ISSUE 77 | SCO NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2020
THE MIDAS TOUCH
ALSO INSIDE: SEASON PLANNING | VIBE ONLINE | HARRY JOHNSTONE
ISSUE 77 | SCO NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2020
CONTENTS REGULARS 3
FOREWORD
4
LATEST NEWS
9
60 SECOND INTERVIEW
COVER FEATURE
12
10 RECENT RECORDINGS 34 YOUR SAY 35 THROUGH THE EYES OF...
26
FEATURES 12 THE MIDAS TOUCH Keith Bruce talks to Nicola Benedetti
20 VIBE ONLINE 22 CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND UP 26 “IT’S LIFE, JIM, THOUGH NOT AS WE KNOW IT…”
31
SCO Concerts Director Judith Colman gives us some insight into planning around a pandemic
31 HARRY JOHNSTONE As Harry retires, Peter Franks shares some memories of their time together
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 Nicola Benedetti © Andy Gotts
SCO NEWS|03
A WARM WELCOME TO SCO NEWS
FOREWORD I hope you have had an opportunity to
In many ways this will be a SCO Season
enjoy the Orchestra’s online performance
like no other. As usual, it will have musical
of Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto with
brilliance, creativity and joy at its very
Paul Lewis as part of this year’s Edinburgh
heart. However, to ensure as many people
International Festival. We were thrilled to
as possible can share in our performances,
be invited to take part in My Light Shines
our autumn programme will be a mix of
On, the Festival’s imaginative response
both live and online events.
to the challenges of 2020. If you have not seen the film, do look it up on the Festival’s
To that end, I could not be happier that to
website. (www.eif.co.uk/whats-on/2020/
open our new Season, Nicola Benedetti and
sco-paullewis) As well as Beethoven, you will
Maxim Emelyanychev will join the SCO for
find several other specially recorded Festival
a specially filmed performance of Bruch’s
performances featuring SCO principal
much-loved Violin Concerto No 1, kindly
players.
sponsored by Quilter Cheviot. Please do join us online on Thursday 24 September.
These very welcome projects have given us all a huge boost, as well as great hope
These are of course unsettling and difficult
and optimism that there will be many
times for everyone. For those of us involved
more opportunities to perform for you in
in the arts it is clear the route back to safe
the coming weeks and months. Indeed,
ground has some way to go, with many
hope and optimism have become bywords
challenges still ahead. So, I should like to
as we continue to plan and re-plan both
reiterate my enormous gratitude
our forthcoming Winter Season and our
and appreciation to all those
extensive Creative Learning programme.
people who have been so generous and supportive over
We have been working hard with our
the last few months. Your
players to create an autumn programme
donations have been most
that showcases their skills as chamber
welcome and very gratefully
and orchestral musicians. As restrictions
received. Thank you.
hopefully start to ease in the coming weeks and prospects for a return to live
I do hope you enjoy
performance become more of a reality, we
reading our news.
look forward to sharing both our plans and our music-making with you, just as soon as
Gavin Reid
we can.
Chief Executive
04|SCO NEWS
LATEST NEWS It’s slightly hard to believe that we’re already heading into autumn, but whatever the season, you can always guarantee that there’s lots going on at the SCO. Here’s a quick round up of what’s been happening and what’s on the horizon.
Screenshot of our new website
SCO TO LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE –––––– We hope you’ll click with our new website! Scheduled to go live in late September, it’s our ambition with this to be better at telling our site visitors the full story of all the work that the SCO undertakes throughout the year and to help you get to know us and our musicians even better. We will of course also be promoting the many ways you can support us and be offering a selection of SCO recordings and merchandise for sale, so why not have a browse of the new site and let us know what you think?
–––––– Our new website goes live week commencing 21 September
SCO NEWS|05
Paul Lewis performs in the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
© Mihaela Bodlovic
SHINING ON AT THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
socially distanced) for the recording of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 2 with pianist par excellence, Paul Lewis.
–––––– It’s certainly been a year like no other, and
There was more wonderful music to come,
so it could really only have been an EIF like
with SCO musicians featuring in a series of
no other, with this year’s Festival consisting
Chamber Music Soundscapes which were
of a series of curated digital performances
relayed via speakers into Princes Street
by world-class artists including the SCO.
Gardens.
