Aberdeen Concert Series 2011-12

Royal Scottish National Orchestra Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Aberdeen Concert SerIes 11/12

www.boxofficeaberdeen.com Tickets: 01224 641122

Robin Ticciati • Photo: Chris Christodoulou

Stéphane Denève • Photo: Andy Buchanan

The ScottIsh Chamber Orchestra and the Royal ScottIsh NatIonaL Orchestra have joined Forces to present a great new concert series that ofers you the very best classical music in ScotLand.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay Patron Robin Ticciati Principal Conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Composer Laureate

HM The Queen Patron Stéphane Denève Music Director

4 Royal Terrace Edinburgh eh7 5ab Tel: 0131 557 6800 Fax: 0131 557 6933 Email: info@sco.org.uk www.sco.org.uk

73 Claremont Street Glasgow g3 7jb Tel: 0141 226 3868 Fax: 0141 221 4317 Email: info@rsno.org.uk www.rsno.org.uk

A charity registered in Scotland No sc015039 Company registration No 75079

A charity registered in Scotland No sc010702 Company registration No 27809

Welcome to the new Aberdeen Concert SerIes On behalf of our two Orchestras, we are delighted to introduce the new Aberdeen Concert Series.

For many years now, the RSNO and SCO have brought music-making and musicians of the highest standard to the Music Hall. With this new initiative, we’re coming together to offer Aberdeen audiences a single Concert Series which offers a unique range and variety of classical music performances, promising more choice, ease of booking and great subscription discounts.

RSNO • Photos: Andy Buchanan

The nine concerts in the Series span the centuries — from Handel’s Water Music to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and a new choral composition by Cecilia McDowall, Northlight. We are joined by some of the world’s finest soloists: violinists Nicola Benedetti, James Ehnes and Viktoria Mullova, and pianists Nikolai Lugansky, Nicholas Angelich and Llŷr Williams. We invite you to join us in this exciting new collaboration and enjoy sharing the music.

Stéphane Denève Music Director Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Robin Ticciati Principal Conductor Scottish Chamber Orchestra

6 reasons to subscribe to the Aberdeen Concert Series

2 Build your own series of RSNO and SCO concerts at the Music Hall

5 Receive all the latest news and exclusive offers via our bi-annual newsletter

3 Subscribe to 7 or more concerts and save 40%

6 Receive a personal invitation to our free Subscriber concert and reception

RSNO • Photo: Tom Finnie

4 Use our free ticket exchange if your plans change

Debussy and Rachmaninov Royal Scottish National Orchestra McDowall* Northlight Debussy Images Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 3

SCO • Photo: Chris Christodoulou

1 Save by booking any 4 or more concerts

RSNO

Thursday 6 October 2011 • 7.30pm

Stéphane Denève Conductor Christian Kluxen Conductor* Nikolai Lugansky Piano RSNO Chorus & Community Chorus Sponsored by

Location is the inspiration that fuels Claude Debussy’s sumptuous Images; its exuberant opening comes from just over the border, quoting a Geordie folk song, then it’s off on a journey to France, to Spain and to the limits of his imagination. Next comes another fantastic journey under darker skies, as Nikolai Lugansky scales the ‘Everest’ of romantic piano concertos. Passion on the grandest of scales.

The concert opens with Cecilia McDowall’s major new choral commission, Northlight, inspired by communities from across the Northeast and featuring members of the RSNO Chorus alongside local singers.

6.45pm pre-concert talk Composer Cecilia McDowall and poet Alan Spence in conversation.

RSNO

Thursday 17 November 2011 • 7.30pm

Viktoria Mullova • Photo: Foto Puck

Christian Kluxen • Photo: Lizette Kabré

SCO

Saturday 15 October 2011 • 7.30pm

MuLLova pLays Beethoven

Sibelius Five

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

The RSNO’s successful Naked Classics is coming to Aberdeen for the very first time!

Sibelius Symphony No 5

A distant horn-call, a flight of swans, and copious quantities of vodka — Jean Sibelius got his inspiration from some unlikely places.

But when it all came together in his Fifth Symphony, the result was one of the most stirring masterpieces in modern music. Paul Rissmann and conductor Christian Kluxen take it to pieces and show you how it all works using an innovative mixture of projections, lighting, on stage demonstrations and interviews. Then, after the interval, sit back and enjoy the work being performed in all its glory by the RSNO.

