THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD MUSIC DIRECTOR SEASON 2018:19 USHER HALL, EDINBURGH

Transcription

1 THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD MUSIC DIRECTOR SEASON 2018:19 USHER HALL, EDINBURGH

2 WELCOME My dear friends, I am so honoured to be starting the 2018:19 Season as the RSNO s Music Director. From the moment I was invited to stand in to conduct Shostakovich s Symphony No11 in 2009, I felt something important was going to happen. When we began rehearsing, there was such an immediate connection between me and the Orchestra that together we were able to come close to the heart of this great music. Since then we have grown together, exploring a broad range of repertoire, gradually pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and our connection is as strong as ever. It s wonderful to have reached this point and I am excited about the musical journeys we will share together with you in the coming years. Scotland is fortunate to have such a wonderful National Orchestra and of course, the RSNO Chorus and Junior Chorus, who both celebrate special birthdays in This Season is also a first for Elim Chan as Principal Guest Conductor and I am sure you will join me in extending her a very warm welcome. I m looking forward to working with all of the RSNO family, bringing wonderful music to the Usher Hall for you to enjoy. As well as our concerts at home in Scotland, it is a great privilege for the musicians and me to represent this great country abroad. Over the coming years we will be touring to China, the United States and Europe with such wonderful artists as pianist Olga Kern and violinist Nicola Benedetti. To be able to share our music with many people is a real joy and honour. Of course, I am most excited about the Season ahead here in Scotland. We have many wonderful concerts for you to enjoy, featuring some of the world s finest artists. It is my hope that our concerts will surprise and delight you. There is so much great music to explore and I look forward to getting to know you as we share that journey together. Yours, Thomas Søndergård RSNO MUSIC DIRECTOR

3 BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 3

4 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 05 OCT 2018 THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD Season Opener Thomas Søndergård opens the Season in style with the first concert in his survey of Mahler symphonies with the RSNO. Beginning with the dramatic Fifth, the Orchestra also performs the Adagio from Symphony No10 (Fri 1 Feb) and Symphony No6 (Fri 10 May) this Season. SEE p13, p17 & p21 02 NOV 2018 The RSNO s exciting 2018:19 Season under the baton of new Music Director Thomas Søndergård is here! With a glittering guestlist featuring several of the biggest names in classical music, book your subscription today and secure your seats for these spectacular concerts. From Beethoven to Britten, Mozart to Mahler, join us as we perform your favourite music live especially for you at the Usher Hall. RSNO CHORUS 08 MAR 2019 Carmina Burana Choral music doesn t get any better than this! They may be celebrating their 175th anniversary, but the RSNO Chorus is sounding fresher than ever. Don t miss their performances of Orff s Carmina Burana, Poulenc s Gloria and Walton s Belshazzar s Feast this Season they re sure to set your ears tingling. Plus, if you re a singer, don t miss the chance to sing Carmina Burana live with the RSNO at our Come and Sing day on Sat 29 Sep at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. SEE p20 & p29 ELIM CHAN Introducing Elim Chan Following a highly charged Season debut in 2017 when she stepped in for an indisposed Neeme Järvi, we re thrilled to welcome Elim Chan in her first Season as Principal Guest Conductor. Make sure you add Rachmaninov s Symphonic Dances (Fri 2 Nov), Rachmaninov s Second Piano Concerto (Fri 15 Feb) and Elgar s magnificent Enigma Variations (Fri 17 May) to your subscription. Johannes Moser: Artist in Residence Hailed by Gramophone magazine as one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists, German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser is our Artist in Residence this Season. He joins us to perform Tchaikovsky s Variations on a Rococo Theme (Fri 14 Dec) and Memoirs of a Geisha at The Music of John Williams (Fri 26 Apr). 4

5 BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 RSNO JUNIOR CHORUS 23 NOV 2018 ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER 30 NOV 2018 RSNO at the Movies We continue our film series with another Season of brilliant blockbusters. From The Music of Harry Potter to a live screening of Back to the Future, experience your favourite soundtracks performed live by the full force of the RSNO. The Year of Young People The RSNO Junior Chorus is 40 years young in 2018! Celebrating Scotland s Year of Young People, Thomas Søndergård leads a special performance of a new commission for the Junior Chorus by Gary Carpenter alongside Britten s The Young Person s Guide to the Orchestra (Fri 23 Nov). We re also proud to present the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland s 40th Anniversary Concert in April, conducted by Principal Guest Conductor Elim Chan and featuring RSNO favourite, pianist Steven Osborne. Anne-Sophie Mutter We re thrilled to have four-time Grammy Award winner Anne- Sophie Mutter join the RSNO in December. A musical phenomenon with a career spanning over 40 years, Anne-Sophie Mutter began performing aged just 13 with the legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. Don t miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the world s greatest violinists live in Scotland. SEE p16 TM & Universal Studios and U-Drive Joint Venture Snowman Enterprises Ltd 2018 Harry Potter SEE p15 & p24 Must-see Artists You re spoiled for choice with the artists we re presenting this Season. Scottish mezzo Catriona Morison joins us in October fresh from her win at the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition; hot-ticket Benjamin Grosvenor performs Chopin s Piano Concerto No2 in November; the amazing Nicola Benedetti returns to perform Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto in February; Scottish International Piano Competition winner Can Çakmur plays Beethoven s Piano Concerto No3 in March; and our very own Principal Flute Katherine Bryan and harpist Pippa Tunnell perform Mozart s Flute and Harp Concerto in May. NICOLA BENEDETTI BENJAMIN GROSVENOR 08 FEB NOV 2018 SIR ROGER NORRINGTON 22 FEB 2019 Sir Roger Norrington The Scotsman said of Sir Roger Norrington s last performance with the RSNO: the aural sensation was visceral, direct and exhilarating. Don t just take their word for it: come and experience it for yourself as together, Norrington and the Orchestra complete their Schumann cycle in February. SEE p18 5

6 SUBSCRIBE & SAVE 8 great reasons to subscribe today! Subscribe to the Season and save up to 35%! Start saving when you book just four concerts. Simply pull out the booking form from the centre of the brochure, complete it and return it to the Box Office today. Interest-free payments Return your completed booking form before Wednesday 1 August 2018 and you can pay for your subscription by standing order, enjoying six easy, interest-free payments. Choose the seats you want Subscribers enjoy a designated priority booking period for all subscription concerts ahead of the general public. If your plans change, so can your tickets If one of your dates becomes inconvenient, you can swap your tickets for another in the Season. Terms and conditions apply. Exclusive event Book all 19 Season concerts and you ll receive an invitation to an exclusive event hosted by Music Director Thomas Søndergård. Special subscriber offer Add the NYOS 40th Anniversary Concert to your subscription for just 21 in the Grand Circle or 17 in the Stalls. Subscriber newsletter Keep up to date with the latest news from your favourite orchestra with our twice-yearly Subscriber newsletter. Concert calendar Keep your concert dates handy with your exclusive wallet-sized concert calendar. 6

7 BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 When I conduct the RSNO, there s a flexibility, an openness, a sense of dialogue between us. I m simply too curious about where that dialogue can take us. It hasn t stopped since I first conducted the Orchestra in 2009, so there must be something bigger going on. IN CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD The RSNO s new Music Director Thomas Søndergård is typically thoughtful and perceptive when considering his long and continuing relationship with the Orchestra. And, specifically, what compelled him to dive into the role of Music Director from the 2018:19 Season onwards after being Principal Guest Conductor since It feels so great to put a ring on our fingers, so to speak. Even after several years together, we still have plenty to explore. After all, that s why we re all here. 7

