

Wednesday 1 March, 7.30pm Perth Concert Hall
Thursday 2 March, 7.30pm Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Friday 3 March, 7.30pm City Halls, Glasgow
Mendelssohn Symphony No 4 in A ‘Italian’, Op 90
Interval of 20 minutes
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op 61
Maxim Emelyanychev Conductor
Hilary Cronin Soprano
Jessica Cale Soprano
SCO Chorus (Sopranos and Altos)
Gregory Batsleer Chorus Director
Maxim Emelyanychev
The SCO is extremely grateful to the Scottish Government and to the City of Edinburgh Council for their continued support. We are also indebted to our Business Partners, all of the charitable trusts, foundations and lottery funders who support our projects, and to the very many individuals who are kind enough to give us financial support and who enable us to do so much. Each and every donation makes a difference and we truly appreciate it.
Core Funder Authority Learning Partner Benefactor Local CreativeDelivered by
Diamond
Lucinda and Hew Bruce-Gardyne
Malcolm and Avril Gourlay
James and Felicity Ivory
Christine Lessels
Clair and Vincent Ryan
Alan and Sue Warner
Platinum
David Caldwell in memory of Ann
Tom and Alison Cunningham
John and Jane Griffiths
Judith and David Halkerston
J Douglas Home
Audrey Hopkins
David and Elizabeth Hudson
Dr and Mrs Peter Jackson
Dr Daniel Lamont
Chris and Gill Masters
Duncan and Una McGhie
Anne-Marie McQueen
James F Muirhead
Patrick and Susan Prenter
Mr and Mrs J Reid
Martin and Mairi Ritchie
Elaine Ross
Hilary E Ross
George Rubienski
Jill and Brian Sandford
Michael and Elizabeth Sudlow
Robert and Elizabeth Turcan
Tom and Natalie Usher
Anny and Bobby White
Finlay and Lynn Williamson
Ruth Woodburn
Lord Matthew Clarke
James and Caroline Denison-Pender
Andrew and Kirsty Desson
David and Sheila Ferrier
Chris and Claire Fletcher
James Friend
Iain Gow
Christopher and Kathleen Haddow
Ian Hutton
Gordon Kirk
Robert Mackay and Philip Whitley
Mike and Karen Mair
Anne McAlister and Philip Sawyer
Gavin McEwan
Roy and Svend McEwan-Brown
John and Liz Murphy
Alison and Stephen Rawles
Andrew Robinson
Ian S Swanson
John-Paul and Joanna Temperley
Anne Usher
Catherine Wilson
Neil and Philippa Woodcock
G M Wright
Bruce and Lynda Wyer
Silver
Roy Alexander
Joseph I Anderson
Pamela Andrews and Alan Norton
Dr Peter Armit
William Armstrong
Fiona and Neil Ballantyne
Timothy Barnes and Janet Sidaway
The Batsleer Family
Jack Bogle
Jane Borland
Michael and Jane Boyle
Mary Brady
Elizabeth Brittin
John Brownlie
Laura Buist
Robert Burns
Sheila Colvin
Lorn and Camilla Cowie
Lord and Lady Cullen of Whitekirk
Adam and Lesley Cumming
Jo and Christine Danbolt
Dr Wilma Dickson
James Dunbar-Nasmith
Dr and Mrs Alan Falconer
Sheila Ferguson
Dr James W E Forrester
Dr William Fortescue
Jeanette Gilchrist
David Gilmour
Dr David Grant
Margaret Green
Andrew Hadden
J Martin Haldane
Ronnie and Ann Hanna
Ruth Hannah
Robin Harding
Roderick Hart
Norman Hazelton
Ron and Evelynne Hill
Clephane Hume
Tim and Anna Ingold
David and Pamela Jenkins
Catherine Johnstone
Julie and Julian Keanie
Marty Kehoe
Professor Christopher and Mrs Alison Kelnar
Dr and Mrs Ian Laing
Janey and Barrie Lambie
Graham and Elma Leisk
Geoff Lewis
Dorothy A Lunt
Vincent Macaulay
Joan MacDonald
Isobel and Alan MacGillivary
Jo-Anna Marshall
James McClure in memory of Robert Duncan
Gavin McCrone
Michael McGarvie
Brian Miller
James and Helen Moir
Alistair Montgomerie
Margaret Mortimer and Ken Jobling
Andrew Murchison
Hugh and Gillian Nimmo
David and Tanya Parker
Hilary and Bruce Patrick
Maggie Peatfield
John Peutherer in memory of Audrey
Peutherer
James S Potter
Alastair Reid
Fiona Reith
Olivia Robinson
Catherine Steel
Ian Szymanski
Michael and Jane Boyle
Douglas and Sandra Tweddle
Margaretha Walker
James Wastle
C S Weir
Bill Welsh
Roderick Wylie
We believe the thrill of live orchestral music should be accessible to everyone, so we aim to keep the price of concert tickets as fair as possible. However, even if a performance were completely sold out, we would not cover the presentation costs.