Martin Suckling New Work Schumann Symphony No 4 (original version) Beethoven Violin Concerto

Robin Ticciati Conductor Viktoria Mullova Violin

‘…the particular glory here was the burnished tone, seamless phrasing, matchless control and effortless expressiveness of Viktoria Mullova. A more perfectly formed performance would be hard to imagine.’

The Daily Telegraph

Limpid in tone, matchless in technique, fearlessly honest in her musicality: it is easy to see why Mullova has become one of the biggest stars of the violin worldwide. Schumann’s symphony was a labour of love — it took around a decade to complete and is dedicated to the great violinist Joseph Joachim, who was a child prodigy when it was begun but a mature artist (and grown man) by the time of its completion. Yet, debate still rages about whether Schumann’s first or last thoughts on this piece were superior. On this occasion, Ticciati plumps for the first version — the one Schumann’s own friend, Brahms, preferred.

Christian Kluxen Conductor Paul Rissmann Presenter

Sponsored by

NC A L K A E S D S

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C

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Thursday 15 December 2011 • 7.30pm

Keyboard Titans

Chrismas Concert: The Snowman

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Beethoven Coriolan Overture Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 Mozart Symphony No 41 ‘Jupiter’

Leon Fleisher Conductor Nicholas Angelich Piano

A real treat for lovers of piano music: Fleisher, a living legend of the keyboard, is now in his 80s but still shines as pianist, conductor, mentor and teacher. For this, his SCO debut, he conducts while his pupil Angelich plays Beethoven’s youthful concerto.

‘Mr Angelich played with refinement, rippling passagework and clear structure… he intriguingly highlighted dramatic nuances and harmonic turns with a pronounced emphasis that took you by surprise.’ The New York Times

RSNO

The Snowman © 1982, 2011 Snowman Enterprises Ltd

SCO

Leon Fleisher • Photo: Joanne Savio

Saturday 26 November 2011 • 7.30pm

Christmas Concert featuring Howard Blake’s The Snowman

Christopher Bell Conductor RSNO Chorus

Join the RSNO and RSNO Chorus for a family celebration this Christmas! Conducted and presented by the irrepressible Christopher Bell, this concert is packed full of your favourite festive melodies and traditional singalong carols. Plus, don’t miss the magical film The Snowman shown on the big screen, accompanied by Howard Blake’s timeless music and narrated by a special star guest.

‘A seasonal knockout.’ The Scotsman

Sponsored by

SCO

SCO

Saturday 11 February 2012 • 7.30pm

Llŷr Williams • Photo: John Ferro Simms

Emmanuelle Haïm • Photo: Simon Fowler

Saturday 14 January 2012 • 7.30pm

HandeL's Water MusIc

Emperor and EroIca

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Handel Water Music in D and G Rameau Suite from ‘Dardanus’ Handel Cantata: Delirio Amoroso

Emmanuelle Haïm Conductor / Harpsichord Camilla Tilling Soprano

Emmanuelle Haïm brings a special élan and grace to everything she touches. She returns to the SCO to spark up January with zesty dance suites and a sensational showpiece for soprano Camilla Tilling — a passion-fired display of fireworks and musical fantasy composed by Handel as a young man in Italy.

Cherubini Overture, Démophoon Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 ‘Emperor’ Beethoven Symphony No 3 ‘Eroica’

Andrew Manze Conductor Llŷr Williams Piano

Hear Beethoven alongside the contemporary he most admired (Cherubini’s Requiem was sung at Beethoven’s funeral), as the great man celebrates both an emperor and a revolutionary in the same evening. Llŷr Williams’ Beethoven is not to be missed. He recently completed his first complete cycle of the piano sonatas to huge acclaim, and brings immense authority but also something fascinatingly unworldly to this music.

SCO

RSNO

Thursday 3 May 2012 • 7.30pm

Stéphane Denève • Photo: Tom Finnie

Nicola Benedetti • Photo: Colin Bell / Universal

Saturday 28 April 2012 • 7.30pm

Benedetti: Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Au revoir Stéphane: Rite of Spring

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Gluck Overture, Ballet and Chaconne from ‘Orfeo ed Eurydice’ Vivaldi Concerto in D ‘Il Grosso Mogul’ RV208 Rameau Suite from ‘Les Paladins’ Vivaldi The Four Seasons

Christian Curnyn Harpsichord / Director Nicola Benedetti Violin

A baroque extravaganza of exotica and virtuosity starring Scotland’s favourite violinist.

