soon as possible.
AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN I FIND IT IS HARD TO FEEL BORED OR LONELY AS I AM USED TO SPENDING HOURS WITH ONLY MY LOVELY VIOLIN FOR COMPANY
40|SCO NEWS
THROUGH THE EYES OF... JUDITH COLMAN Concerts Director How did you come to be the Concerts Director
orchestra with 38 positions, and we try to
at the SCO and what does your role involve?
include all our performing members in as
After having spent 13 busy years in London
many programmes as possible. During the
as General Manager of Trevor Pinnock’s
main Season we perform weekly in Edinburgh
period-instrument band The English Concert,
and Glasgow, and regularly (although less
I’d been freelancing for almost a year when
often) in the other main Scottish cities. Every
in 1995 I met Richard Hyder, then a member
few months we review plans with the other
of SCO’s Concerts Department, at a wedding
Scottish orchestras; the aim is to maintain
reception in Dumfries. After talking to
distinctiveness and avoid artist/repertoire
Richard, the job sounded like a perfect fit …
clashes. We also have to keep a weather eye on the finances at all times.
I work closely with our CEO (formerly Roy McEwan, now Gavin Reid), in planning and
Key to the SCO’s planning is a framework of
coordinating the artistic activity of SCO
strong musical relationships, particularly with
and the SCO Chorus – our Season concerts,
our named artists. I spend a lot of time liaising
summer work, engagements, overseas tours
with our Principal Conductor, Associate Artists,
and recordings – and with Team Concerts
Chorus Director and other visiting artists and
in ensuring that a huge volume of behind-
their agents. Gavin and I try not only to nurture
the-scenes logistics, budgeting, negotiation,
and develop our existing relationships but to
personnel issues and general admin is covered.
keep refreshing the mix by introducing new
It’s a bit like continuous three-dimensional
ideas and musical personalities. Each year we
chess, trying to ensure we have a good variety
also feature many of the superb soloists and
and balance of work throughout the year.
chamber musicians within the SCO, who each have their own loyal following amongst our
We start planning the main Season about two
audiences.
years out, so plans for the 2021/22 Season are now well advanced. We’re also planning well
When planning, especially if there are specific
beyond this, for our main Season and overseas
themes we want to pursue, we think about
touring.
which conductors would bring something special to that repertoire. We aim to play to
It would be lovely to think that it’s all
the strengths of our visiting artists and create
about artistic idealism but there are many
an interesting schedule of work, ranging from
pragmatic considerations. SCO is a freelance
late 17th century repertoire to brand new
SCO NEWS|41
commissions. The SCO is known for its stylistic
hotel bookings, send music materials and
flexibility and virtuosity and its players want
issue new contracts against the clock. Once
to be artistically stretched – therefore, many
a new artist is confirmed, the whole Concerts
of our visiting artists are specialists who bring
team swings into action to put the new plans
extraordinary insight in their fields of music.
together. Every now and then we manage to pull something out of the fire and introduce an
It was Sir Charles Mackerras, during his
exceptional artist (like Maxim!). Now, while
long and fruitful relationship with SCO, who
things are so uncertain, we’re in contact with
instilled a style of playing that was truly
all our artists and their managers to work out
‘historically aware’. Now, we regularly welcome
what the future will bring, and what we may be
experts in historically-informed performance
able to re-schedule.
practice such as Kristian Bezuidenhout, Andrew Manze and Richard Egarr; and in
And what’s the most rewarding
other specialist fields such as contemporary
thing about it?
music with the great composer-conductors
I get enormous pleasure from hearing the
Sir James MacMillan and Sir George Benjamin. Other regular visitors, such as Emmanuel Krivine, François Leleux, Joseph Swensen, John Storgårds and Pekka Kuusisto, bring a special affinity for particular composers, or different kinds of programming.