We are indebted to everyone acknowledged here who gives philanthropic gifts to the SCO of £300 or greater each year, as well as those who prefer to remain anonymous. We are also incredibly thankful to the many individuals not listed who are kind enough to support the Orchestra financially, whether that is regularly or on an ad hoc basis. Every single donation makes a difference and we are truly grateful.
Become a regular donor, from as little as £5 a month, by contacting Mary Clayton on 0131 478 8369 or mary.clayton@sco.org.uk
Our Principal Conductor’s Circle is made up of individuals who share the SCO’s vision to bring the joy of music to as many people as possible. These individuals are a special part of our musical family, and their commitment and generosity benefit us all – musicians, audiences and creative learning participants alike. We would like to extend our grateful thanks to them for playing such a key part in the future of the SCO.
American Development Fund
Erik Lars Hansen and Vanessa C L Chang
Creative Learning Fund
David and Maria Cumming
Annual Fund
James and Patricia Cook
Hedley G Wright
Conductor Emeritus Joseph Swensen
Donald and Louise MacDonald
Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer
Anne McFarlane
Principal Second Violin
Marcus Barcham Stevens
Jo and Alison Elliot
Principal Viola Max Mandel
Kenneth and Martha Barker
Viola Steve King
Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Principal Cello Philip Higham
The Thomas Family
Cello Donald Gillan
Professor Sue Lightman
Visiting Artists Fund
Colin and Sue Buchan
Anne and Matthew Richards
Productions Fund
The Usher Family
International Touring Fund
Gavin and Kate Gemmell
Cello Eric de Wit
Jasmine Macquaker Charitable Fund
Principal Double Bass Nikita Naumov
Caroline Hahn and Richard Neville-Towle
Principal Flute André Cebrián
Claire and Mark Urquhart
Principal Oboe Robin Williams
Hedley G Wright
Principal Clarinet Maximiliano Martín
Stuart and Alison Paul
Principal Bassoon Cerys Ambrose-Evans
Claire and Anthony Tait
Principal Timpani Louise Lewis Goodwin
Geoff and Mary Ball
First Violin
Sarah Kapustin
Kana Kawashima
Siún Milne
Aisling O’Dea
Fiona Alexander
Amira Bedrush-McDonald
Sarah Bevan-Baker
Benjamin Shute
Second Violin
Gordon Bragg
Rachel Spencer
Hatty Haynes
Huw Daniel
Niamh Lyons
Stewart Webster
Catherine James
Kristin Deeken
Viola
Max Mandel
Oscar Holch
Brian Schiele
Steve King
Kathryn Jourdan
Rebecca Wexler
Cello
Philip Higham
Donald Gillan
Eric de Wit
Christoff Fourie
Niamh Molloy
Kim Vaughan
Bass
Nikita Naumov
Margarida Castro
Adrian Bornet
Sophie Butler
Flute
André Cebrián
Marta Gómez
Oboe
Robin Williams
Katherine Bryer
Clarinet
Maximiliano Martín
William Stafford
Bassoon
Information correct at the time of going to print
Horn
Zoë Tweed
Jamie Shield
Rachel Brady
Trumpet
Peter Franks
Shaun Harrold
Brian McGinley
Trombone
Duncan Wilson
Nigel Cox
Alan Adams
Ophicleide
Tony George
Timpani
Cerys Ambrose-Evans
Alison Green
Louise Lewis Goodwin
Percussion
Kate Openshaw
Paul Stoneman
Siún Milne First ViolinMendelssohn (1809-1847)
Symphony No 4 in A ‘Italian’, Op 90 (1833, revised 1834)
Allegro vivace
Andante con moto Con moto moderato
Saltarello (Presto)
