The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, based in Edinburgh, has launched its 2013/14 ‘40th Anniversary’ Season, which runs throughout Scotland from October 2013 to May 2014. With an overall programme that spans five centuries, Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati again brings his passion for the Romantic composers of the 19th century into the spotlight. He opens the Season with Berlioz’s Beatrice and Benedict in what has become his trademark operatic event.
Another early Season highlight is his two-week performance cycle of Schumann’s complete symphonies programmed with Mozart (Paul Lewis plays Piano Concerto No 5) and Brahms (Alina Pogostkina performs the Violin Concerto). Ticciati breaks into the 20th century with striking combinations of Haydn, Dvořák (Steven Isserlis performs the Cello Concerto) and Ligeti (Tasmin Little plays the Violin Concerto) and he will also conduct the Birthday concerts in February with a brand new work from Martin Suckling and Maria João Pires performing Chopin’s second piano concerto.
Dvořák, together with Janáček, weaves a distinctive Czech thread throughout the Season in performances featuring several guest artists who have enjoyed historic and fruitful relationships with the SCO, such as conductor Jaime Laredo and pianist Piotr Anderszewski. Other longstanding friends of the Orchestra returning to Scotland for the 40th celebrations include conductors Joseph Swensen and Oliver Knussen and pianists Llŷr Williams, Maria João Pires, Peter Serkin and Christian Zacharias. Young conductors Jérémie Rhorer and Clemens Schuldt, dazzling harpist Sivan Magen and one of the greatest living Bach interpreters, Masaaki Suzuki, make their debuts.
The music of Richard Strauss, Stravinsky and Bartók enrich the 20th century repertoire along with especially remarkable SCO commissions revisited; James MacMillan’s Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (with renowned percussionist Colin Currie) and South African composer Kevin Volans’ Daar Kom di Alibama. Commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival for the SCO in 2010, this work is revived to mark both the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland in 2014 and the 20th anniversary of the end of Apartheid.
Also renowned for its commitment to new work, the SCO premieres three special commissions for its 40th Anniversary from Scottish composers who have developed significant relationships with the Orchestra - Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Martin Suckling and Sally Beamish (an adopted Scot!), whose new work marks 500 years since the Battle of Flodden.
To complete the 40th Anniversary celebrations the SCO continues to perform more concerts throughout Scotland than any other orchestra and will again venture overseas with Robin Ticciati for a major Far East tour to Japan, Hong Kong and China. As one of the world’s most renowned exponents of Mozart, the SCO makes a special debut in Salzburg, the composer’s birthplace, alongside performances in Vienna, San Sebastián, Budapest, Luzern and Köln.
A further boost to the Orchestra’s Anniversary celebrations is the welcome news that HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay has agreed to extend his patronage of the SCO through to 2017. The Prince became Patron of the Orchestra in 2000 and His Royal Highness’ continued commitment is generous recognition of the SCO’s achievements both at home and internationally in recent years.
Speaking about the Orchestra’s Anniversary Season, SCO Chief Executive Roy McEwan says: “We’re delighted to be celebrating our 40th Anniversary by bringing together superb repertoire, a wonderful roster of guest artists and conductors, and of course our brilliant SCO players shining in both solo performances and ensemble playing. We are also continuing our tradition of supporting composers in bringing new work to the public.
The best birthday gift we could have received is our Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati committing to the Orchestra for a further three years, meaning he will be with us until at least 2018.”