8 Søndergård is a familiar face on Scottish podiums from the many inspiring concerts he s conducted across his seven Seasons as Principal Guest Conductor. But what of the man himself? What was it, for example, that led him into music in the first place? A compulsive attraction, he reveals. I grew up in a town called Holstebro in Jutland, Denmark, and one of my earliest memories was hearing the marching band of the Music School in the equivalent of Princes Street. The minute I heard it, my parents got terrified because I just ran off to where the music was coming from. I must have been about five or six. And that s when I told them I wanted to be part of that. What the young Thomas ended up playing, however, was percussion I told my uncle I was interested, and he found some drumsticks and taught me a few things, he explains. He was quickly accepted into Holstebro s Music School, and later into the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he found his skills almost immediately in demand professionally. Early on I auditioned for the European Community Youth Orchestra (ECYO), and when I got in, everything took off. I also got a position at the Royal Danish Opera so in the end I never even finished at the Academy. 8

9 BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 Drew Farrell We re beginning with Mahler s Symphonies Nos 5 and 6 and the Adagio from No10 this Season music that s very close to the Orchestra s hearts, and to mine. But his big leap from percussion into conducting was yet to happen. When did Søndergård begin to feel the urge to be on the podium? I started touring with the ECYO and played under conductors who became really important to me Claudio Abbado and Bernard Haitink, Carlo Maria Giulini and Zubin Mehta, for example. Was it a case of watching these eminent international figures from behind the timps, picking up tips on how they did it? Always! I was more and more consciously analysing what worked and what didn t. I d bring along scores of what we were playing, open them on a timpani I wasn t using, and make loads of notes. Friends increasingly asked Søndergård to conduct their concerts, and he put on several himself with orchestral colleagues Stravinsky s Soldier s Tale, for instance, or Wagner s Siegfried Idyll. I also asked other visiting conductors to come and watch, and give me feedback. I learnt a lot that way. His big break, however, came in 2005, at the Royal Danish Opera. Michael Schønwandt, who was Music Director at the time, wanted to premiere Kafka s Trial by Danish composer Poul Ruders. He got me involved, and rehearsals went so well that he asked me: do you want to take over the whole production? Of course I agreed! The production was an enormous success, and marked Søndergård s launch into the world of international conducting. He became Principal Conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra in 2009, then Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in And from the 2018:19 Season, he heads the RSNO. Søndergård s relationship with the Orchestra goes all the way back to 2009 when he stepped in as a lastminute replacement after a colleague was indisposed. It was Shostakovich s 11th Symphony, he remembers. The Usher Hall evening in particular is one of the concerts I ll never forget. It was the sheer power of the music, but there was also an immediate connection between me and the Orchestra that seemed to say: there s something here we need to explore further. Even in Søndergård s years as Principal Guest Conductor after 2011, there s been a clear sense of focus and ambition to his concerts: Messiaen s kaleidoscopic Turangalîla Symphony in 2014, for example, or his Stravinsky series in 2015:16. Or his three concerts in the 2016:17 Season devoted to Beethoven, Sibelius and Mahler; or, indeed, his twoconcert exploration of Richard Strauss in With these explorations in mind, how would Søndergård describe his opening Season as Music Director? The advantage of getting to know the Orchestra over time is that I ve developed a feeling for what we do well together. I ve included music that I think is important for us to do at this point in our journey together, and also music that best fits the combination of the Orchestra and me all with a view of where we d like to be in three or four years time. There are several strands to his opening Season, focused around a clutch of key composers that Søndergård clearly feels strongly about. We re going to do a Mahler cycle over the next few years, he explains. We re beginning with Symphonies Nos 5 and 6 and the Adagio from No10 this Season music that s very close to the Orchestra s hearts, and to mine. He also points to Prokofiev as a key focus. My plan is to do a Prokofiev symphony cycle as well. I ve always liked Prokofiev, but something special happened when I conducted the Sixth Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra back in It s hard to describe it felt like music that was so playful and so daring. And, of course, we will perform Sibelius he s a composer who will accompany me throughout my whole life, I think. 9

10 I feel I can take more time with things now, and you become a different artist when there s room for that... Sally Jubb Furthermore, Søndergård will embark on tours to China, the United States and Europe with the Orchestra in the coming years. There s a big world out there! Søndergård exclaims. Both to take in, and also to compete with. We re so lucky to have fantastic audiences and wonderful concert halls in Scotland, but it feels so different to sit on a different stage. I think our relationship is something we should be keen to show the world. Søndergård immensely values the support that he and the RSNO receive within Scotland, and he s been fascinated to discover the country s own Nordic links, first when conducting the Orchestra at Orkney s St Magnus Festival in I spoke to a lot of people when I was there, and somebody told me they felt more Norwegian than Scottish. That s an idea I d like to explore, maybe in terms of music. He s also planning to spend a lot more time getting to know Scotland and he s recently gained a new way to do it. I now have a driving licence! he beams. Which I didn t have until I was 45. Why did he leave it so late to get one? I just didn t need to drive, he explains. And I knew if I got one and then didn t use it, I d just have to learn all over again. But my partner and I now have a summer house about an hour from Copenhagen, and being able to drive there has changed our lives. I can really see myself exploring Scotland, driving around in the mountains but maybe I need a bit more experience driving on the right side of the road before I start driving on the left! Indeed, finding time for himself has become an increasing priority in his life, Søndergård says. You simply have to make time. For the past 12 years conducting has been a 24-hour activity, but now I feel really on top of my job. What does he like doing when not immersing himself in music? I m really enjoying the simpler things in life. My partner and I travel for good food and good wine, or for beautiful architecture, and family has become increasingly important too. I feel I can take more time with things now, and you become a different artist when there s room for that and also a better person. There will be little time for rest, however, in Søndergård s packed and exciting first Season as Music Director, one that s driven by his powerful insights and his insatiable curiosity. My biggest wish is that this wonderful Orchestra will continue to surprise people and make people happy, he says. And perhaps to make them think about things they haven t thought about before, too. But the most important thing is passion the passion between everyone involved, because that s what takes us all further on our journey together. David Kettle Drew Farrell 10