Orchestra play, especially
IT’S A BIT LIKE CONTINUOUS THREEDIMENSIONAL CHESS, TRYING TO ENSURE WE HAVE A GOOD VARIETY AND BALANCE OF WORK THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND DURING THE SUMMER.
when the combination of conductor, soloists, repertoire and orchestra is a fruitful one – it’s a great feeling when the musical sparks are flying! I also really enjoy the process of planning and bringing all the moving
parts together. It’s particularly satisfying to What are the biggest challenges of the job?
have played a part in the formation of new
The best-laid plans have a habit of going
artistic relationships for the Orchestra.
pear-shaped; things invariably start shifting when the Season is already blocked in, so
You’re a member of the SCO Chorus, what are
programmes/artists may need to be swopped
you looking forward to the Chorus performing
round. And sometimes things go wrong at the
next Season?
last minute. There was a particularly torrid
Brahms’ wonderful German Requiem with
phase a few years ago, when conductors
Maxim.
and soloists seemed to be going sick every couple of weeks! It can be somewhat
If you weren’t involved in music, what other
daunting trying to replace carefully-chosen
career might you have pursued?
artists with new ones who are (a) suited to
Probably something health-related – I was
the repertoire in question and (b) actually
a volunteer at Middlesex Hospital for many
(as opposed to “in principle”) free – and to
years before I moved to Scotland, so it was a
negotiate conditions, arrange new travel and
definite possibility at one stage.
42|SCO NEWS
YOUR SAY
LIVE FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM In the absence of our concerts, the SCO Players have continued to create online performances sharing music from their homes to yours. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Going to make our way through this wonderful selection of music – not the same watching on the PC but boy does it fill a bit of a gap where there should have been live concerts.
Betty and David Just a little note to say thank you so much for the amazing little concert slots from the most amazing people. Please pass on my grateful thanks Maxim, Nikita, Alison, Marcus and Christina and Eric for taking time to treat us.
May
Really missed hearing you play last week! Hope it won’t be long before we see you on stage again. Meanwhile, thanks for lifting our spirits with this video!
The Roving Scotsman @roving_scotsman
19/20 SEASON FINAL CONCERTS Prior to the decision being made to cancel the remaining concerts in our 19/20 Season we had two fabulous concerts to conclude: Beethoven 6 & 7 with Maxim Emelyanychev and Nicola Benedetti performing Mozart & Mendelssohn. Brilliant concert last night by the wonderful @SCOmusic & #MaximEmelyanychev of Beethoven’s 6th & 7th symphonies. The performances were full of effervescence and beauty, absolutely loved it!
Johnny C Murty @JcsmMurty Thank you all for this inspired compilation of messages and the chance to hear some music at home.
Jenny I must thank you and commend you for sharing your great music online at this difficult time. It certainly brings some muchneeded joy and peace in frantic times.
Alan
SCO NEWS|43
We’ve had a great season, I was in tears at the end of Beethoven’s 7th, it just affects me that way and it was a wonderful performance.
James What an amazing night watching Nicola Benedetti perform with SCO and Lawrence Power. Feeling the buzz from the girls as they absorbed the performance and loved it! @SCOmusic @NickyBenedetti
Gilly Herbert @GillyHerbert
20/21 CONCERT SEASON PROGRAMME In many ways, #RobinTicciati paved the way for #MaximEmelyanychev: without the former’s revelatory #SymphonieFantastique (with which today’s playlist concludes), I doubt we’d have the #Pathétique or #Sheherazade to look forward to next @SCOmusic Season. Much to look forward to!
Anthony Mudge @awmudge
SCO RECORDING OF BIZET’S CARMEN WITH FRANCOIS LELEUX Our latest recording of Bizet: Carmen Suite No 1 & Gounod: Petite Symphonie with François Leleux was released in March. We are so excited that @leleux_francois’ new album Bizet/Gounod w/ Leleux conducting @SCOmusic has reached No.7 in UK Classical Charts! ‘Leleux elicits a balanced variety of warmth & nimble lucidness from the Orchestra’ @TheScotsman
Harrison Parrott @HarrisonParrott Wonderful memories of our recording. CD just out getting great reviews. Dream team for Gounod Petite Suite. @SCOmusic @LinnRecords @bsnlady
Maximiliano Martín @maxi715
What a wonderful season it has been so far. Wishing you all good health. And looking forward to the next season.
Allison Littlejohn @allisonl
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LET YOUR PASSION LIVE ON If the SCO is something you treasure, leaving a gift in your Will can make a significant and lasting difference. Help us to ensure that orchestral music can continue to inspire future generations.
To speak in confidence about leaving a gift in your Will to the SCO, please call Lucinda Coulthard on 0131 478 8364.
SCO.ORG.UK/SUPPORT-US/LEGACIES The SCO is a charity registered in Scotland No SC015039.
