SCO News May 2020

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

xx|SCO NEWS

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

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

Email us

Sophie Sim, Marketing Officer sophie.sim@sco.org.uk

Comment on Facebook

www.facebook.com/scottishchamberorchestra/

Share your experience on Twitter https://twitter.com/SCOmusic

Share your experience on Instagram

www.instagram.com/scottishchamberorchestra/

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.