11 SØNDERGÅRD SUBSCRIPTION BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 Make sure you don t miss history in the making! Book all ten Thomas Søndergård concerts this Season and save 25% off your tickets that s an extra 5% discount off the standard subscription price. Secure your seats by simply choosing the Søndergård Subscription on your booking form today. Book all 10 concerts and save 25% SEATING BANDS I II III IV V YOU PAY OCT 2018: Lotta Wennäkoski Flounce Scottish premiere Beethoven Piano Concerto No2 Mahler Symphony No5 Francesco Piemontesi PIANO 12 OCT 2018: Grieg Selected movements from Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2 Ravel Shéhérazade Rachmaninov Symphony No1 Catriona Morison MEZZO-SOPRANO 9 NOV 2018: Prokofiev Symphony No1 Classical Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 Ken Johnston Three movements from All Those Men Who Marched Away Poulenc Gloria Alexander Gavrylyuk PIANO Elin Rombo SOPRANO Glasgow Cambiata Frikki Walker DIRECTOR, GLASGOW CAMBIATA RSNO Chorus Gregory Batsleer CHORUS DIRECTOR, RSNO CHORUS 23 NOV 2018: Britten The Young Person s Guide to the Orchestra Winner of the RSNO Composers Hub 17:18 New Work (RSNO Commission) World premiere Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos Gary Carpenter Ghost Songs (RSNO Commission) World premiere Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals Christina & Michelle Naughton PIANO RSNO Junior Chorus 14 DEC 2018: Prokofiev Winter Bonfire Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker Johannes Moser CELLO (ARTIST IN RESIDENCE) RSNO Junior Chorus 1 FEB 2019: Mahler Adagio from Symphony No10 Bruckner Symphony No4 Romantic 8 FEB 2019: Thomas Adès Dances from Powder Her Face Gershwin (arr Bennett) A Symphonic Picture of Porgy and Bess Wynton Marsalis Concerto in D (for Violin and Orchestra) Scottish premiere Nicola Benedetti VIOLIN 22 MAR 2019: Paul Chihara A Matter of Honor (RSNO Commission) World premiere Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Prokofiev Symphony No5 Olga Kern PIANO Clyde Kusatsu NARRATOR 10 MAY 2019: Mozart Piano Concerto No23 K488 Mahler Symphony No6 Ingrid Fliter PIANO 31 MAY 2019: Sibelius Belshazzar s Feast Suite Elgar Cello Concerto Walton Belshazzar s Feast Truls Mørk CELLO Anthony Clark Evans BARITONE RSNO Chorus Gregory Batsleer CHORUS DIRECTOR, RSNO CHORUS Sally Jubb

12 BOOK NOW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Kennedy Leitch Assistant Principal Cello The David and Anne Smith Chair Maya Iwabuchi Leader Dunard Fund Chair Katherine Bryan Principal Flute The David and Anne Smith Chair Aleksei Kiseliov Principal Cello The James Browning Chair Søndergård s panoramic vision was instantly embraced by the orchestra, gratifyingly cohesive, yet effervescent at every turn THE SCOTSMAN 12

13 SEASON 2018:19 SEASON OPENER 05 OCT OCT OCT 2018 THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD CATRIONA MORISON CARLOS MIGUEL PRIETO Søndergård Conducts Mahler Five Lotta Wennäkoski Flounce Scottish premiere Beethoven Piano Concerto No2 Mahler Symphony No5 Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Francesco Piemontesi PIANO A symphony must be like the world, declared Gustav Mahler. It must embrace everything! So what better way for Thomas Søndergård to make his entrance as the RSNO s new Music Director than by plunging headlong into Mahler s Fifth Symphony: a sweeping romantic drama of life, death and of course love? Superstar pianist Francesco Piemontesi plays Beethoven s brightest concerto, and a musical firecracker from Finnish composer Lotta Wennäkoski lights the touchpaper. Come and join the celebration! Katherine Wren (RSNO Viola) SUPPORTED BY Søndergård Conducts Rachmaninov One Grieg Selected movements from Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2 Ravel Shéhérazade Rachmaninov Symphony No1 Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Catriona Morison MEZZO-SOPRANO Vengeance is mine; I will repay! And taking his cue from those thunderous words, Sergei Rachmaninov launches a First Symphony like no other. Dark, stormy and burning with unrequited passion, it s heady stuff, and a gripping contrast to Grieg s much-loved Peer Gynt. RSNO Music Director Thomas Søndergård is reunited on stage with Scottish mezzo Catriona Morison fresh from her triumph in 2017 s Cardiff Singer of the World in Ravel s exquisite Shéhérazade. Ursula Heidecker Allen (RSNO Violin) in conversation with Catriona Morison The Three-Cornered Hat Gabriela Ortiz Hominum: Suite for Orchestra Scottish premiere Ravel Piano Concerto in G major de Falla The Three-Cornered Hat (complete ballet score) Ravel Boléro Carlos Miguel Prieto CONDUCTOR Vanessa Benelli Mosell PIANO Ana Schwedhelm SOPRANO A snare drum, a rhythm, and a tune you ll never forget: that s all Maurice Ravel needed to create Boléro. Tonight, it s the spectacular climax to a concert that blazes with Latin sunshine, from the foot-stamping dances of de Falla s The Three-Cornered Hat to the jazz-inspired flair of Ravel s Piano Concerto played by the sensational Vanessa Benelli Mosell. First, though, conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto brings something new from his native Mexico. Prepare to be astonished. Ana Cordova (RSNO Principal Double Bass) in conversation with Carlos Miguel Prieto Pre-concert talks are free to ticket holders and start at 6.45pm in the Upper Circle Bar. 13

14 BOOK NOW STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Helen Brew Associate Principal Flute The Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust Chair Ana Cordova Principal Double Bass The Kate and Gavin Gemmell Chair SITTING LEFT TO RIGHT: Francesca Hunt Viola The Rolf and Helen Thornqvist Chair Lance Green Associate Principal Trombone The William Cadenhead Chair Chan s mastery of the architecture made for a gripping account. THE SCOTSMAN 14

15 SEASON 2018:19 02 NOV NOV 2018 IN COLLABORATION WITH 23 NOV 2018 ELIM CHAN ALEXANDER GAVRYLYUK THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD Chan Conducts Rachmaninov Dukas The Sorcerer s Apprentice Chopin Piano Concerto No2 Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Benjamin Grosvenor PIANO There s magic in the air as the awardwinning Elim Chan joins the RSNO team as Principal Guest Conductor. And it s not just confined to Dukas fabulous musical fairy tale of wizardry gone wrong (think Disney s Fantasia). There s the nostalgia of Rachmaninov s Symphonic Dances, with its evocation of a haunted ballroom. And Benjamin Grosvenor summons up the heart-onsleeve romance of Chopin s tuneful Piano Concerto No2. The nation s favourite young pianist? Well, come and decide for yourself! Ursula Heidecker Allen (RSNO Violin) in conversation with Elim Chan (RSNO Principal Guest Conductor) Søndergård Conducts Poulenc s Gloria Prokofiev Symphony No1 Classical Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No1 Ken Johnston Three movements from All Those Men Who Marched Away Poulenc Gloria Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Alexander Gavrylyuk PIANO Elin Rombo SOPRANO Glasgow Cambiata Frikki Walker DIRECTOR, GLASGOW CAMBIATA RSNO Chorus Gregory Batsleer CHORUS DIRECTOR, RSNO CHORUS Music is life and life always finds a way. Poulenc s Gloria is a celebration an exuberant shout of joy from a composer who d seen the best and worst of the 20th century. It s the inspiring finish to a concert that features two irresistible Russian masterpieces by Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky (with the brilliant Alexander Gavrylyuk as soloist), but also, at its heart, a new piece from Ken Johnston as we commemorate the anniversary of WWI, featuring the superb young singers of Glasgow Cambiata. Gregory Batsleer (Chorus Director, RSNO Chorus) in conversation with Thomas Søndergård (RSNO Music Director) Søndergård s Guide to the Orchestra Britten The Young Person s Guide to the Orchestra Winner of RSNO Composers Hub 17:18 New Work (RSNO Commission) World premiere Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos Gary Carpenter Ghost Songs (RSNO Commission) World premiere Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Christina & Michelle Naughton PIANO RSNO Junior Chorus Youth is a state of mind, and in this Year of Young People, Thomas Søndergård and the RSNO invite all ages to discover the fun of orchestral music at its very freshest. Britten s sparkling Guide to the Orchestra and Saint-Saëns grand zoological fantasy have been entertaining audiences for years but with two brand new pieces and the inimitable high spirits of the twin American pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton, there s something here to delight novices and aficionados alike. Christopher Gough (RSNO Principal Horn) in conversation with Gary Carpenter and 17:18 RSNO Composers Hub winner IN ASSOCIATION WITH RSNO YOUNG AMBASSADORS 15