Benedetti is exploring the Vivaldi repertoire at the moment, and here she juxtaposes his most famous set of concerti with a scintillating rarity: Il Grosso Mogul. No-one knows where the nickname comes from (and we are pretty sure Vivaldi had no links to Delhi royalty), but its suggestion of oriental brilliance is picked up in the rest of this colourful programme with Rameau’s sensational dances from Les Paladins.

Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune Barber Violin Concerto Stravinsky Rite of Spring

Stéphane Denève Conductor James Ehnes Violin

With a sultry flute solo, Claude Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune opened an astonishing new world for western music. Two decades later, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring blew that world sky-high — and audiences rioted!

We don’t expect riots tonight, but one thing’s for sure: Stéphane Denève and the RSNO should deliver some serious voltage in what will be Stéphane’s final appearance in Aberdeen as RSNO Music Director. Samuel Barber’s lovely Violin Concerto will be the calm before the storm, and few play this piece quite as beautifully as James Ehnes.

6.45pm pre-concert talk with John Poulter (RSNO Associate Principal Percussion).

Aberdeen Box Ohce 01224 641122 Aberdeen Box Office Union Street, Aberdeen ab10 1qs www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Opening times 9.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday.

On performance evenings, the Box Office is also open one hour before the concert.

Mastercard, Visa and debit cards are accepted.

Postage charge of 75p where applicable.

Ticket Discounts

•••••••• ••••••••

Band I Band II

•••••••• ••••••••

Band III Band IV

• Under 16s Free tickets. Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult — maximum 2 free children’s tickets per adult ticket. Additional children £5 each (excludes RSNO Christmas Concert — U16s £5 each).

• Under 26s, Students and Unemployed People £5 per ticket (stalls only).

Ticket Prices All single tickets, including discounts listed, are on sale from 18 May 2011. Subscription bookings are taken from 6 April 2011.

I

II

III

IV

£20.00

£17.50

£13.00

£10.00

• People with a Disability 50% off standard ticket prices for people with a disability and a carer.

• Group Discounts Groups of 6 or more save 20% off standard ticket prices.

• School Groups Tickets for schools and school-age youth groups are £4 (excluding RSNO Christmas Concert). Accompanying adults go free.

Full access for wheelchair users.

Guide dogs are welcome.

An infra-red sound enhancement system is fitted for people with hearing difficulties.

Please notify the Box Office when booking.

Photos: Tom Finnie, Chris Christodoulou, Andy Buchanan

Please note: All discounts are subject to availability. We regret that tickets are nonrefundable.

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Thursday 6 October 2011 Saturday 14 January 2012  Debussy  Handel’s and Rachmaninov Water Music

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Saturday 15 October 2011  Mullova plays Beethoven

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Thursday 17 November 2011 Saturday 28 April 2012  Naked  Benedetti: Classics: Sibelius Five Vivaldi’s Four

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• Tick the concerts you wish to attend on the Booking Form (minimum of four per subscription).

Please tick here if you  would like to join the SCO

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Seasons

Saturday 26 November 2011  Keyboard Titans

Thursday 3 May 2012  Au revoir Stéphane:

Thursday 15 December 2011 Christmas Concert: The Snowman

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Saturday 11 February 2012  Emperor and Eroica

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Rite of Spring

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Thank you

The RSNO gratefully acknowledges support from: Principal Sponsors & Corporate Donors Total E&P UK Limited Shell U.K. Limited Capital Solutions Cameron House on Loch Lomond The Weir Group PLC La Bonne Auberge The Courier The Miller Group ExxonMobil Official Transport Provider ScotRail Transport Partners Park’s Motor Group BMW Loganair Limited Broadcast Partner BBC Radio 3 Media Partners Evening Times Edinburgh Evening News Classic FM Corporate Partners La Bonne Auberge HSBC First Rule Investment Consultancy Ltd

Heath Lambert Royal Bank of Scotland plc Smart Graphics Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce The Franco-Scottish Business Club Alliance Française Glasgow The Scottish Council for Development & Industry