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music, Op 61 (1842)
Overture (Op 21 – 1826)
No 1 Scherzo
No 2 Fairies’ March
No 3 Song with Chorus
No 5 Intermezzo
No 7 Notturno
No 9 Wedding March
No 13 Finale
His grandfather was Moses Mendelssohn, one of Germany’s most influential Enlightenment thinkers. His father Abraham was one of Berlin’s most successful bankers. As a child, he mingled with Europe’s cultural and intellectual elite – think scientist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt, philosopher GWF Hegel, even superstar writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – at the family house in central Berlin.
With an early immersion in music, painting, literature and philosophy, it’s probably no surprise that Felix Mendelssohn would go on to become a polymath himself – as a gifted visual artist, a talented linguist, and of course a celebrated musician. He began composing at 11, wrote twelve String Symphonies between the ages of 12 and 14, and created his adored Octet at 16 and his Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture at 17 (we’ll return to that piece shortly). He would also go on to become a noted conductor and pianist, influential music director of the historic Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and founding director of the Leipzig Conservatoire, still going strong today.
For tonight’s music – or at least most of it – we return to Mendelssohn’s earlier years, however. We begin with Mendelssohn as a gap-year traveller in his early 20s. It was more like three gap years, in fact, off and on between 1829 and 1831, and it’s probably fairer to describe his travels as excursions in the tradition of a Grand Tour, in which a wealthy young man completed his education by ticking off the cultural highlights of Europe. Mendelssohn began – unconventionally – with a three-week visit to Scotland in
1829, which inspired both his 'Hebrides' Overture and his ‘Scottish’ Symphony. But, encouraged by both Goethe and his composition teacher Carl Friedrich Zelter, he set off for the more traditional destination of Italy in October 1830. He spent ten months in the country, making his way from Venice to Naples via Bologna, Florence and Rome, then back home again through Genoa and Milan.
If his Scottish trip had been about brooding landscapes, swirling mists and blood-soaked history, his Italian trip, as he wrote home to his parents, was about light, sunshine and happiness: ‘This is Italy! And now has begun what I have always thought to be the supreme joy in life. And I am loving it.’
He devoted time during his travels to planning what he called ‘the jolliest piece
IfhisScottishtriphad beenaboutbrooding landscapes,swirlingmists andblood-soakedhistory, hisItaliantrip,ashewrote hometohisparents, wasaboutlight,sunshine andhappiness
I have ever done’ in a letter to his sister Fanny, completing his ‘Italian’ Symphony back home in Berlin on 13 March 1833. It was an immediate success at its premiere in London two months later. (Its designation as No 4, incidentally, is misleading: Mendelssohn wrote and premiered the piece several years before his Second and Third Symphonies. It’s only numbered as his Fourth because it was published after those later works.)