16 BOOK NOW BACK LEFT TO RIGHT: Maree Murdoch Soprano, RSNO Chorus Kenneth Allen Bass, RSNO Chorus FRONT LEFT TO RIGHT: Edward Gow Probationary 2, RSNO Junior Chorus Rachael Gow Training Choir, RSNO Junior Chorus 30 NOV 2018 ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER Anne-Sophie Mutter in Concert Krzysztof Penderecki Violin Concerto No2 Metamorphosen Tchaikovsky Symphony No5 Krzysztof Penderecki CONDUCTOR Anne-Sophie Mutter VIOLIN Living legends: Anne-Sophie Mutter is one of the world s greatest violinists, universally acclaimed for her gleaming sound and effortless mastery. Krzysztof Penderecki is a giant among living composers, whose uncompromisingly emotional music brought a ray of light to the darkest days of the Cold War. To celebrate Penderecki s 85th birthday, they come together in his colourful Second Violin Concerto before Penderecki conducts Tchaikovsky s gloriously tuneful Fifth Symphony. Make no mistake: this should be very special indeed. Ursula Heidecker Allen (RSNO Violin) in conversation with Anne-Sophie Mutter SUPPORTED BY THE RSNO FOUNDATION the emergence of ladies and girls voices transported us into a world of heavenly magical sounds MUSICAL OPINION 16

17 SEASON 2018:19 14 DEC FEB FEB 2019 JOHANNES MOSER THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD NICOLA BENEDETTI Søndergård Conducts The Nutcracker Prokofiev Winter Bonfire Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Johannes Moser CELLO (ARTIST IN RESIDENCE) RSNO Junior Chorus Christmas is coming, and whether you re young or old, who wouldn t love a trip to the Kingdom of Sweets? Tchaikovsky s The Nutcracker is classical music s ultimate seasonal selection box. Tonight, Thomas Søndergård also takes us to Prokofiev s bonfire party deep in the Russian forests, and cellist Johannes Moser, our Artist in Residence this Season, lights up the sky with Tchaikovsky s showstopping Rococo Variations. Bill Chandler (RSNO Director of Artistic Planning and Engagement) in conversation with Johannes Moser SPONSORED BY Søndergård Conducts Bruckner Four Mahler Adagio from Symphony No10 Bruckner Symphony No4 Romantic Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR The air seems to shimmer, and a horn calls softly in the mist. The loveliest opening to any symphony ever? See what you think, as Thomas Søndergård unfolds the glowing peaks and sweeping vistas of Bruckner s Romantic Symphony music of Alpine grandeur and breathtaking beauty. He s chosen to set it against the Adagio from Mahler s unfinished final symphony: a haunting farewell to life, or a great cry of love and longing from one of music s true visionaries? Katherine Wren (RSNO Viola) in conversation with Thomas Søndergård (RSNO Music Director) SIR ALEXANDER GIBSON MEMORIAL CONCERT Søndergård and Benedetti Thomas Adès Dances from Powder Her Face Gershwin (arr Bennett) A Symphonic Picture of Porgy and Bess Wynton Marsalis Concerto in D (for Violin and Orchestra) Scottish premiere Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Nicola Benedetti VIOLIN Nicola Benedetti now, she really can play! says the American jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. Not that we need telling! There s a good reason why Benedetti is the nation s favourite classical violinist, and when she plays the concerto that Marsalis wrote specially for her in 2015, something sensational happens: one critic called her performance barnstorming. Thomas Søndergård conducts and bluesy, jazz-flavoured classics by Thomas Adès and Gershwin get the evening off to a swinging start. Margarida Castro (RSNO Associate Principal Double Bass) 17

18 BOOK NOW FEB FEB MAR 2019 ELIM CHAN SIR ROGER NORRINGTON GILBERT VARGA Chan Conducts Romeo and Juliet Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No2 Prokofiev Selected movements from Romeo and Juliet Suites 1 & 2 Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Lukáš Vondráček PIANO But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? Tchaikovsky s Romeo and Juliet redefined romantic music, while Prokofiev brought Shakespeare s star-crossed lovers to the USSR and gave us some of the 20th century s loveliest melodies. Rachmaninov s Second, meanwhile, has got to be the world s dreamiest piano concerto, and with Elim Chan conducting the charismatic young Czech piano star Lukáš Vondráček, it s the passionate heart of a Valentine s concert that s much more than just a brief encounter. Norrington Conducts Schumann Schumann Symphony No4 Mozart Violin Concerto No4 K218 Schumann Symphony No3 Rhenish Sir Roger Norrington CONDUCTOR Francesca Dego VIOLIN Schumann was such a romantic that he couldn t contain himself. When he saw the magnificent scenery of the Rhineland, his emotions burst out into the grandest and most exuberant of all his symphonies. Sir Roger Norrington wraps up his RSNO Schumann series in heroic style, in a concert which features the bottled lightning of the Fourth Symphony and the wonderful Francesca Dego in the teenage Mozart s delightfully playful Violin Concerto No4. Margarida Castro (RSNO Associate Principal Double Bass) in conversation with Sir Roger Norrington Dvořák s New World Symphony Mathias Requiescat Brahms Violin Concerto Dvořák Symphony No9 From the New World Gilbert Varga CONDUCTOR Kristóf Baráti VIOLIN Some pieces are classics for a reason and when it comes to the New World Symphony we don t just mean the Hovis ad! Dvořák s great symphony of exile, hope and nostalgia has been stirring the emotions of audiences ever since 1893, and the Violin Concerto by his great friend Brahms is every bit as enjoyable too. Violinist Kristóf Baráti gives it a dash of Hungarian spice tonight but first, conductor Gilbert Varga shares a magical rediscovery from Wales. Katherine Wren (RSNO Viola) in conversation with Kristóf Baráti Aleksei Kiseliov (RSNO Principal Cello) in conversation with Elim Chan (RSNO Principal Guest Conductor) 18

19 SEASON 2018:19 STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Alan John Violin The Hugh and Linda Bruce-Watt Chair Lisa Rourke Sub-principal Viola The Meta Ramsay Chair Patrick Curlett Assistant Principal Violin The RSNO Circle Chair SITTING LEFT TO RIGHT: Tamás Fejes Assistant Leader The Bill and Rosalind Gregson Chair Christopher Gough Principal Horn The Springbank Distillers Chair Norrington s nimble orchestral backdrop produced a true journey of emotions THE SCOTSMAN 19

