www.list.co.uk/music
Thursday 18
Glasgow ✽✽ Scottish Ensemble: Green City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£14.50. A non Christmas- themed concert by the Scottish Ensemble. Thea Musgrave’s Green is premiered along with Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Adams’ Shaker Loops and Steve Reich’s Clapping Music.
Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers National Gallery of Scotland Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. 6–6.30pm. Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers perform works from the Italian Renaissance between readings from Ovid’s Metamorphoses as part of a campaign to save Titian for the nation. ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: The Legend of Prometheus Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8–£26. Frans Brüggen conducts the SCO in an all-Beethoven programme with The Creatures of Prometheus and Symphony No 2.
Ayr ■ BBC SSO Christmas Concert Town Hall, Sandgate, 01292 611222. 7.30pm. £tbc. A giftbox of seasonal and not-so-seasonal favourites with the BBC SSO’s ever-popular Christmas Concert, conducted by John Wilson and with guest presenter Jamie MacDougall.
Friday 19
Glasgow ■ Cappella Nova: Carols by Candlelight Barony Hall, Castle Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £8–£19 (£6.50–£15). The choir returns with its popular Christmas concerts. This year a fresh programme of seasonal music, including a new carol written specially for the occasion by Peter McGarr. ■ Carols by Candlelight: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £20–£29.50. The Mozart Festival Orchestra and the Consort of Voices perform carols and seasonal classics, evocatively candlelit and dressed in full period gear. ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: The Legend of Prometheus City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£24. See Thu 18. Edinburgh ■ Dunedin Consort: Messiah 2 St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, 16 York Place, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £15 (£12). Annual performance of Handel’s glorious score as uniquely interpreted by the Dunedin Consort and Players with a superb line up of soloists in Susan Hamilton, soprano, Annie Gill, contralto, Mark Wilde, tenor and Roderick Bryce, bass. Their recent recording has won numerous awards, but there is nothing to beat hearing their Messiah live. ■ Scottish Ensemble: Green Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.45pm. £12–£14.50. See Thu 18.
■ Jubilo Choir with the Edinburgh Players Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 225 1900. 7.30pm. £9 (£6). Christmas carols and popular seasonal music with the two Edinburgh-based ensembles with some audience participation.
Dundee ✽✽ Scottish Ensemble: Green Marryat Hall, City Square, 01382 434941. 7.30pm. £11–£14.50 (£3–£5). See Thu 18.
Sunday 21
Glasgow ■ BBC SSO: Christmas at the Movies City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 2pm. £10–£23. Grammy nominated film composer John Wilson conducts a programme of family film favourites, including music from ET and Raiders of the Lost Ark, as well as a few numbers from the golden age of MGM musicals. See preview, left. FREE RSNO Chorus Christmas Carols George Square, 4–6pm. Big stage and Crimbo classics at this outdoor concert. ■ The Christmas Cracker Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£25. Join the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and the City of Glasgow Chorus for a Christmas sing- along to Sleigh Ride, O Holy Night, Mamma Mia and more. Graham Taylor conducts. ■ Glasgow Orchestral Society RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £9 (£6). A mixed programme with Eric Coates’ The Three Elizabeths, selections from Delibes’ ballet Coppelia and some Christmas music. Marco Romano conducts. Edinburgh ■ St Giles’ at Six St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. Retiring collection. St Giles’ Cathedral Choir performs Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas.
Dundee ■ A Renaissance Christmas by Candlelight with Cantiones Sacrae St Salvador’s Episcopal Church, Church Street, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). Enjoy some Renaissance style entertainment with the choral group.
Monday 22 Glasgow ■ Christmas Carol Singalong: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £20–£29.50. Croon along to Winter Wonderland and get tongue-tied with The Twelve Days of Christmas. Richard Balcombe conducts the Edinburgh Royal Choral Society and the Scottish Concert Orchestra. With presenter Craig Hill. ■ Joy to the World City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£14. Christmas music with Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus and Orchestra and guest singers, raising funds for CHAS. Call 07811 344307 for tickets.
Saturday 20 Tuesday 23
Glasgow ■ Junior Academy of Music Christmas Concerts RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 3pm & 7.30pm. £8 (£6). Christmas concert. ■ Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Festive Concerts Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm & 7.30pm. £12–£32. See Tue 16. Edinburgh ■ Cappella Nova: Carols by Candlelight Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8–£19. See Fri 19.
