New music, more concerts and greater diversity as the RSNO celebrates the 175th anniversary of its founding organisation, the RSNO Chorus
* American focus with Stateside guest artists, programmes, including two-week Leonard Bernstein tribute
· New RSNO Commission from Pulitzer-winning US composer Jennifer Higdon
· Peter Oundjian brings grand-scale, immersive works and Thomas Søndergård explores German romanticism
· Works by John Adams, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, George Gershwin, André Previn and Bernard Herrmann
· The RSNO Chorus celebrates its 175th anniversary with performances of Bernstein’s MASS, Chichester Psalms, Brahms’ A German Requiem and Holst’s The Planets
· Schumann Symphonic Cycle with Sir Roger Norrington over two Seasons commencing with Nos1 and 2
· UK premiere of new version of Anton Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony
· Symphony, Soup and Sandwich lunchtime concert series extended to four programmes in Glasgow
· RSNO at the Movies film music series develops co-promotion with Edinburgh International Film Festival
· Celebration of America’s greatest living composer, John Williams, with a programme dedicated to the music of Star Wars
· Scottish exclusive events featuring the life and work of Hollywood legend Gene Kelly
· Pre-season performances featuring works of eminent Chinese composer Xiaogang Ye in Edinburgh and Glasgow
· Seven-concert Chamber Series in Glasgow
As the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s 125th anniversary celebrations come to a close, the organisation looks forward to the RSNO Chorus’ 175th birthday which lands during the forthcoming 2017:18 Season.
Formed as the Glasgow Choral Union in 1843 the RSNO Chorus is the longest continuously operational performing arts organisation in Scotland. In 2017:18 the Chorus and Orchestra will mark the occasion by staging the Scottish première of Leonard Bernstein’s mammoth MASS as well as his Chichester Psalms, Brahms’ A German Requiem, and Holst’s The Planets.
Peter Oundjian enters his sixth consecutive RSNO Season as Music Director with Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Søndergård sharing the sexennial anniversary.
In a Season which will see the RSNO perform over one hundred concerts across ten Scottish towns and cities, including three additional performances in Perth, the Orchestra has a purposeful remit: to deliver the highest quality live orchestral experience to as many people as possible.