Edinburgh International Festival 2008
August sees the Orchestra giving a number of performances at the Edinburgh International Festival, and it brings the Festival to a close with the annual Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert.
Sat 9 August 7.30pm EDINBURGH Playhouse
Sun 10 August 2.30pm EDINBURGH Playhouse
Sun 10 August 7.30pm EDINBURGH Playhouse
THE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA
ADAM Giselle
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Robert Cole conductor
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Weds 13 August 8pm EDINBURGH Usher Hall
HANDEL Israel in Egypt
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Emmanuelle Haïm conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
Christopher Bell chorus master
Lucy Crowe soprano
Claire Debono soprano
Robin Blaze countertenor
Mark Tucker tenor
Matthew Brook bass
Henry Waddington bass
*
Weds 20 August 8pm EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras conductor
Alfred Brendel piano
MOZART Symphony No 40 in G minor
MOZART Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor
DVOŘÁK Nocturne in B major for strings
DVOŘÁK Czech Suite in D majorstra
*
Fri 29 August 8pm EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
SCRIABIN Scriabin Settings (arr Knussen)
JANÁČEK On the Overgrown Path Book 1 (arr David Matthews)
STRAVINSKY The Fairy’s Kiss
Oliver Knussen conductor
*
Sun 31 August 9pm PRINCES STREET GARDENS
BANK OF SCOTLAND FIREWORKS CONCERT
DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dances (excerpts)
BRAHMS Hungarian Dances (excerpts)
Nicolae Moldoveanu conductor
Tickets
www.eif.co.uk
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is internationally recognised for its innovative approach to music-making and programme planning. Formed in 1974 with a commitment to serve the Scottish community, it is also one of Scotland’s foremost cultural ambassadors. The Orchestra performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland, and appears regularly at the Edinburgh, St Magnus and Aldeburgh Festivals and the BBC Proms. Its busy international touring schedule has recently included Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the USA. During 2008, the Orchestra gives a 10-date tour in Germany and also visits Vienna, Bregenz, Brussels and London’s Barbican Centre. The Orchestra’s international touring receives support from the Scottish Government.
Estonian conductor Olari Elts took up the position of Principal Guest Conductor this Season. He conducts four concert weeks in the 2007/08 Season, including the season finale –‘Nelson and Napoleon’.
The SCO’s long-standing relationship with Conductor Laureate Sir Charles Mackerras has resulted in many exceptional performances and recordings, particularly at the Edinburgh International Festival where they established an enviable reputation for concert performances of opera. Their recordings together include seven Mozart operas, a Grammy-nominated set of Brahms’ Symphonies, the full cycle of Beethoven Symphonies (with the Philharmonia Orchestra), four CDs of Mozart Piano Concertos with Alfred Brendel, Mozart’s Requiem and a disc of Kodály and Bartók for Linn Records. The Orchestra’s latest recording with Sir Charles – a double-disc featuring Mozart’s last four symphonies – was released on Linn Records in February 2008.
Following nine successful years as Principal Conductor, Joseph Swensen became the Orchestra’s Conductor Emeritus in 2005. Swensen has developed a unique relationship with the SCO as soloist as well as conductor and he and the SCO have released five CDs together through the Orchestra’s partnership with Linn Records. Other conductors who appear regularly with the SCO include Andrew Manze, Frans Brüggen, John Storgårds, Thierry Fischer, Louis Langrée, Andrew Litton and Nicholas McGegan and regular soloist/directors include Christian Zacharias and Piotr Anderszewski.
The Orchestra enjoys close relationships with many leading composers and has commissioned more than a hundred new works, including pieces by Composer Laureate Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir, Sally Beamish, Karin Rehnqvist, Edward Harper, James MacMillan, Haflidi Hallgrímsson, Einojuhani Rautavaara and Stuart MacRae.
The Orchestra plays a prominent role in the Edinburgh Festival. In 2005, it was awarded a Bank of Scotland Archangel by The Herald in recognition of its sustained quality contribution to the Festival.
The SCO has led the way in music education with a unique programme of projects. SCO Education provides workshops for children and adults across Scotland and has attracted interest and invitations from overseas.
The Orchestra broadcasts regularly and has a discography now exceeding 140 recordings available by calling 0845 270 1812 or online at theshop.sco.org.uk.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra receives funding from the Scottish Government.
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, 4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB
Tel 0131 557 6800, Fax 0131 557 6933, email info@sco.org.uk, web www.sco.org.uk
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