Mendelssohn described the Symphony as ‘blue sky in A major’, and it’s a bright optimism that’s encapsulated in the first movement’s bounding opening theme, though the movement’s central development section brings in somewhat darker, more impish material. The slow second movement was inspired by religious processions that Mendelssohn witnessed in Rome: it contrasts a noble
melody in the woodwind and violas with a plodding bassline, slipping away at its conclusion as if the procession has moved into the distance. Following an elegant third-movement minuet (complete with distant horn calls in its gently martial trio section), Mendelssohn closes with a finale that blends two breathless Italian dances: the Roman saltarello (which gives the movement its name) and the Neapolitan tarantella. The ‘Italian’ is one of very few symphonies that begins in the bright positivity of the major and ends in the more serious minor (often the journey is the other way round: just think of Beethoven’s Fifth). The finale’s whirling energy, however, alongside a melancholy memory of the Symphony’s opening melody just before the end, ensures a propulsive, somewhat delirious conclusion.
In a childhood immersed in culture, politics and science, it’s probably no surprise either that the young Mendelssohn should develop a passion for Shakespeare. He and his sister Fanny would act out favourite scenes from the Bard’s plays, and when the family acquired a new German translation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1826, its stories of lovers and fairies, spells and transformations immediately captured the 17-year-old’s imagination. So much so that he quickly set about transforming the play into music, completing his A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture on 6 August the same year.
The Overture is intended for the concert hall rather than the theatre, and doesn’t set out to tell the play’s story. Nonetheless, its magical opening chords invite listeners into a world of magic and mystery, complete with the braying of
Bottom the ass and the scampering of fairy feet.
It was 16 years later that the mature composer was requested by King Frederick William IV of Prussia to provide incidental music for a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at his palace in Potsdam. Incorporating his existing Overture into what was now a theatrical setting, Mendelssohn also set about reusing the musical themes he’d concocted as a teenager into the broader scope of an evening-long entertainment. There are 14 numbers in all, including the Overture and grand Finale, from which we’ll hear the most substantial ones tonight.
The Scherzo and subsequent Fairies March’ lead us from Act I into Act II, and from the world of squabbling humans
William ShakespeareInachildhoodimmersedinculture,politicsand science,it’sprobablynosurpriseeitherthattheyoung MendelssohnshoulddevelopapassionforShakespeare. HeandhissisterFannywouldactoutfavouritescenes fromtheBard’splays,andwhenthefamilyacquired anewGermantranslationofAMidsummerNight’s Dreamin1826,itsstoriesofloversandfairies, spellsandtransformationsimmediatelycaptured the17-year-old’simagination.
into the mystery, intrigue and danger of the fairy kingdom, complete with a fairy march – listen out for tinkling triangle and cymbals – announcing the arrival of Fairy King Oberon. The choral song ‘Bunte Schlangen’ (or ‘You spotted snakes’ in Shakespeare’s original) introduces the second scene of Act II, as the retinue of Fairy Queen Titania sings songs and incantations to protect her while she sleeps. They fail to spot Oberon, however, as he drips flower juice into Titania’s closed eyes, so that she’ll fall in love with the first thing she sees once she wakes.
We jump to the end of Act II for the Intermezzo, whose unsettled music depicts the inner turmoil of Hermia, one of the quartet of human lovers lost in the fairy forest, who thinks her intended Lysander has abandoned her. The
four human lovers sleep to the gentle Notturno that follows, intended for the break between Acts III and IV.
By far the incidental music’s most famous number – doubtless heard at millions of marriage ceremonies worldwide since Mendelssohn created it in 1842 – is the Wedding March, which anticipates the triple marriage of humans Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, and Hippolyta and Theseus. Mendelssohn’s incidental music closes with fairy monarchs Oberon and Titania leading the choral Finale in blessing the house of the human couples. The Finale ends as the Overture began, as the work’s four magic chords return to provide a hushed, calming backdrop to Puck’s famous ‘If we shadows have offended’ farewell.
© David KettleErster Elfe
Bunte Schlangen, zweigezüngt!
