FOREWORD

Welcome to our latest edition of SCO News.

In my last introduction, I looked forward to our performances of all four of Brahms’ symphonies with Robin Ticciati as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. Well, if you were able to be in the Usher Hall for those two evenings, you will know just how wonderful they were, and what a fitting tribute they were to a glorious nine-year partnership. Thank you to Robin, to our friends at the Festival and to Donald and Louise MacDonald for their generous support of these concerts.

For the SCO, August has been a month to savour. As well as Brahms, we had the honour of giving the Opening Concert of the Edinburgh International Festival’s Usher Hall programme – Haydn’s uplifting Creation with conductor Edward Gardner and the incomparable National Youth Choir of Scotland. In the final week, we delved into the magical and extraordinary world of Olivier Messiaen. Des Canyons aux étoiles (From the Canyons to the Stars) is a remarkable musical evocation

Gavin Reid

of Utah’s Grand Canyon. Depicting the magnificence of Bryce Canyon as well as the delicacy of the accompanying birdsong, this truly is a virtuoso work. Lead by Conductor Matthias Pintscher, it was given a performance to match. So much so, that it was awarded a much-coveted Herald Angel Award.

Our month culminated with the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert in Princes Street Gardens, presented in partnership with Virgin Money and the EIF. We are proud to have presented this event for all of its 36-year history. With a programme that included a celebration of the centenary of the late, great Leonard Bernstein and no fewer than 400,000 fireworks dancing and shooting across the clear night sky to Gustav Holst’s The Planets, it was a sensational end to this year’s festival season.

Off the concert platform – but with a firm view of what a new one is going to look like – August also saw the unveiling of David Chipperfield Architects’ latest plans for the IMPACT Centre – the brand new concert hall and performance venue in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square which will become home to the SCO. The venue promises fantastic new opportunities for everyone to experience and participate in – as well as simply enjoy - the thrill of live musicmaking. There is much to look forward to.

Talking of which, after the excitement of our recent announcement that Maxim Emelyanychev will become our next Principal Conductor in September 2019, I am thrilled that Maxim will be joining us in October for two performances of Haydn’s The Seasons. I do hope you will be able to join us, not only for this programme, but throughout our forthcoming season

Gavin Reid

Chief Executive