FEATURE LIST
played Mozart Symphony No 29. Beethoven No 2 and Britten‘s Les lllwninulions with Robert 'l‘ear as soloist.‘ Ursula Richardson ofthe Scottish Philharmonic Society (she was later to become the first administrator of the S(‘()'s As the Scottish Chamber Orchestra reaches its 15th birthday. Carol Main looks back Edinburgh home. the Queen's l-lall). over a successful career. and gives a pictorial guide to the highspots Tunnell. then principal 2nd with the English Chamber Orchestra. to lead While not strictly speaking coming of original players remain. and only I no Friedman) off the ground.‘ and Roderick Brydon was signed up age. the SCO has packed more into one. principal flautist David l-lemmings was anxious to expand as Artistic Director. llappily. the its fifteen years ofexistence than Nicholson. in the same seat. This was and develop his company. but. Scottish Arts (.‘ouncil had done a most organisations — arts or the year that Scottish ()pera moved . explains Nicholson ‘1 le just couldn‘t survey into orchestral provision in otherwise — would be justifiably into Glasgow‘s Theatre Royal and i afford the SN() and the BBC Scotland and decided a chamber proud to chalk up for twenty-one. Nicholson recalls ‘A few years I orchestra refused to come out of the orchestra would be a useful addition. RCgUlilf CODCCFI SCFiCS in Scotland's before. a number of us. all freelance ’ studio.‘ So. the small nucleus of ‘()ur submission was that we‘d be major cities. prestigious tours musicians. were interested in j orchestral musicians found self-employed and self-governed and abroad. performances 0f0nC SON OF orchestral playing and l was asked by - themselves in the pit of Scottish we won the day‘. says Nicholson. anmhcr in J'USI “hm” CVCTY "00k and Peter llemmings (Scottish ()pera's ! Opera more or less permanently and ‘lt's still the orchestra‘s policy now CmnnYOfscmlimd~ iiCCliilmCd ChiefExecutive at the time) to book built uptheir work by puttingon and the players still have the major recordings. a major educational and players for the Britten chamber concerts in the gaps. membership of the company.‘ development programme — all these operas. largely on tour.‘ For leader Even their first concert shows the Since then. the orchestra‘s assets work together to form What he was thinking of ‘a new. up and same sort of imaginative and lehlevcmcnts have been The Times has labelled ‘one ofthe coming violinist called Leonard inventive programming still in force considerable. A major turning point top British orchestras just now‘. Friedman. but he was interested in today. ‘It was in the (‘ity Hall in was reached in 197‘) When its own But it was not always quite like getting the SBE (Scottish Baroque Glasgow‘ says Nicholson ‘with James permanent home was opened by the this. Formed in 1974. only two ofthe Ensemble. now with no Baroque and | Loughrim conducting. and WC 01100“ in Edinburgh. mecrly 3‘
Aworried looklromthe orchestra's tirst— and only- artistic director. Roderick Brydon.althoughthehair's i in no danger ol falling out quite yet. It's 1974. the year of the 800‘s formation and
FlautistJames Galway at the Queen's Hall in 1980. A regularsoloistwith the orchestra over the years. he returns tor the 15th anniversary concert. He'sto be applauded too lorhis
just recognisable here as ‘ j x efforts to secure tunding to leaderis John Tunnell. ' purchasethe Queen’s Hall. while next to him is At a concert in Leith Town Edinburgh lreelance {by .. g§ Hall in 1978. lorwhich he violinist Edna Arthur. .ss-t‘ s
look no tee. he raised £18,000 by signing autographs— in exchange lor the recipients signing
Them“ menl'ivet Touring the Scottish Islands Fireworks Concert in myea's 39°. Maybe covenants Princes Sheet Gardens l Violinist Lorna McLaren has during me Edinburgh | teamed now that this is not
Festival in 1982. Nowa qun'eilhe m0“ New"? regular event watched and ' DOSIllon l0! "18 best sound. heard by thousands. no-one 3"" "'8" 393'". "18V salt
could have imagined how "‘3‘ "'8 magic and mystery 5 John Tunnell. the 800's this annualconcert would— 0"003 can have Slfange much loved leadersince its literally—take oil. Each enefls 0" People. inundation. relaxing inthe yearthe pyrotechnical Algarve in 1983. Sadly.
wizardry has grown more and more impressive —as
John Tunnell died suddenly last September. As a lasting
wellas more and more tribute to the lite and work expensive- and each year olthis line musician. the Handel‘s Musiclorthe ; John TunnellTrustFundis
Royal Fireworks has remained its centrepiece.
being set up lorthe beneiit otyoung musicians starting out on proiessional careers. The orchestra givesthe
Alull house lora Startreatment in Hong j $0M Tunng'LMmor'da' momentous occasion. the Kong. 1983. one otthe ' opcet’1":"t p'docefihs lirst concert in the 800's orchestra's many tours 32:1"; gallznuguhza 182 own home. Edinburgh‘s which have takenthemto . , ‘- March y Queen‘s Hall in July1979. justabout every part olthe . v -’ I '
And no. the gun's not lorany world. This is leisure time
who dare cough during the and a visit to a beautilul and
perlormance. but isthe ratherunusual lilm set. u f —2 - 800's way at making sure everybody knows when ".8 . , Soprano Jessye Norman. 3 mm m sum. lavourite SOIOISlOWIlh the I orchestra. at their 61h ' " birthday in 1980. Recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate lrom Edinburgh University. audiences in George Street‘s Freemasons‘ Hall used to betreated to an extra rendering as she warmed up in the basementway below the level 01 the concert hall. while the orchestra played some quiet Mozart or Haydn up above.
8 The List 24 February — 9 March