Glasgow ■ A Traditional Christmas City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£15. Christmas music from the Scottish Concert Singers, Barrhead Philharmonic Choir and the Scottish Co- op Brass Band, under the baton of Colin McKenzie ■ Bothwell Philharmonic Choir Christmas Concert RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £12. Christmas choral works. ■ White Christmas: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £20–£29.50. Packed with
Classical Music
seasonal songs, classics and carols and featuring West End soloists Jacynta Whyte and Gary Williams, this is one of Raymond Gubbay’s most popular concerts, selling out year after year.
Wednesday 24 Glasgow ■ The Sirens of Titan Choir: Oran Mor Na Nollaig Oran Mor, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 5.30pm. £10. Following last year’s sell-out performance the choir presents a collection of newly commissioned carols and songs. Composers include Oran Mor’s Gordon Rigby, Wilma Patterson and Mick Cooke of Belle and Sebastian. Includes a mince pie and mulled wine.
Falconer (River City) as she ushers in the New Year with this compendium of popular classics and rousing traditional favourites including Scotland the Brave, Amazing Grace, Flower of Scotland and Auld Lang Syne.
Thursday 1 Edinburgh ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Viennese New Year Concert Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 01387 253383. 7pm. £10–£26. The SCO presents a concert of sparkling Viennese classics with a Russian twist, featuring works by Strauss, Mozart and Beethoven. Directed by violinist Alexander Janiczek. In Aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Saturday 27 Friday 2
Glasgow ■ Blockbusters: Music from the Movies Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £19–£31. Robert Powell presents an evening of music from award-winning films, including Mission: Impossible, Indiana Jones and Gladiator, performed by the Scottish Concert Orchestra with conductor Paul Bateman.
Sunday 28
Glasgow ■ The Sound of Musicals: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm. £22–£31. Stars from London’s West End perform a selection of greatest hits from popular musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and West Side Story. With The Consort of Voices and the Scottish Concert Orchestra, conducted by John Rigby. Edinburgh FREE Sunday Morning Music National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 247 4422. 11am. Enjoy a stroll through the National Museums to the talents of young musicians, Ebony Duo of Lesley Bell (clarinet) and Fiona MacLeod (piano), from Live Music Now! Scotland.
Monday 29
Glasgow ■ Glenn Miller Orchestra: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm. £15.50–£26. See Sun 28. ■ Russian Spectacular: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £20–£29.50. Stephen Bell conducts the Scottish Concert Orchestra in a fiery concert of great Russian classics, including Mussorgsky’s The Great Gate of Kiev, finishing with Tchaikovsky’s triumphant 1812 Overture.
Tuesday 30
Glasgow ■ Opera Gala Night: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £22–£31. Favourite arias from La Bohème, Madam Butterfly, The Barber of Seville and other much-loved operas performed by four outstanding soloists. Robert Stapleton conducts the Scottish Concert Orchestra and Edinburgh Grand Opera Chorus.
Wednesday 31 Glasgow ■ Hogmanay Gala: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £22.50–£33. Join Joyce
Glasgow ■ Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Messiah Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm. £12–£32. The RSNO and Chorus welcome back conductor Nicholas McGegan for the traditional annual performance of Handel’s choral masterpiece.
Saturday 3
Glasgow ✽✽ Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Viennese Gala
Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£32. Begin 2009 in 19th-century Austrian style with a collection of popular waltzes, polkas and arias, including works by the ‘Waltz King’, Johann Strauss Junior. Austrian conductor David Danzmayr makes his season debut with the orchestra.
Ayr ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Viennese New Year Concert Town Hall, Sandgate, 01387 253383. 7.30pm. £16–£19 (£3–£5). See Thu 1.
Monday 5
Glasgow ■ NYOS New Year Concert Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£20. The Hallé Orchestra’s principal conductor, Cristian Mandeal, conducts the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland as they perform works by Enesco, Prokofiev and Poulenc.
Thursday 8
Edinburgh FREE Live Music Now: Hoot National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. 6–6.30pm. The Scottish duo of harp and flute - Helen Macleod and Emma Wilkins - performs works inspired by The Intimate Portrait exhibition. ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: The Fair Melusine Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8–£26 (£6–£19.50). Following the Messiaen celebrations of 2008, 2009 sees the bicentenary of the birth of Felix Mendelssohn. The SCO performs The Fair Melusine along with Schubert’s Symphony No 4 (‘Tragic’) and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 27, with internationally celebrated pianist, Paul Lewis. Dundee ■ Strictly Strauss: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Caird Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £19–£22 (£16). Let the Johann Strauss Orchestra transport you back to the Viennese ballrooms of the 19th century with works including Strauss’ The Radetzky March and The Blue Danube, directed from his position as first violin by David Rowland.
11 Dec 2008–8 Jan 2009 THE LIST 95