–––––– Naturally, we were delighted that our
All of these performances and many more
amazing musicians were able to return to
can still be enjoyed at www.eif.co.uk/
the concert stage and be together (albeit
whats-on
06|SCO NEWS
THE SCO TRUCK GETS A MAKEOVER –––––– The SCO truck has not been on the road much lately, so we thought it was a good moment to treat it to a new outfit. Here it is freshly attired and updated with the new SCO logo. We’ve also been thinking that we should really give the truck a name that’s a bit more fun than just ‘the truck’ and so we’d love to hear your thoughts on what we should call it. Please email in any suggestions to info@sco.org.uk
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos 19 and 27
putting ‘new truck name’ in the subject
in the post as a thank you to the lucky
header. Not only will the best name
winner. Good luck everyone and you can
suggestion grace the truck from now on,
find out more about our latest recordings
we’ll also pop a copy of our new CD of
on page 10.
SCO NEWS|07
SCO Violinists Gordon Bragg and Kana Kawashima in Cramond Kirk as part of Doors Open Day
DOORS OPEN DAY Every September for the last 30 years,
PAST PERFECTION FROM THE SCO AT THE BBC PROMS
architecturally and historically significant
––––––
buildings all over Scotland have opened their
This year’s Proms saw the BBC making
doors to the public for free over one weekend.
a virtue of necessity, as they delved
This year, Doors Open Day has moved online,
into their incredible archive for much
and the SCO is delighted to have been able
of this year’s programme including an
to collaborate with beautiful venues across
SCO concert from 2001. Featuring our
Edinburgh to create several short chamber
much-loved Conductor Laureate Sir
performances which will be released as part
Charles Mackerras and the Orchestra
of the online festival on 26 and 27 September.
in collaboration with renowned pianist
Keep an eye on our social media for these
Alfred Brendel, this was a joyous and
special performances, including some 19th
uplifting evening of Mozart, Stravinsky
century cello quartets and a concert from our
and Schubert.
Big Ears, Little Ears team.
––––––
––––––
If you’re quick, you can still listen
See www.doorsopendays.org.uk for more
to this for a short period of time on
information
the Proms’ website: www.bbc.co.uk/proms
––––––
08|SCO NEWS
Hamish and Su-a
SU-A GETTING MARRIED –––––– A huge congratulations to our wonderful Sub-Principal Cello Su-a Lee on her engagement to folk musician Hamish Napier. We hope you will join us in wishing them all the best of luck and happiness!
NEW FACES AND ARRIVALS –––––– In August we were delighted to welcome
Rachel Spencer and family
our new University of St Andrews Graduate Trainee – Brogan Orkney.
Congratulations to Rachel Spencer
Brogan will be with us until April 2021
(Second Violin) and her husband Duncan
and will be working closely with our
on the arrival of their baby girl, Ellen
Creative Learning and Marketing teams
Ingrid Maxwell Strachan, at 7.11am on
in that time.
21July!
60
SECOND INTERVIEW RACHEL SMITH SECOND VIOLIN
You were appointed SCO Second Violin
education programmes alongside and
back in 2014 – what has been your most
have incredible community involvement.
memorable SCO concert to date?
Over the past few years wonderful SCO
Two concerts immediately pop into
friends and colleagues have joined me
my mind – firstly, Beethoven 7 with
there to perform (including, of course,
Emmanuel Krivine – it was exhilarating.
my husband, cellist Eric de Wit).
The other was a recent Baroque concert with Maxim Emelyanychev – what an
Some of our concerts this winter will be
unparalleled energy he has, and such fun.
curated by SCO Players, including you! Can you tell us a bit about your own
Outside of the SCO you are Artistic
approach to programming?
Director of the Stradbroke Chamber
It’s important to me that the audience
Music Festival in Australia. Can you tell
can be drawn in to the programme
us a little bit about the festival and how
as a whole, as well as each individual
it came about?
piece. Sometimes this means that there
North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
are tangible connections between the
is a beautiful, special place that I
composers or the pieces. It can also
have been visiting since I was a little
mean that (like a good meal) each piece
kid. An island-resident friend and I
contributes a certain texture or flavour
concocted the first festival at Pilates
which complements the others. We are
class, amongst trap tables and
fortunate enough at Stradbroke over
reformers in 2007. It began that year
the years to have developed a special
as one concert and ballooned into
relationship between audience and
three very quickly. We did everything
performers so that I feel we can easily
ourselves – flyers, biscuits, ticketing and
programme the unfamiliar along with
of course performing (I programmed
the familiar. It’s a wonderful thing to feel
all my favourite pieces side-by-side
that the bond between audience and
as I thought it would just be a one-off.
performer is part of the performance
Here we are 13 years later!). Now we
itself – something that we’ve all missed
do six concerts over a weekend, run
in the last few months!