Photo: Andy Buchanan

The RSNO and SCO are supported by

Join us

The SCO gratefully acknowledges support from: Principal Sponsor Virgin Money Benefactor Dunard Fund Sponsors Chatham Skoda Lumison State Street Broadcast partners BBC Radio 3 Radio Forth Corporate Members & In-Kind Supporters Aberdeen Asset Management Caledonian Brewing Company Capital Solutions Edinburgh University Settlement Homeopathy John Lewis Edinburgh The Leith Agency MacDonald Orr Limited Macdonald Roxburghe Hotel The Miller Group Standard Life SATV Television Production The Scottish Council for Development & Industry Thom Micro Systems

Get closer to the RSNO

Play your part with the SCO

It is the music, of course, which brings us together. You experience your national symphony orchestra in the concert hall and many others discover us in the community; your support helps us to make this possible.

There are many ways in which you can support the work of the SCO and help us bring live classical music to people of all ages throughout Scotland.

Get to know us better by becoming a member of the RSNO Circle or join the RSNO 500 Club.

You can also help us to make Musical Memories for future generations by leaving a gift to the RSNO in your will.

We invite individuals to become SCO Patrons, join the SCO 250 Society, or to consider leaving a legacy to the Orchestra in their will. We offer companies a range of sponsorship and in-kind support opportunities and a flexible Corporate Membership scheme with regular hospitality and dedicated account management.

If you would like more information about how you can support the RSNO go to www.rsno.org.uk or contact the Development Department on 0141 225 3565 or mairi.foster@rsno.org.uk.

Support the SCO

We also offer a range of sponsorship opportunities and bespoke corporate partnerships. To find out how the RSNO could perform for your business contact the Corporate Partnerships team on 0141 225 3558.

For further information on how you can support the SCO, visit www.sco.org.uk or contact the Sponsorship & Fundraising Department on 0131 478 8344 or sponsorship@sco.org.uk.

Concert dIary Thursday 6 October 2011 7.30pm

Debussy and Rachmaninov RSNO

McDowall Northlight* Stéphane Denève Conductor Debussy Images Christian Kluxen Conductor* Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 3 Nikolai Lugansky Piano RSNO Chorus & Community Chorus

Saturday 15 October 2011 7.30pm

Mullova plays Beethoven SCO

Martin Suckling New Work Schumann Symphony No 4 (original version) Beethoven Violin Concerto

Robin Ticciati Conductor Viktoria Mullova Violin

Thursday 17 November 2011 7.30pm

Naked Classics Sibelius Five RSNO

Sibelius Symphony No 5

Christian Kluxen Conductor Paul Rissmann Presenter

Saturday 26 November 2011 7.30pm

Keyboard Titans SCO

Beethoven Coriolan Overture Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 Mozart Symphony No 41 ‘Jupiter’

Leon Fleisher Conductor Nicholas Angelich Piano

Thursday 15 December 2011 7.30pm

Christmas Concert RSNO

Christmas Concert featuring Howard Blake’s The Snowman

Christopher Bell Conductor RSNO Chorus

Saturday 14 January 2012 7.30pm

Handel's Water Music SCO

Handel Water Music in D and G Rameau Suite from ‘Dardanus’ Handel Cantata: Delirio Amoroso

Emmanuelle Haïm Conductor / Harpsichord Camilla Tilling Soprano

Saturday 11 February 2012 7.30pm

Emperor and Eroica SCO

Cherubini Overture, Démophoon Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 ‘Emperor’ Beethoven Symphony No 3 ‘Eroica’

Andrew Manze Conductor Llŷr Williams Piano

Saturday 28 April 2012 7.30pm

Benedetti: Vivaldi's Four Season SCO

Gluck Overture, Ballet and Chaconne from ‘Orfeo ed Eurydice’ Vivaldi Concerto in D ‘Il Grosso Mogul’ RV208 Rameau Suite from ‘Les Paladins’ Vivaldi The Four Seasons

Christian Curnyn Harpsichord/Director Nicola Benedetti Violin

Thursday 3 May 2012 7.30pm

Au revoir Stéphane: Rite of Spring RSNO

Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune Barber Violin Concerto Stravinsky Rite of Spring

Stéphane Denève Conductor James Ehnes Violin

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