20 BOOK NOW MAR MAR MAY 2019 KENSHO WATANABE OLGA KERN KATHERINE BRYAN Carmina Burana Beethoven Piano Concerto No3 Orff Carmina Burana Kensho Watanabe CONDUCTOR Can Çakmur PIANO Fflur Wyn SOPRANO Adrian Dwyer TENOR Stephen Gadd BARITONE RSNO Chorus RSNO Junior Chorus Gregory Batsleer CHORUS DIRECTOR, RSNO CHORUS Sex, drink and roasted swans choral music isn t meant to be this much fun! But the medieval monks who wrote the words to Carmina Burana didn t seem to have been that bothered. There s nothing pious about Orff s outrageous cantata; just great tunes, unstoppable rhythms and some thoroughly bad behaviour. It s the climax of a concert that begins with Beethoven s darkest concerto, played by the brilliant young winner of the 2017 Scottish International Piano Competition, Can Çakmur. Ursula Heidecker Allen (RSNO Violin) SPONSORED BY Søndergård Conducts Prokofiev Paul Chihara A Matter of Honor (RSNO Commission) World premiere Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Prokofiev Symphony No5 Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Olga Kern PIANO Clyde Kusatsu NARRATOR The RSNO is Scotland s orchestra and we re never prouder than when we re flying the flag overseas. Just before we tour the USA, here s a chance to hear what we re taking with us: Rachmaninov s glittering Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, played by the superb Olga Kern; a modern American classic by film composer Paul Chihara, performed with an unmistakably Scottish energy; and Prokofiev s Fifth Symphony forged in the flames of war, and dedicated, he said, to the greatness of the human spirit. John Whitener (RSNO Principal Tuba) SUPPORTED BY JENNIE S. GORDON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION Beethoven Five Beethoven Coriolan Overture Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto K299 Beethoven Symphony No5 Nathalie Stutzmann CONDUCTOR Katherine Bryan FLUTE Pippa Tunnell HARP Da-da-da-daaa! : everyone knows the first four notes of Beethoven s Fifth Symphony. Now s your chance to hear the rest and it s gripping: a noholds-barred emotional struggle from tragedy to triumph, in some of the most dramatic music ever written. It s perfect for our inspirational guest conductor Nathalie Stutzmann. First, though, comes something a bit gentler, as the RSNO s Principal Flute Katherine Bryan and harpist Pippa Tunnell perform Mozart s elegant but deliciously witty Concerto for Flute and Harp. Peter Dykes (RSNO Associate Principal Oboe) in conversation with Katherine Bryan (RSNO Principal Flute) DEDICATED TO THE LILLIE BEQUEST FUND IN RECOGNITION OF THE RSNO FOUNDATION S GENEROUS SUPPORT 20

21 SEASON 2018:19 SEASON FINALE 10 MAY MAY MAY 2019 INGRID FLITER BENJAMIN BEILMAN THOMAS SØNDERGÅRD Søndergård Conducts Mahler Six Mozart Piano Concerto No23 K488 Mahler Symphony No6 Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Ingrid Fliter PIANO Art imitates life: it isn t meant to happen the other way around. Mahler s mighty Sixth Symphony imagines a hero destroyed by three devastating blows of fate. But after he d completed this immense, tragic masterpiece, that s exactly what happened to Mahler himself. It s a musical experience that leaves no listener unmoved, so Thomas Søndergård begins with something altogether sunnier: the lovely Piano Concerto No23 by Mahler s hero Mozart, played by RSNO favourite Ingrid Fliter. Katherine Bryan (RSNO Principal Flute) in conversation with Thomas Søndergård (RSNO Music Director) SUPPORTED BY Chan Conducts The Enigma Variations Fung Lam Endless Forms Scottish premiere Sibelius Violin Concerto Elgar Enigma Variations Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Benjamin Beilman VIOLIN Impatient pianists, practical jokers, and an overenthusiastic bulldog. Elgar dedicated his Enigma Variations to my friends pictured within, and if all you know of them is Nimrod, you re about to meet some of the most loveable characters in British music. It s a joyous finale to a musical journey that begins inside the fantastic imagination of Hong Kong-born Fung Lam, and finds violinist Benjamin Beilman deep in the Finnish forests of Sibelius hugely popular Violin Concerto. Katherine Wren (RSNO Viola) in conversation with Benjamin Beilman Søndergård Conducts Belshazzar s Feast Sibelius Belshazzar s Feast Suite Elgar Cello Concerto Walton Belshazzar s Feast Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Truls Mørk CELLO Anthony Clark Evans BARITONE RSNO Chorus Gregory Batsleer CHORUS DIRECTOR, RSNO CHORUS In 1931 William Walton blew British choral music sky-high. Big, brassy and shamelessly savage, Belshazzar s Feast shocked audiences back then, and it still knocks you backwards today. It s an electrifying way to end Thomas Søndergård s first Season as Music Director, but he s got a couple more surprises up his sleeve: Sibelius atmospheric take on the same biblical tale, and Elgar s Cello Concerto. You ll have heard it before but not the way Truls Mørk plays it! Bill Chandler (RSNO Director of Artistic Planning and Engagement) in conversation with Thomas Søndergård (RSNO Music Director) 21

22 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE RSNO App The RSNO App is the easiest way to follow the RSNO when you re out and about! Browse through all our forthcoming concerts, watch the latest RSNO videos, even book your tickets at the tap of a button! Available on iphone and Android, download it for free from rsno.org.uk/apps Join the Conversation Online Keep up to date with your favourite orchestra on social media. With videos, photos, blogs and more, follow us today and join in the conversation. /royalscottishnationalorchestra RSNO Recordings The RSNO has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its recordings. Use our new online discography to browse our back catalogue, order CDs online either direct from the record label or via Amazon and download tracks Visit rsno.org.uk/recordings and enjoy the sound of the RSNO from the comfort of your own home today. Holst: The Planets Label: Chandos Release Date: Sep Years of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Label: Chandos Release Date: Jun 2016 Bruckner: Sym No7 Label: Naxos Release Date: Ma /thersno /thersno A Christmas Festival Label: Linn Release Date: Dec 2016 Neeme Järvi: Highlights from a remarkable 30-year recording career Elinor Remick Label: Dutton Epo Release Date: Nov Label: Chandos 22

23 BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 SUBSCRIPTION Book all 10 Classic FM recommended concerts today and enjoy more of the music you love for less! Save 25% off your tickets that s an extra 5% discount off the standard subscription price. Secure your seats by simply selecting the Classic FM Subscription on your booking form today and experience stunning classics from the Ultimate Hall of Fame. Book all 10 concerts and save 25% SEATING BANDS I II III IV V YOU PAY OCT 2018: The Three-Cornered Hat Gabriela Ortiz Hominum: Suite for Orchestra Scottish premiere Ravel Piano Concerto in G major de Falla The Three-Cornered Hat (complete ballet score) Ravel Boléro Carlos Miguel Prieto CONDUCTOR Vanessa Benelli Mosell PIANO Ana Schwedhelm SOPRANO 2 NOV 2018: Chan Conducts Rachmaninov Dukas The Sorcerer s Apprentice Chopin Piano Concerto No2 Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Benjamin Grosvenor PIANO 23 NOV 2018: Søndergård s Guide to the Orchestra Britten The Young Person s Guide to the Orchestra Winner of the RSNO Composers Hub 17:18 New Work (RSNO Commission) World premiere Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos Gary Carpenter Ghost Songs (RSNO Commission) World premiere Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Christina & Michelle Naughton PIANO RSNO Junior Chorus 30 NOV 2018: Anne-Sophie Mutter in Concert Krzysztof Penderecki Violin Concerto No2 Metamorphosen Tchaikovsky Symphony No5 Krzysztof Penderecki CONDUCTOR Anne-Sophie Mutter VIOLIN 14 DEC 2018: Søndergård Conducts The Nutcracker Prokofiev Winter Bonfire Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Johannes Moser CELLO (ARTIST IN RESIDENCE) RSNO Junior Chorus 15 FEB 2019: Chan Conducts Romeo and Juliet Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No2 Prokofiev Selected movements from Romeo and Juliet Suites 1 & 2 Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Lukáš Vondráček PIANO 1 MAR 2019: Dvořák s New World Symphony Mathias Requiescat Brahms Violin Concerto Dvořák Symphony No9 From the New World Gilbert Varga CONDUCTOR Kristóf Baráti VIOLIN 22 MAR 2019: Søndergård Conducts Prokofiev Paul Chihara A Matter of Honor (RSNO Commission) World premiere Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Prokofiev Symphony No5 Thomas Søndergård CONDUCTOR Olga Kern PIANO Clyde Kusatsu NARRATOR 3 MAY 2019: Beethoven Five Beethoven Coriolan Overture Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto K299 Beethoven Symphony No5 Nathalie Stutzmann CONDUCTOR Katherine Bryan FLUTE Pippa Tunnell HARP 17 MAY 2019: Chan Conducts The Enigma Variations Fung Lam Endless Forms Scottish premiere Sibelius Violin Concerto Elgar Enigma Variations Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Benjamin Beilman VIOLIN 23