Igel, Molche fort von hier!
Dass ihr euren Gift nicht bringt, in der Königin Revier!
Chor der Elfen
Nachtigall, mit Melodei sing in unser Eiapopeia, Dass kein Spruch, Kein Zauberfluch
Der holden Herrin schädlich sei. Nun gute Nacht mit Eiapopeia!
Zweiter Elfe
Schwarze Käfer, uns umgebt Nicht mit Summen, macht euch fort! Spinnen, die ihr künstlich webt, Webt an einem andern Ort!
Erster und Zweiter Elfen
Macht euch fort!
Chor der Elfen
Nachtigall, mit Melodei sing in unser Eiapopeia, Dass kein Spruch, Kein Zauberfluch
Der holden Herrin schädlich sei. Nun gute Nacht mit Eiapopeia!
Erste Elf
Alles gut! Nun auf und fort!
Einer halte Wache dort!
First Fairy
You spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen; Newts and blind-worms, do no wrong, Come not near our fairy queen.
Choir of Fairies
Philomel, with melody
Sing in our sweet lullaby; Never harm, Nor spell nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby.
Second Fairy
Weaving spiders, come not here; Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence! Beetles black, approach not near; Worm nor snail, do no offence.
First and Second Fairies Get away!
Choir of Fairies
Philomel, with melody
Sing in our sweet lullaby; Never harm, Nor spell nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh; So, good night, with lullaby.
First Fairy
Hence, away! now all is well: One aloof stand sentinel.
Chor der Elfen
Bei des Feuers mattem Flimmern, Geister, Elfen, stellt euch ein!
Tanzet in den bunten Zimmern
manchen leichten Ringelreihn!
Singt nach seiner Lieder Weise, Singet, hüpfet, lose, leise!
Erste Elfe
Wirbelt mir mit zarter Kunst
Eine Not’ auf jedes Wort; Hand in Hand, Mit Feengunst, Singt und segnet diesen Ort!
Chor der Elfen
Bei des Feuers mattem Flimmern, Geister, Elfen, stellt euch ein!
Tanzet in den bunten Zimmern
manchen leichten Ringelreihn!
Singt nach seiner Lieder Weise, Singet, hüpfet, lose, leise!
Nun genung, Fort im Sprung, Trefft ihn in der Dämmerung!
Choir of Fairies
Through the house give glimmering light By the dead and drowsy fire; Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly.
First Fairy
First, rehearse your song by rote, To each word a warbling note. Hand in hand, with fairy grace, Will we sing, and bless this place.
Choir of Fairies
Through the house give glimmering light By the dead and drowsy fire; Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly. Trip away; make no stay; Meet me all by break of day.
At the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Maxim Emelyanychev follows in the footsteps of just five previous Principal Conductors in the Orchestra’s 49-year history; Roderick Brydon (1974-1983), Jukka-Pekka Saraste (1987-1991), Ivor Bolton (1994-1996), Joseph Swensen (1996-2005) and Robin Ticciati (20092018).
Highlights of his 2021/22 season included debuts with some of the most prestigious international orchestras: Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Toronto Symphony and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as returns to the Antwerp Symphony, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and a European tour with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, followed by appearances at the Radio-France Montpellier Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival.
In October 2022, Maxim toured the USA with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic. Other touring in 2022/23 includes the New Japan Philharmonic, the Osaka Kansai Philharmonic, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He also returns to the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and to the Royal Opera House in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.
He regularly collaborates with renowned artists such as Max Emanuel Cenčić, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Franco Fagioli, Richard Goode, Sophie Karthäuser, Stephen Hough, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Julia Lezhneva, Alexei Lubimov, Riccardo Minasi, Xavier Sabata and Dmitry Sinkovsky.