André Cebrián Garea
10|SCO NEWS
SCO MUSIC
RECENT RECORDINGS MOZART PIANO CONCERTOS NOS 19 & 27, RONDO K. 386
ALBUM OF THE WEEK Classic FM
SCO NEWS|11
BBC Radio Scotland ‘Classics Unwrapped’ Album of the Week PIEMONTESI HAS BEEN HAILED AS A STELLAR MOZARTIAN AND HIS STYLE AND TOUCH IS PERFECT, SO WELL BLENDED WITH MOZART’S ORIGINAL INTENTIONS.
Back in early March 2019, what now feels a little like a lifetime ago, the SCO musicians were ensconced in
COMING SOON
Edinburgh’s Usher Hall recording Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 19 & 27 and Rondo K. 386 with pianist favourite, conductor Andrew Manze.
SIR CHARLES MACKERRAS CONDUCTS MOZART
The follow-up to our previous, highly
A three album, five CD box set of some of
successful collaboration of 2017,
the finest Mozart recordings ever made,
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 25 & 26,
in commemoration of SCO Conductor
this new album was released in August
Laureate Sir Charles Mackerras.
Francesco Piemontesi and SCO
and has already been very favourably received by music critics.
CKD 350: Symphonies 29, 31, 32, 35 & 36
––––––
CKD 308: Symphonies 38-41
The new album is now available to buy on CD
BKD 211: Requiem; Adagio and Fugue
for home delivery via www.amazon.com or
––––––
online digitally from www.linnrecords.com
Released November 2020
LITHE AND SPIRITED, THE SCO PLAYERS MAKE EXCELLENT COMPANIONS FOR THEIR SWISS SOLOIST, A PERFORMER IN TOTAL, JOYFUL COMMAND OF HIS MATERIAL… MANZE BRINGS HIS PERIOD INSTRUMENT EXPERTISE TO PROCEEDINGS, GIVING FRESH INSIGHT TO THIS BELOVED REPERTOIRE. The Observer
12|SCO NEWS
© Andy Gotts
SCO NEWS|13
COVER FEATURE
THE MIDAS TOUCH BY KEITH BRUCE It can have been of little surprise to anyone, and especially her many devotees in her homeland, to see violinist Nicola Benedetti one of the first out of the blocks as live music begins to be made in concert halls again. Trail-blazing is second nature to a woman who brings quality to the classical album charts as readily as the concert platform, and has become one of the UK’s leading advocates of music education.
14|SCO NEWS
COVER FEATURE
The 2020/21 Season was to have opened
about what’s going to be in its place, but that
at the Usher Hall on 24 September with
was never the case with the Scottish Chamber
Maxim Emelyanychev and Nicola Benedetti
Orchestra. They always were looking at what
on the stage together for the first time for
else they could do and how else they could
the Violin Concerto No 1 by Max Bruch. That
do it.
partnership will now join the musicians of the SCO behind the closed doors of Perth Concert
“Obviously to have the opportunity to
Hall to perform the work – billed as The
produce a concert is great, and I’m sure they’ll
Quilter Cheviot Benedetti Concert – which
do an excellent job of getting it out to all their
will be streamed “as live” on the internet from
patrons and supporters so that, even if there
the time the Edinburgh concert was due to
is nobody in the room, people will be able to
start, and available to view at no charge for
enjoy the concert in another way.”
some time thereafter. Crucial to that process has been investment There may be no audience in the hall to
management company Quilter Cheviot,
hear the performance, but Benedetti is
whose long-standing support of the
appreciative of the Orchestra’s determination
Orchestra finds a new form with this unique
to open its Season as planned in the only
event. Benedetti is looking forward to it
way it can, even if notice of the go ahead has
allowing her a fresh look at a work that is
necessarily been short, given ever-changing
a feature of the repertoire of many violin
restrictions on gatherings. “It was just
soloists. “We had just done the Mendelssohn
finalised within the last month or so,” she says,
Concerto before lockdown, and played
“although we have been talking about what
the Sinfonia Concertante for my first time,
to do longer than that.
and I enjoyed that week so much. I feel like I had a bit of a rebirth in my relationship
“Some orchestras and concert halls were very
with the Mendelssohn Concerto through
quick just to cancel an entire project and did
my experience then, so the same thing may
not enter into those secondary discussions
happen with Bruch, that I hear things in a
THIS WHOLE TIME HAS BEEN AN EYE-OPENER FOR EVERYBODY, AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE LIFE ADJUSTMENTS THAT THEY WON’T GIVE UP EASILY NOW.