24 20 MORE GREAT EVENTS 12 APR SAT MAY AM 1PM 16 SUN JUN PM Presenting: NYOS 40th Anniversary Concert Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No3 Andrea Tarrodi Liguria Scottish premiere Mussorgsky (orch Ravel) Pictures at an Exhibition Elim Chan CONDUCTOR Steven Osborne PIANO NYOS Symphony Orchestra We are delighted to showcase the talented National Youth Orchestras of Scotland s Symphony Orchestra in its 40th anniversary year, just as we did during its inaugural season back in In the true spirit of partnership, NYOS welcome to the podium RSNO Principal Guest Conductor Elim Chan. Join Elim and the NYOS Symphony Orchestra on a walking tour through five small fishing villages on the northwest coast of Italy in Andrea Tarrodi s Liguria, before taking in the sights and sounds of Modest Mussorgsky s unforgettable gallery, Pictures at an Exhibition. NYOS also welcome RSNO favourite Steven Osborne to perform Rachmaninov s notoriously demanding Piano Concerto No3. 24 Support the musicians of tomorrow and add the NYOS Anniversary Concert to your subscription for just 21/ 17. In Focus: Sibelius Arguably Finland s finest composer, Jean Sibelius was deeply inspired by the natural wonders of his homeland, and many of his works seem to evoke the deep forests and broad expanses of the Finnish landscape. He was also a defining figure in Finnish nationalism, embodying in his music the freedom and pioneering spirit of his emerging nation. Linked to our performances of his Violin Concerto and Seventh Symphony, join us in exploring Sibelius unique sound world created during the turbulence of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This event is perfect for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the world of music s great figures. Tickets 16.50, including light refreshments. Group discounts available for secondary schools, university students and music societies. To book your tickets please visit rsno.org.uk/discover or call Tickets for The Planets concert cost 35, 29, 24, Book online at rsno.org.uk or phone Usher Hall Sunday Series: The Planets An HD Odyssey R Strauss Sunrise from Also sprach Zarathustra J Strauss II On the Beautiful Blue Danube J S Bach (orch Stokowski) Toccata and Fugue John Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine Beethoven Allegretto from Symphony No7 John Williams Main Title from Star Wars Holst The Planets Ben Palmer CONDUCTOR Sopranos and Altos of the RSNO Chorus Gregory Batsleer CHORUS DIRECTOR, RSNO CHORUS Watch in awe as Holst s beautiful and mystical suite The Planets is performed by the RSNO while a film created in collaboration with NASA and awardwinning producer/director Duncan Copp is shown on the big screen. This multimedia event features the latest high-definition planetary images from NASA s exploration of the solar system, brought to life in vivid form with the Orchestra s performance of Holst s The Planets and is preceded by outstanding classics synonymous with outer space, including Johann Strauss II s Blue Danube Waltz (featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey) and John Williams iconic Star Wars theme.

25 FAMILY CONCERTS BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 28 SUN OCT PM 09 SUN DEC PM Introduce your little ones and big ones to the wonder of classical music with our family-friendly concerts. Enjoy the antics of Children s Classic Concerts in our special Halloween and Christmas performances and see their faces light up as they hear their favourite music from films including Harry Potter and The Snowman. The perfect way to start their own musical journey. Broomstick Ride Join CCC and the RSNO for a hairraising flying adventure this Halloween. Grab your Nimbus 2000 (or your Firebolt if you upgraded) and soar to new heights meeting witches, wizards and valkyries along the way! Featuring a very special performance of We Can Fly written by Olly Cox and performed by young pupils with additional support needs from across Glasgow and Edinburgh, this piece proves that you can do anything, you just have to try. SPONSORED BY A Christmas Carol Tis the season to be jolly, so on that note, we need your help in saving Scrooge from his surly ways can we convince him of the joy and wonder of the festive period? Find out as the RSNO performs plenty of beloved Christmas classics! Featuring some sweet singalongs (no bah humbugs allowed!) actors from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and dancers from the Manor School of Ballet, this is a celebration of CCC s Christmas past, present and future. SPONSORED BY Join us for more great family concerts at the Usher Hall! Søndergård s Guide to the Orchestra Fri 23 Nov 2018: 7.30pm RSNO Christmas Concert (featuring The Snowman) Fri 21 Dec 2018: 7.30pm Sci-Fi Spectacular! Fri 25 Jan 2019: 7.30pm The Music of Harry Potter Fri 15 Mar 2019: 7.30pm The Music of John Williams Fri 26 Apr 2019: 7.30pm Under 16s go free to all 19 RSNO Season concerts! See p35 for full details. 25

26 RSNO AT THE MOVIES Nothing can compare with hearing your favourite film music performed live by the RSNO. With a worldwide reputation for film performances and an amazing back catalogue of soundtrack recordings including Alien, The Great Escape, Jaws, Superman, Psycho, Out of Africa, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Vertigo and many more you know you re in for a real treat when you experience the full might of the RSNO live in concert! Add our movie concerts to your subscription or book online at rsno.org.uk/film 16 NOV DEC JAN 2019 Snowman Enterprises Ltd 2018 Varèse Sarabande 40th Anniversary Concert Diego Navarro CONDUCTOR Sara Andon FLUTE Robert Townson PRESENTER RSNO Chorus Hollywood is coming to Edinburgh! Join the RSNO as we reunite with legendary film label Varèse Sarabande to celebrate its 40th anniversary in style. Varèse producer Robert Townson is joined by conductor Diego Navarro and an exciting group of superstar composers including the legendary Patrick Doyle and Rachel Portman as we look back on some of the label s greatest highlights. With tributes to Jerry Goldsmith (Alien), Elmer Bernstein (To Kill a Mockingbird) and Alex North (Spartacus), plus blockbuster television themes (Game of Thrones) and movies (The Goonies, Back to the Future, The Matrix, The Abyss, The Iron Giant, Terminator 2, The Last of The Mohicans and Stargate), make sure you don t miss this red carpet gala celebration! 26 RSNO Christmas Concert (featuring The Snowman) Matthew Hamilton CONDUCTOR Jamie MacDougall PRESENTER RSNO Junior Chorus Changed Voices RSNO Chorus RSNO Chorus Academy We re walking in the air It isn t Christmas until The Snowman has taken you on his magical journey through the winter sky. Enjoy this special showing of the festive classic on the large screen, accompanied live by the RSNO and narrated by our guest presenter Jamie MacDougall. Perfect for the whole family, join us for our Christmas party filled with seasonal favourites, carols old and new and, of course, a chance for everyone to sing along! Film on screen with live orchestra SPONSORED BY Sci-Fi Spectacular! Anthony Weeden CONDUCTOR Tom Redmond PRESENTER The Force is strong with this one, as conductor Anthony Weeden and presenter Tom Redmond captain the RSNO on a fantastic journey through the most thrilling film music ever inspired by science fiction. From 2001: A Space Odyssey to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Avatar to Alien and of course Star Wars and Star Trek, it s an adventure beyond time and space. So beam aboard, as we boldly go where no concert has gone before! SPONSORED BY