Maxim is also a highly respected chamber musician. His most recent recording, of Brahms Violin Sonatas with long-time collaborator and friend Aylen Pritchin, was released on Aparté in December 2021 and has attracted outstanding reviews internationally. With the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Maxim has recorded the Schubert Symphony No 9 – the symphony with which he made his debut with the orchestra – which was released on Linn Records in November 2019.
For full biography please visit sco.org.uk
Selected by BBC Music Magazine as a Rising Star of 2022, Hilary Cronin won both First Prize and the Audience Prize at the 2021 London Handel International Singing Competition.
Hilary trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and at Royal Holloway University of London where she was awarded the Dame Felicity Lott Bursary and the Driver Prize for Excellence in Performance.
Engagements during 2022 include Poppea Agrippina with English Touring Opera, Télaïre Castor et Pollux with The Rameau Project, J. S. Bach St John Passion with VOCES8 and St Matthew Passion with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Beethoven Choral Fantasia with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Messiah with the English Chamber Orchestra, Handel Silete venti and Saeviat tellus for the London Handel Festival, Ode to Purcell on tour with Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Blow and Purcell with The English Concert at Wigmore Hall, a recording for La Nuova Musica as Second Woman Dido and Aeneas, Livietta Livietta e Tracollo for Baroquestock and Vaughan Williams Benedicite with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Upcoming engagements include tours of J.S. Bach B Minor Mass and Christmas Oratorio with The Monteverdi Choir, Fauré Requiem at Teatro La Fenice, Handel Chandos Anthems with Arcangelo, Messiah with the London Handel Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, The Sixteen, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Liverpool Welsh Choral and Cambridge University Symphony Chorus, Haydn Nelson Mass with The Really Big Chorus in Faro Cathedral, a recital at the Halle Handel Festival and Christmas with King’s College Choir at the Barbican.
Hilary is a regular soprano at St Bartholomew-the-Great and regularly works with Istante Collective.
Welsh Soprano, Jessica Cale, is the 2020 First Prize winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards and Joint Audience prize winner at the 2020 London Handel Festival International Singing Competition. In 2022, Jessica made her European and house debut at Teatro La Fenice playing 2nd Niece in Britten’s Peter Grimes in addition to making her role and festival debut as Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro for Waterperry Opera Festival. Jessica also gave recitals at St Martin in the Fields and at the Oxford Lieder Festival.
On the concert platform, Jessica has performed under the batons of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Paul McCreesh, Harry Christophers, Jonathan Cohen, Christian Curnyn, Ian Page and Brian Kay. Notable concert highlights include: Britten’s Les Illuminations in Vilnius, Lithuania for the British Ambassador; Bach with the Dunedin Consort at Wigmore Hall; Jessica’s debut at Cadogan Hall with The Mozartists; Porpora and Handel at Bilbao’s Musika Música Festival with Arcangelo, Handel’s Apollo e Dafne at the London Handel Festival, Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall and Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Berlin Philharmoniker. Jessica has performed as soprano soloist for recordings with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment of Bach’s St John Passion alongside Gerald Finley and Mark Padmore, and ‘Telling Tales with Telemann’ alongside Tabea Debus. Jessica is proud to be an Associate Artist of The Mozartists, performing regularly with the group under the direction of Ian Page and participating in their educational outreach projects.
Upcoming performances for Jessica include Handel’s Scipione at the London Handel Festival with the Early Opera Company and covering the role of Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the 2023 Glyndebourne Festival.
For full biography please visit sco.org.uk
Gregory Batsleer is acknowledged as one of the leading choral conductors of his generation, winning widespread recognition for his creativity and vision. Since taking on the role of SCO Chorus Director in 2009 he has led the development of the Chorus, overseeing vocal coaching, the SCO Young Singers’ Programme and the emergence of regular a capella concerts. As well as preparing the Chorus for regular performances with the Orchestra, he has directed their recent successful appearances at the Edinburgh International Jazz, East Neuk, Glasgow Cathedral and St Andrews Voices Festivals, at Greyfriars Kirk, and on the SCO’s 2022 Summer Tour.