© Andy Gotts
16|SCO NEWS
I HAVEN’T PLAYED WITH MAXIM EMELYANYCHEV AND I ABSOLUTELY ADORE EVERYTHING THAT I’VE SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT HIM
totally different way and have a new kind
That adaptability has also been essential
of enthusiasm for the piece. I’m excited
to Benedetti’s education work with her
about that, because I’ve played it countless
foundation, although the effect of the
numbers of times. And I haven’t played with
medical emergency has been to accelerate
Maxim Emelyanychev and I absolutely adore
work that was already underway.
everything that I’ve seen and heard about him.”
“It sort of solidified what we had wanted to do anyway and propelled us to do it quicker. We
News of the SCO concert came with
were always wanting to move things online
Benedetti’s latest album release, built around
and it was almost as if we were gifted an
the Elgar concerto, still high in the classical
opportunity to push forward with that.
charts, having debuted at No 1. She was to have been playing that work at both the
“The setting up of an online structure that is
Edinburgh International Festival and at the
functional and works well had to be done very
BBC Proms, before a European tour.
quickly. The content of what we do has not been changed at all, but the numbers have
Instead she featured in one of the limited
grown massively and quite quickly. We are
season of live Proms from the Royal Albert
very happy about that and surprised by how
Hall, playing Baroque concertos by Vivaldi,
little compromise there has been on quality
Handel and Bach with the Orchestra of
– we are just seeing a lot more people. We’ve
the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by
been communicating with almost 12,000
Jonathan Cohen.
young musicians and taught them directly within the last couple of months.
“I had played the Bach double before but everything else was for the first time, in a
“But we will be going back to our live
programme specially created, given the
workshops, it is just a case of when. There is
circumstances.”
no question that that will happen.”
COVER FEATURE
© Andy Gotts
18|SCO NEWS
COVER FEATURE
It has been an unexpected benefit of the
says you have to plan a concert two years in
absence of any live work that her online
advance, suddenly we’re seeing that doesn’t
education work has had her full attention.
necessarily have to be the case!
“Practically nothing until the end of the year that was on my schedule has survived.
“But this whole time has been an eye-opener
Anything that I’m doing has been a recent
for everybody, and lots of people have made
invitation. There’s another orchestral concert
life adjustments that they won’t give up easily
and some smaller recital performances,
now. I think for me there’s been a massive
and repeat performances of the Proms
appreciation for time spent with family, and
programme, but they’ve all just been put
it’s a gift for me to see how much it is possible
together within the last month or so. It’s been
to do from your home. I’ve been up to see my
interesting for me that although everybody
parents now, but before that was the longest time I’ve been able to be home and cooking three meals a day.” –––––– The Quilter Cheviot Benedetti Concert will be free to view on the SCO’s YouTube and Facebook pages on Thursday 24 September at 7.30pm, and available for three months thereafter.
Maxim Emelyanychev and Nicola Benedetti will be on stage together for the first time.
© Andy Gotts
20|SCO NEWS
CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND-UP
VIBE ONLINE
VIBE Online Particpants, July 2020
SCO NEWS|21
I HAD NO IDEA HOW VIBE ONLINE WOULD WORK, BUT NOW I’VE DONE IT, I THINK I’VE ENJOYED IT MORE! I FEEL FREE TO TRY THINGS OUT IN MY OWN SPACE. MAKING A MISTAKE ONLINE IS NOT AS WORRYING TO ME AS MAKING A MISTAKE IN FRONT OF A GROUP. VIBE Online Participant
SCO VIBE is a fusion orchestra for young
Feedback from the participants and the
musicians of secondary school age, led
audience was overwhelmingly positive,
by renowned animateur and guitarist
with some participants commenting that
Paul Griffiths. VIBE is open to singers
they felt more comfortable than during a
and instrumentalists of all levels, from
‘live’ course, that they enjoyed it more and
any musical background, who come
felt less anxious about making mistakes.
together with Paul and the SCO team
The nature of the course meant that they
to create and perform their own music
had to engage with new people rather
collaboratively.
than stick within friendship groups, and they grew in confidence. We worked
Due to Covid-19 we were unable to run
with the technology, rather than against
the usual live VIBE courses in July and
it, which meant embracing the strange
decided instead to pilot an online course
sounds that Zoom produces! And despite
using Zoom – aiming to maintain the
some issues with latency and internet
inclusive, creative VIBE environment and
glitches, the technology worked well
all the elements that make VIBE special.
enough for everyone to remain engaged
Previous participants from Edinburgh,
throughout.