27 BOOK NOW SEASON Hands sore from clapping. Face sore from grinning. We all loved this evening. Awesome. REVIEW FROM TWITTER 15 MAR APR MAY 2019 Harry Potter TM & Universal Studios and U-Drive Joint Venture The Music of Harry Potter Richard Kaufman CONDUCTOR The Usher Hall is Platform 9¾, and the RSNO is the Hogwarts Express so climb aboard, because with a wave of the wand from maestro Richard Kaufman, we re off to the wondrous world of Harry Potter! Hear your favourite music from the films from Harry Potter and the Philosopher s Stone right through to The Deathly Hallows brought thrillingly to life by the musical wizardry of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Muggles are welcome too! The Music of John Williams Richard Kaufman CONDUCTOR Johannes Moser CELLO (ARTIST IN RESIDENCE) No one writes a movie theme like John Williams: no wonder he s the world s most popular film composer. And no cinema in the world comes close to how good this music sounds when it s played live in concert by the full RSNO. Join Hollywood maestro Richard Kaufman and cellist Johannes Moser for hit after hit after hit, from Schindler s List, Jurassic Park and E.T. to Raiders of the Lost Ark and Memoirs of a Geisha all in glorious 3D sound! Back to the Future in Concert Neil Thomson CONDUCTOR Power up your DeLorean...recharge your flux capacitor...and get ready to experience this unforgettable movie classic as you ve never seen and heard it before! Back to the Future is the 1.21-gigawatt blockbuster that topped the 1985 box office chart. The story follows Marty McFly (Michael J Fox), a typical American teenager of the 80s, who is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a plutonium-powered time machine, invented by the slightly mad Dr Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Experience the thrill of Back to the Future on the big screen as Alan Silvestri s dazzling score is performed live by the RSNO in synch with this iconic movie. Plus, you re in for an exclusive treat with an extra special performance of music by composer Alan Silvestri written especially for the film s 30th anniversary. Film on screen with live orchestra 27

28 CHORAL CELEBRATION 2018 is a special year for the RSNO s choruses, with the RSNO Junior Chorus celebrating its 40th birthday and the RSNO Chorus celebrating its 175th. Don t miss their forthcoming concerts add them to your subscription today. RSNO CHORUS The RSNO Chorus evolved from a choir formed in 1843 to sing the first full performance of Handel s Messiah in Scotland. Today, as it celebrates its 175th anniversary, it is one of the most successful choruses in the UK. In addition to performing with the RSNO, the Chorus has had great success in recording with the Orchestra. Its recordings, among others, of Prokofiev s Alexander Nevsky, conducted by Neeme Järvi, and Holst s The Planets, conducted by David Lloyd-Jones, have both garnered high critical acclaim. The RSNO Chorus is directed by Gregory Batsleer, one of the UK s most dynamic and in-demand choral conductors and chorus masters. Please visit rsno.org.uk/chorus for more information. Søndergård Conducts Poulenc s Gloria Fri 9 Nov 2018: 7.30pm Varèse Sarabande 40th Anniversary Concert Fri 16 Nov 2018: 7.30pm RSNO Christmas Concert Fri 21 Dec 2018: 7.30pm Featuring The Snowman Carmina Burana Fri 8 Mar 2019: 7.30pm Season Finale: Søndergård Conducts Belshazzar s Feast Fri 31 May 2019: 7.30pm The Planets An HD Odyssey Sun 16 Jun 2019: 3pm RSNO JUNIOR CHORUS With over 400 members aged seven to eighteen, the RSNO Junior Chorus is one of the leading children and youth choirs in the UK. It was formed in 1978 by Jean Kidd and from 1994 to 2017 was directed by Christopher Bell. It has built up a considerable reputation, singing under some of the world s most distinguished conductors and appearing on radio and television, as well as performing in BBC concerts and at the Edinburgh International Festival. This Season, the Junior Chorus marks its 40th anniversary with the performance of a specially commissioned new work for the young singers by award-winning British composer Gary Carpenter. Please visit rsno.org.uk/junior-chorus for more information. Søndergård s Guide to the Orchestra Fri 23 Nov 2018: 7.30pm Featuring Gary Carpenter s Ghost Songs Søndergård Conducts The Nutcracker Fri 14 Dec 2018: 7.30pm Featuring Prokofiev s Winter Bonfire RSNO Christmas Concert Fri 21 Dec 2018: 7.30pm Featuring The Snowman Carmina Burana Fri 8 Mar 2019: 7.30pm 28

29 JOIN IN BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 We re passionate about sharing our love of music with people of all ages from all walks of life. Whether you play an instrument or you like to sing, we d love you to come and make music with us in our home at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Come and Sing: Carmina Burana Sat 29 Sep 2018: 10am 5pm Public concert 7pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Participation tickets: 25 Audience tickets: 10, U26 6, U16 free Gregory Batsleer CONDUCTOR Ever wondered what it s like to sing live with the full RSNO? Now s your chance to find out, in this one-off performance from scratch of Carl Orff s uproarious Carmina Burana 60 outrageously tuneful minutes of life, lust and monks behaving badly! Whether you re a choral society enthusiast or have only ever sung in the shower, you re welcome to rehearse and perform it today, under the RSNO s own Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer, before putting on a public performance in the evening accompanied by Scotland s National Orchestra. The ability to read music would be beneficial to those taking part in the day. To book your place, please chorus@rsno.org.uk or visit rsno.org.uk/come-and-sing For audience tickets, please visit rsno.org.uk or phone RSNO Chorus Academy Tuesdays: 6pm 8pm New Auditorium Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 5 per session Are you interested in singing choral music but don t feel you re quite ready to audition for the RSNO Chorus? Are you passionate about classical music but have never sung it before? Then this is the group for you. The RSNO Chorus Academy is open to all, without audition. The group focuses on choral techniques, singing techniques and musicianship, including reading a musical score. To book your place, please chorus@rsno.org.uk or visit rsno.org.uk/chorus-academy for more information , 25 Sep 2, 9, 23, 30 Oct 13, 20, 27 Nov 4, 11 Dec , 15, 22, 29 Jan 5, 19, 26 Feb 5, 12, 19, 26 Mar 16, 23 Apr 7, 14 May Sharing event Tuesday 28 May Rehearsal 6pm- 7pm. Performance 7.15pm to 8pm. RSNO Community Orchestra Once a month: Sundays, 2pm 5pm New Auditorium Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 5 per session (U26 4) The RSNO Community Orchestra is the perfect opportunity for amateur musicians to play together. Open to all, the Orchestra is aimed at those who play anything from ABRSM Grade 1 to Grade 4 standard. Whether you played an instrument at school and haven t picked it up in years, or you are a beginner to intermediate player, we re keen for you to join us in this exciting orchestral experience. To book your place, please engage@rsno.org.uk or call Rehearsals are held on Sundays: Oct 18 Nov Jan 17 Feb 17 Mar 14 Apr 19 May 23 Jun 29