In 2021 Gregory took up the position of Festival Director for the London Handel Festival. He leads the programming and development of the Festival, fulfilling its mission to bring Handel’s music to the widest possible audiences. Since 2017 he has been Artistic Director of Huddersfield Choral Society and was Chorus Director with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra from 2015 - 2021.
As Guest Conductor Gregory has worked with many of the UK’s leading orchestras and ensembles. Recent highlights include performances with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, RSNO, National Youth Choir of Great Britain, Orchestra of Opera North, Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra and London Symphony Chorus, as well as SCO.
From 2012 to 2017, he was Artistic Director of the National Portrait Gallery’s Choir in Residence programme, the first ever in-house music programme of any gallery or museum in the world. He has curated and devised performances for the Southbank Centre, Wilderness Festival and Latitude and collaborated with leading cultural figures across a variety of different art forms. Gregory is the co-founder and conductor of Festival Voices, a versatile ensemble dedicated to cross-art collaboration.
As a non-executive director, Gregory sits on the boards of Manchester Camerata and Charades Theatre Company. His outstanding work as a choral director was recognised with the 2015 Arts Foundation’s first-ever Fellowship in Choral Conducting.
Gregory’s Chair is kindly supported by Anne McFarlane
Gregory Batsleer
Chorus Director
Stuart Hope
Associate Chorusmaster
Alan Beck
Voice Coach
Emma Morwood
Voice Coach
Susan White
Chorus Manager
SOPRANO
Kirstin Anderson
Joanna Burns
Nancy Burns
Morven Chisholm
Joanne Dunwell
Emily Gifford
Lisa Johnston
Lesley Mair
Katie McGlew
Alison Robson
Alison Williams
Emily Zehetmayr*
ALTO
Shona Banks
Dinah Bourne
Sarah Campbell
Gill Cloke
Judith Colman
Liberty Emeny
Anne Gallacher
Jennie Gardner
Claire Goodenough
Anne Grindley
Caroline Hahn
Lorna Htet-Khin
Melissa Humphreys
Hilde McKenna
Linda Ruxton
Anna Yule
* Young Singers' Programme
Information correct at the time of going to print
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus, under the direction of Gregory Batsleer since 2009, has built a reputation as one of Scotland’s most vibrant and versatile choirs. Widely regarded as one of the finest orchestral choruses in the UK, it celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021.
Members enjoy the unique opportunity to perform with one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras, working with international conductors including Maxim Emelyanychev, Harry Christophers, Richard Egarr, Andrew Manze, John Storgårds and Sir James MacMillan.
The Chorus appears regularly with the Orchestra in Scotland’s major cities. Recent concerts have covered a wide range of music including MacMillan Seven Last Words from the Cross, Stravinsky Mass, Handel Messiah and Theodora, Haydn Seasons, Beethoven ‘Choral’ Symphony and Missa Solemnis, a rare performance of Vaughan Williams Flos Campi and the premiere of The Years by Anna Clyne, SCO Associate Composer 2019-2022.
The SCO Chorus also appears on its own in a cappella repertoire, both digital and live, including an acclaimed performance of Tallis’ Spem in Alium at Greyfriars Kirk and concerts as part of the SCO’s 2022 Summer Tour including the premiere of Anna Clyne’s The Heart of Night. Its annual Christmas concerts have quickly established themselves as a Season highlight.
Other notable out-of-Season appearances have included a critically-acclaimed debut at the BBC Proms in Handel’s Jephtha in 2019 and a dramatised performance of Parry’s Songs of Farewell in 2017, devised by stage director Jack Furness and Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer.
Our Young Singers' Programme was established in 2015 to nurture and develop aspiring young singers. It is designed for young people with a high level of choral experience and ambitions to further their singing with a world-class ensemble.