Glasgow and Aberdeen courses were invited to try out VIBE Online so that
As a team we have learnt a huge amount
we could gain understanding of the
about online delivery and can see how to
differences between working online and
develop more nuanced music-making for
‘live’. The online course structure was
future courses. All our pilot participants
similar to live courses, with participants
are keen to develop VIBE Online and we
working together as a large group and in
will be running two projects for young
smaller ensembles to develop, rehearse
people across Scotland in the October
and record musical ideas. Sound engineer
holidays.
Mark Neal recorded through Zoom,
––––––
collating tracks recorded separately and
For full information and to sign up,
then mixing them to produce several final
please visit www.sco.org.uk/vibeonline
tracks. The course ran for four days at the beginning of the school holidays, and the following week friends, family, and funders attended an online sharing event.
22|SCO NEWS
CREATIVE LEARNING ROUND-UP
During the current pandemic we have moved all Creative Learning activity over to digital platforms and have been surprised and delighted to find how effective this can be. It turns out that many young people feel more comfortable and confident making music online than in person, and we know from our VIBE Online pilot in July (featured on page 20 in this issue) that the project provided participants with a very real sense of connection and support during a difficult period of isolation.
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION –––––– Pictures at an Exhibition, developed in partnership between the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and caithnessmusic.com, is a new project designed to bring musicians of all levels, including children, ‘together’ with SCO musicians online. We aim to inspire and support continued learning and enjoyment of orchestral repertoire despite current restrictions on face to face rehearsals, and
BIG EARS, LITTLE EARS
welcome players at all levels – from absolute
––––––
beginners to those who can tackle almost-
This month’s Doors Open Day
original Mussorgsky parts (transposed into
weekend features a special Big
amateur-friendly keys). The music has been
Ears, Little Ears performance,
arranged by Katrina Gordon and parts will
filmed in St Mary’s Cathedral by
be published alongside practice videos made
a SCO string quartet. Big Ears,
by ensembles from the Scottish Chamber
Little Ears concerts enable babies,
Orchestra, and by Susan Dingle and Katrina
toddlers and their adults to share
Gordon up in Caithness.
live music in a child-friendly, relaxed
––––––
atmosphere, with concerts taking
Full details at www.sco.org.uk/pictures
place regularly in Edinburgh,
––––––
Pictures at an Exhibition is in partnership with caithnessmusic.com
Glasgow and St Andrews and at venues around Scotland as part of the SCO’s touring programme.
SCO NEWS|23
SCO musicians recording Beethoven’s Music and Moods, a suite of video resources for primary school children created in partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival
A REAL GIFT TO THE CHILDREN – A LOVELY INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL CONCERTS AND THE POWER OF LIVE MUSIC
BEETHOVEN’S MUSIC AND MOODS
Big Ears, Little Ears
primary school children marking Beethoven’s
Audience Member
250th birthday and the SCO’s performance of his
–––––– In partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival we are delighted to present Beethoven’s Music and Moods, a suite of video resources for
Piano Concerto No 2 as part of My Light Shines On, the International Festival’s celebration of Edinburgh’s enduring festival spirit. Children are invited to meet some of the SCO musicians and have fun listening, drawing and composing as they explore Beethoven’s music (and moods!) at www.sco.org.uk/beethoven
24|SCO NEWS
Anna Clyne
INTERCONNECT
year and features Sound and Fury by
––––––
our Associate Composer Anna Clyne,
InterConnect, a partnership project
written for the SCO in 2019. We have
with the University of Edinburgh,
created a suite of unique resources
was originally planned as a series
written and presented by animateur
of workshops leading to a live SCO
Rachel Leach, including a listening
ensemble performance of students’
guide and filmed SCO performance
compositions. Instead, our musicians
of Sound and Fury. The resources will
recorded their parts at home and the
be launched at a YouTube Premiere
resulting film was presented as part of
event on 30 September and will remain
the online opening event at the Edinburgh
on the SCO website for use in school
College of Art Graduate Show.
and at home.
––––––
––––––
SCO is Orchestra in Association with the
Why not take a listen?!
University of Edinburgh.
www.sco.org.uk/soundfury
InterConnect is in partnership with the University of Edinburgh.
Masterworks 2020 is delivered in association with Drake Music Scotland and the Lammermuir Festival.