30 ENGAGE The RSNO s Learning & Engagement programme sits at the heart of the Orchestra s activity and reflects the organisation s identity, integrity and quality through a series of interactive projects. From annual school and nursery concerts, to community workshops and study days, the RSNO Engage Team connects the Orchestra and its music with the people of Scotland. RSNO Schools Each year, the RSNO stages fun, interactive performances for nurseries/ primary 1 and our highly successful 360 LIVE concerts for primary schools. These events are specially tailored to the age group and are the perfect introduction to the orchestra. As well as our concerts, RSNO musicians deliver a number of specially tailored in-school workshops and activities for nursery, primary and secondary school pupils. FORTHCOMING EVENTS: 360 LIVE Primary School Concerts USHER HALL, EDINBURGH Mon 12 Nov 2018 GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL Wed 14 (relaxed perf.) & Thu 15 Nov 2018 CAIRD HALL, DUNDEE Tue 4 Dec 2018 Nursery Concerts June 2019 coming to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee RSNO Takeover 2019 RSNO Takeover is a two-day intensive work experience programme, open to anyone aged 16 to 18 years at the time of the event and living in Scotland. Applications are invited from any young person interested in a career in the arts or creative industries, regardless of whether they play a musical instrument or not. Up to 50 young people will be selected to work across the organisation to produce a public concert at the end of the two-day event. Opportunities exist in arts marketing, press and PR, fundraising, learning and engagement, presentation and operations, conducting and performing as a part of the RSNO. If you re interested in taking part in RSNO Takeover on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 June 2019, please apply online at rsno.org.uk/takeover or the RSNO Engage Team at engage@rsno.org.uk Young Ambassadors Are you interested in classical music and aged 16 to 21? Then apply to become an RSNO Young Ambassador. Each Season up to 20 Young Ambassadors are selected to operate as a youth advisory board for the RSNO, feeding into the main RSNO Board. Ambassadors receive free tickets to RSNO concerts, work experience opportunities and the chance to meet RSNO musicians and conductors. If you re interested in becoming a Young Ambassador, apply online at rsno.org.uk/young-ambassadors or the RSNO Engage Team at engage@rsno.org.uk Applications for the 2018:19 Season open in August Please engage@rsno.org.uk if you would like to receive details about our future events. Please include your contact details and indicate if you would like to receive information about nursery, primary and/or secondary school concerts and activity and we ll add you to our mailing list. Deadline for applications is Friday 7 December Sitting in the middle was amazing, like nothing you ve seen or heard before. PUPIL ATTENDING PRIMARY SCHOOL CONCERT 30

31 JOIN THE RSNO CIRCLE...and get to know us better Discover more about the musicians, soloists and conductors at the RSNO. AS A MEMBER OF THE RSNO CIRCLE YOU WILL: Receive advance information and priority single ticket booking for Season concerts. Have the opportunity to attend RSNO Circle Open Rehearsals. Be kept up to date with RSNO news with our magazine Inner Circle. Be informed about RSNO Circle events in your area. Be acknowledged in our Season concert programmes (Sonata, Concerto, Symphony and Virtuoso supporters only). Provide vital support to Scotland s National Symphony Orchestra. Get to know us better! To join the RSNO Circle please add a gift to your subscription payment. Simply complete the box on the booking form with your preferred level of membership. You can make your gift go further by dating and signing the Gift Aid box. If you are a UK taxpayer the RSNO will be able to claim an additional 25p for every 1 you donate. Thank you to all our Circle members who kindly give to support our work on and off the concert platform. If you have any questions about the RSNO Circle please telephone or circle@rsno.org.uk YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT: VIRTUOSO 1,200 SYMPHONY 600 CONCERTO 300 SONATA 150 OVERTURE 40/35 or 100 per month by Direct Debit or 50 per month by Direct Debit or 25 per month by Direct Debit or per month by Direct Debit annually Concession 31

32 THANK YOU Corporate Supporters Principal Media Partner Principal Transport Provider Broadcast Partner Corporate Partners Project Partners Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Institute of Directors Scots Magazine The Scottish Council for Development & Industry Smart Graphics Chair Sponsors Children s Classic Concerts Children s Hospice Association Scotland Confab Culture Republic Dyslexia Scotland Glasgow Life Horsecross Arts Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Sistema Scotland Skills Development Scotland Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust Usher Hall Year of Young People Young Scot Funders We re taking the train so why don t you? ScotRail is the RSNO s Official Transport Provider for the Season. RSNO musicians will not only travel in comfort to all corners of the nation, but will also reduce the environmental impact of a busy touring schedule. We recommend you make tracks for our concerts by taking the train. The Usher Hall is just a short walk from Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket Stations. With convenient, fast and frequent services throughout Scotland and a wide range of great value off-peak and group fares, ScotRail is bound to have just the ticket to hit the right note! Delivered by Visit scotrail.co.uk or call to book tickets. 32

33 BOOK NOW SEASON 2018:19 A Score OF Many Parts This year, we are inviting our supporters to make a gift to help us invest in the music of the RSNO. Your support of our Music Library Appeal will ensure that we can present concerts of the highest quality with world-class conductors and artists, for audiences now and in the future. Music is vital to our performances. Conductor and vocal scores and orchestral parts are in constant use. We have, and continue to use, beautiful sets that date back to the end of the 19th century, which we house in the Bill and Margaret Nicol Library. RSNO musicians continue to play from first edition parts of many of Debussy s orchestral works, and the parts of several Richard Strauss tone poems which were purchased for the composer s visit to the Orchestra in the 1900s are still in use today. Although we own around 60% of the music needed for concerts, there is a constant need to keep abreast of modern, scholarly editions of Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, even Debussy and Elgar which have replaced older 19th-century ones. Your vital gift will enable the RSNO to prepare now for an exciting future. You can make a donation by adding a gift to your subscription payment. Simply complete the box on the booking form with the amount of your donation. Alternatively, you can donate online at rsno.org.uk/score 1,000 full symphony score 500 concerto score 250 soloist part 100 orchestra part Up to 100 choral part Your support enables us to create a Season of thrilling, memorable and inspiring concert performances. All donors will be invited to a special event during the 2018:19 Season. Thank you for your generous support. rsno.org.uk/score 33

34 GROUP SALES Some experiences are just too good to keep to yourself! Share your love of the RSNO with others and enjoy the following benefits when you book as a group: GREAT DISCOUNTS Save 30% off full-price tickets for groups of 11+ and 20% off for groups of 6 to 10 people. Get in touch for the best discounts available. PERSONAL SERVICE We are here to help! groups@rsno.org.uk to secure the best available seats and discounts for your group. FREE TICKET AND PROGRAMME Rewards for organisers! We will give a free ticket and complimentary programme to the group leader when you book via groups@rsno.org.uk STUDENT GROUPS Get together and take advantage of our great deals for students and Under 26s. groups@rsno.org.uk to block book the best available seats for your group. SCHOOL AND YOUTH GROUPS Introduce your school or youth group to the magic of live symphonic sound. Tickets for Under 16s are 6 each for our Season concerts, with accompanying adults (1 adult per 10 young people) going free. Please contact groups@rsno.org.uk today to reserve your seats. OFFERS Receive the latest offers for group bookers direct to your inbox. Sign up to our mailing list at rsno.org.uk/groups All discounts are subject to availability. 34