Further information at sco.org.uk
The SCO Chorus Young Singers' Programme is kindly supported by the Baird Educational Trust.The internationally celebrated Scottish Chamber Orchestra is one of Scotland’s National Performing Companies.
Formed in 1974 and core funded by the Scottish Government, the SCO aims to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to hear great music by touring the length and breadth of Scotland, appearing regularly at major national and international festivals and by touring internationally as proud ambassadors for Scottish cultural excellence.
Making a significant contribution to Scottish life beyond the concert platform, the Orchestra works in schools, universities, colleges, hospitals, care homes, places of work and community centres through its extensive Creative Learning programme. The SCO is also proud to engage with online audiences across the globe via its innovative Digital Season.
An exciting new chapter for the SCO began in September 2019 with the arrival of dynamic young conductor Maxim Emelyanychev as the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor.
The SCO and Emelyanychev released their first album together (Linn Records) in November 2019 to widespread critical acclaim. The repertoire - Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major ‘The Great’ –is the first symphony Emelyanychev performed with the Orchestra in March 2018.
The SCO also has long-standing associations with many eminent guest conductors including Conductor Emeritus Joseph Swensen, François Leleux, Pekka Kuusisto, Richard Egarr, Andrew Manze and John Storgårds.
The Orchestra enjoys close relationships with many leading composers and has commissioned almost 200 new works, including pieces by the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sir James MacMillan, Sally Beamish, Martin Suckling, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Karin Rehnqvist, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Nico Muhly, Anna Clyne and Associate Composer Jay Capperauld.
For full biography please visit sco.org.uk
FOLK INSPIRATIONS WITH PEKKA
9-10 Mar, 7.30pm
Edinburgh | Glasgow
TRANSCENDENTAL VISIONS WITH PEKKA AND SAM
12 Mar, 3pm
Edinburgh
LES ILLUMINATIONS
15-17 Mar, 7.30pm
St Andrews | Edinburgh | Glasgow
HANDEL: MUSIC FOR THE ROYALS
Our Edinburgh concert is kindly supported by The Usher Family
23-24 Mar, 7.30pm
Edinburgh | Glasgow
SCHUBERT’S UNFINISHED SYMPHONY
Kindly supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart
30 Mar-1 Apr, 7.30pm
Edinburgh | Glasgow | Aberdeen
SUMMER NIGHTS WITH KAREN CARGILL
19-21 Apr, 7.30pm
St Andrews | Edinburgh | Glasgow
BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH
27-29 Apr, 7.30pm
Edinburgh | Glasgow | Aberdeen
TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIFTH
4-5 May, 7.30pm
Edinburgh | Glasgow
BRAHMS REQUIEM
11-12 May, 7.30pm
Edinburgh | Glasgow
SCO.ORG.UK
4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB +44 (0)131 557 6800 sco.org.uk
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC015039. Company registration No. SC075079.
Find
Generations of our clients have trusted us to help build and preserve their wealth.
For over 250 years, they have relied on our expert experience to help make sense of a changing world. During that time we’ve earned an enviable reputation for a truly personal approach to managing wealth.
For those with over £250,000 to invest we o er a dedicated investment manager, with a cost structure and level of service, that generates exceptional client loyalty.
Find out more about investing with us today: Murray Clark at our Edinburgh o ce on 0131 221 8500, Gordon Ferguson at our Glasgow o ce on 0141 222 4000 or visit www.quiltercheviot.com
A warm welcome to everyone who has recently joined our family of donors, and a big thank you to everyone who is helping to secure our future.
Monthly or annual contributions from our donors make a real difference to the SCO’s ability to budget and plan ahead with more confidence. Each and every contribution is crucial, and your support is truly appreciated.
For more information on how you can become a regular donor, please get in touch with Mary Clayton on 0131 478 8369 or email mary.clayton@sco.org.uk.
SCO.ORG.UK/SUPPORT-US