MASTERWORKS
Masterworks 2020 is kindly supported by The Gannochy Trust, The Plum Trust, PF Charitable Trust, The Basil Death Trust, The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust, Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust, The Educational Institute of Scotland, Forteviot Charitable Trust, The JTH Charitable Trust and Sir Iain Stewart Foundation.
––––––
–––––– Masterworks, our flagship education programme for upper secondary school music pupils, takes place online this
––––––
SCO NEWS|25
Georgina Macdonell Finlayson, Electra Perivolaris and Gillian Walker will each work with Anna Clyne to write and workshop a piece for a mixed SCO ensemble
NEW STORIES –––––– In August we were thrilled to announce the three composers selected for New Stories,
WIN £250 ––––––
a new mentoring scheme for emerging
250 SOCIETY
women composers led by our inspirational
Just £5 a month as a member of the
Associate Composer Anna Clyne. Georgina
250 Society gives you the chance
Macdonell Finlayson, Electra Perivolaris and
to win £250 in our monthly draw at
Gillian Walker will each work with Anna to
the same time as knowing that you
write and workshop a piece for a mixed SCO
are contributing towards the SCO’s
ensemble, inspired by the art of storytelling in
Creative Learning programme.
collaboration with writer and storyteller Janis Mackay. In the second year, one composer
Please join us in congratulating recent
will go forward to write a new work for the
winners of our 250 Society:
SCO for performance in the summer of 2022.
––––––
May: David Lipetz
To find out more www.sco.org.uk/new-stories
June: James Dunbar
––––––
New Stories is in association with TRACS – Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
July: Fiona Addison August: Jack Bogle To learn more about the 250 Society or to join now, contact Laura Hickey on 0131 478 8344.
SCO NEWS|27
“IT’S LIFE, JIM, THOUGH NOT AS WE KNOW IT …” With the last six months unlike anything experienced in living memory, we asked SCO Concerts Director Judith Colman to give us some insight into planning around a pandemic.
© Mihaela Bodlovic
28|SCO NEWS
Colin Currie
It seems a very long time ago since I wrote
in Dunfermline, Dunoon and Dollar. Sadly
about how our Season is planned. The last
the ‘D-Tour’, as it became known, itself fell
six months have seen everything turned on
victim to the lockdown.
its head, with unprecedented challenges for everyone working in the performing
After wonderful concerts with Nicola
arts.
Benedetti and Lawrence Power in March, it was hugely disappointing to have to cancel
As news of the pandemic started to come
our concerts up to Easter, and subsequently
through at the beginning of the year, we
up to the end of the Season. It seems
started closely monitoring the situation – the
incredible now, that in late March there were
SCO had a tour in May, which was to include
newspaper headlines actually asking “Could
our first visits to China and Singapore. It was
coronavirus be over by Easter?”
unclear how things would develop globally in the coming weeks and months, but
With no concerts in prospect (and working
given the high uncertainty we reluctantly
from our home ‘offices‘), sustaining the
decided to postpone the tour with the hope
members of the Orchestra and keeping in
of rescheduling it in 2021. In place of the
contact with you, our audience members
Asia dates we quickly arranged a local
have been our top priorities these last
tour with our soloist, Colin Currie, taking
months.
SCO NEWS|29
SCO Chorus
Fortunately, new technology came to our
most distinctive concerts from the end of
aid just at the right moment. Meetings
the 2019/20 Season, so that you will be
moved online, and we have been able to
able to enjoy them as originally planned.
stay in touch with our audiences through
Our 2021/22 Season will include Nikita
the SCO’s YouTube channel. We’ve been
Naumov in the UK premiere of Peter
delighted to welcome many of you to
Eötvös’ Double Bass Concerto ‘Aurora’;
the ‘Live from your Living Room’ sessions
the Vivaldi Gloria with SCO Chorus;
which SCO players, guest artists and our
Mozart, Debussy and Schubert with Maxim
Marketing team have created, so that
Emelyanychev; the Scottish premiere
you can tune in from the comfort of home
of Helen Grime’s Percussion Concerto
(www.sco.org.uk/latest/1906-live-from-
with Colin Currie; and Pekka Kuusisto’s
your-living-room). At the end of September,
wonderful programme of American music
look out for SCO musicians taking part
including the UK Premiere of Nico Muhly’s
in Edinburgh’s digital Doors Open Day,
new Violin Concerto. We’re also looking
hosted live on their website
for new opportunities to re-invite
www.doorsopendays.org.uk.
artists, and to reschedule specific programmes and commissions, which
Alongside this, the Concerts team has been
have sadly fallen by the wayside over the
working hard to reschedule some of the
summer.
xx|SCO NEWS
Maxim Emelyanychev
At the time of writing, we are awaiting
The Bruch was to have been the centrepiece
confirmation of when – and where – we will
of a 9-concert tour to the USA in October;
be able to recommence live performance –
very sadly, this tour had to be cancelled but
albeit with reduced numbers on the stage
again, we are in discussion with our tour
and in the audience. We have been working
management and are optimistic about
closely with an Artistic Planning Group of
rescheduling in a couple of years’ time.
players to create a reimagined Autumn programme of small live and online events,
It’s been a strange few months of constant
which will reflect the original programmes
uncertainty and change. Who knows what
while also taking opportunities to explore
the New Year will bring? We’re hopeful for the
composers and repertoire which will be new
future but whatever the circumstances, we
to many of us. We’re looking forward to
will find ways to continue sharing our music
bringing chamber groups to those venues
with you. Meanwhile, a huge thanks to all my
which are able to host events, as well as
colleagues in Team Concerts and to all of you
presenting four specially-filmed orchestral
whose generous support and encouragement
concerts starting with the Season Opener,
has sustained us all since March.
Nicola Benedetti and Maxim Emelyanychev
––––––
in Bruch’s Violin Concerto.
To find out more visit www.sco.org.uk
SCO NEWS|31
HARRY JOHNSTONE AS HARRY RETIRES, PETER FRANKS SHARES SOME MEMORIES OF THEIR TIME TOGETHER
32|SCO NEWS
HARRY JOHNSTONE RETIRES
SCO Brass in 1991, Harry pictured far right
After almost 40 years as Sub-Principal
SCO convinced Harry to make the move
Horn with the SCO, Harry has decided
from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
to retire from the position. Following his tertiary education at the RSAMD (now
This is when I first met Harry. We joined
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) under
within a week or so of each other, he the
the tuition of Maurice Temple, and then
experienced orchestral player, and I,
at the Royal Academy of Music, Harry
green and terribly inexperienced, thrown
had a brief spell in the spa orchestra
into a two-week high-profile European
at Bad Wiessee, in Bavaria, and in a
Tour with Raymond Leppard and Teresa
London West End show, before returning
Berganza. In his company, many tours,
to Scotland to the solo horn position
concerts, meals and glasses of wine have
in the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra.
happened since. Harry was frequently
A year further on, and Harry found
found exercising his brain on crossword
himself chosen by the Scottish National
clues, sudoku, chess moves or scrabble
Orchestra, (now RSNO), to play 2nd horn
during orchestral breaks, coach journeys
to his former teacher Maurice Temple,
and in airport lounges.
where he remained for three years before going to the same position at the
What I will remember most are the
BBC SSO. Six years later, in 1981, the
adventures we had with SCO Brass. Those
innovative times in the early days of our newly created education department (now Creative Learning), when Kathryn McDowell, (now Managing Director of the LSO), inspired SCO Brass and Quartz to take on education and community engagements throughout the whole extent of Scotland, including the Western Isles, with the help of a seconded Royal Mail PostBus, (many thanks to their sponsorship), Orkney, Shetland, and even the Republic of Ireland. Memories: – When Harry asked a 7-year-old pupil from Happy Hansel Primary School, on Shetland, to name an instrument, the reply was, “It’s a trombone. We’ve got one at home – it’s got batteries in it!” Another one of many memories is when Harry, as a thank you to all of us following a concert at a Little Sisters of the Poor Care Home, in
HARRY, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, HAD QUITE A MASS OF HAIR AND A THICK BEARD. THE NAME STUCK, AND MY DAUGHTER STILL AFFECTIONATELY REFERS TO HARRY AS HAIRY MACLARY!
Dublin, was handed a bottle of confiscated malt whisky. Spur of the moment Ad Hoc
He was quite able to reel off one story or
concerts in town/village squares to help
another about the piece we had played,
drum up audiences for the SCO Highland
or the composer, and easily rambled
Tour concerts. Unexpected treasures to
away happily. Great relief to us, as we
remember.
needed as much time as possible to get the blood back in our lips. However,
On a visit to my house some years ago,
occasionally he had forgotten what the
Harry met my children, and my eldest had
next piece was, and had to ask us and
just read Lynley Dodd’s first book in the
then, when he got back to his stand,
illustrated Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s
found he had the wrong piece up. Harry,
Dairy series. Hairy is a Skye Terrier. Harry,
as usual, kept quite composed, sifted
at this point in time, had quite a mass of
through his pad, found the elusive music,
hair and a thick beard. The name stuck,
and played exquisitely.
and my daughter still affectionately refers to Harry as Hairy Maclary!
Harry, we wish you all the best for your retirement, and hope you enjoy the
Harry, as he is quite flamboyant with
additional time with your wife Jacqui,
words, was charged with introducing
your daughters Pamela and Kay, and
repertoire in our more formal concerts.
their respective families.
34|SCO NEWS
JOIN THE CONVERSATION –––––– Sign up for our email newsletter For all our latest news, films, photos, blogs and special offers, visit www.sco.org.uk/latest
YOUR SAY
Email us
Sophie Sim, Marketing Officer sophie.sim@sco.org.uk
We have been delighted to hear your thoughts on our recent online performances and projects, and your reviews of our latest
Comment on Facebook
www.facebook.com/scottishchamberorchestra/
recording with Francesco Piemontesi and Andrew Manze.
Share your experience on Twitter https://twitter.com/SCOmusic
NEW RECORDING MOZART PIANO CONCERTOS NOS 19 & 27
Share your experience on Instagram
www.instagram.com/scottishchamberorchestra/
Fantastic recording! I had the pleasure of hearing them yesterday. Peerless orchestral playing matched by quite understated, sublime piano virtuosity. Bravo!
Lawrence Gill
EIF MY LIGHT SHINES ON Our favourite orchestra shines on! Congratulations to all the musicians and staff who worked to make this performance so special.
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION PROJECT Brilliant collaboration between @CaithnessmusicC and @SCOmusic – an opportunity for musicians of all ages and abilities to work together from now right through to April on Mussorgsky’s amazing Pictures at an Exhibition. Get involved!
Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust @SScOTmusic
Martha Vail Beautiful, calming and energising at the same time as I do my exercises! Favourite composer and musicians, and lovely camera angles too, thank you everyone
Sheila Millar Thank you so much for this! Really lovely music making and lifted my day no end.
Richard
THROUGH THE EYES OF... ANDRÉ CEBRIÁN Principal Flute You’ve performed with many wonderful
Concertos or even to approach a new
orchestras and ensembles. What makes
piece together. I’m looking forward to
performing with the SCO so special?
playing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto
I’m in love with chamber music and
together with Maxim Emelyanychev and
orchestral in equal proportion and the
Stephanie Gonley in a few months.
SCO seems to me the perfect combination of both fields. Its members are not only
During lockdown we know you were in
experienced orchestral musicians, but
Spain for some time. How does it feel to
great chamber music players too. Its
be coming back to Edinburgh?
musicians’ versatility gives the orchestra
It was really frustrating when in March
endless possibilities of repertoire and style.
I got stuck in Spain with all my things packed and ready to start this new
It is a gift to be able to work alongside
adventure in Scotland with the SCO. I
colleagues who, after having played a
am very excited and looking forward to
Beethoven’s symphony over 25 times,
playing weekly with the SCO. I have the
still find the freshness and energy to
feeling that it will be a series of amazing
rediscover the piece once again. And of
concerts, since we performers as well as
course, this orchestra’s success wouldn’t
the audience are thirsty for music.
be possible without the entire team that works hard on a daily basis behind the
If you hadn’t become a musician, were
scenes and without the audience that
there other things you wanted to do?
inspires us in every concert to bring out the
What I love the most about my job as a
best of ourselves.
musician is the ability we have to sensitise society. The main difference between art
Our Players are often in the spotlight,
and entertainment is that, though they
featuring as soloists in our Season. If you
both give us nice times and allow us to
could perform any concerto, what would
disconnect for a while, art also makes us
it be?
think and reflect out of our comfort zone.
I’m really open to different styles of music.
I can hardly imagine a job with a greater
It would be a luxury to take advantage
power than this. However, I am also a
of the chamber music skills of the SCO
nature lover so I wouldn’t leave something
for a piece such as the Nielsen Concerto,
related to mountain sports, nature
or rediscover together one of Mozart’s
conservation or cooking out of the picture.
Now, more than ever, the SCO needs a little help from its friends. Play your part in our future so that the next generation can benefit from inspiring musical experiences.
EVERY GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU. DONATE AT SCO.ORG.UK/SUPPORT-US OR TEXT TO DONATE
Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed
TO DONATE £10, TEXT SCO10 TO 70191
and administered by the National Funding Scheme
TO DONATE £20, TEXT SCO20 TO 70191 TO DONATE £30, TEXT SCO30 TO 70191
The SCO is a charity registered in Scotland No SC015039.
(Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org
