www.list.co.uk/music
Classical Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to suzanne@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black and Carol Main. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 8
Glasgow FREE Kelvingrove Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 1pm. Free lunchtime organ recitals every day by different organists. FREE Lunchtime Concert: Katharine Durran and Kirsteen Kelly Concert Hall, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, 330 4092. 1.10pm. The duo performs an arrangement of Holst’s Planets for two pianos. ■ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Maestros’ Choice 1 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£23 (£8–£21). The 2009/10 season kicks off with early works by three contrasting greats, conducted by Donald Runnicles. Beethoven’s Symphony No 1 is followed by two richly scored late Romantic works: Mahler’s Symphony No 1 (‘Titan’) and Berg’s Seven Early Songs, sung by soprano Heidi Melton. With a Pre-Concert Prelude at 6.45pm, and a Post-Concert Coda. Edinburgh ■ Organ Recital: Michael Harris St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 12.15pm. Retiring collection. A lunchtime recital featuring works by Bach, Krebs, Rinck and Liszt. ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Unfinished Masterpieces Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £8.50–£26 (concessions available). Louis Langrée conducts a programme of tantalisingly incomplete masterpieces. Schubert’s Symphony No 8 (‘Unfinished’) is followed by Mozart’s great Mass in C minor, whose unfinished status hasn’t diminished its enormous power and grandeur. With the SCO Chorus and a top line-up of vocal soloists, including soprano Lisa Milne. ■ Vida Guitar Quartet Erskine Stewart’s Melville Performing Arts Centre, Queensferry Road, 7.30pm. £3. Ahead of the release of their debut CD later this month, the four exceptional guitarists perform works by Turina, Falla and Bizet. Tickets are available on the door.
Friday 9
Glasgow ■ Vocal Recital RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 1pm. £9 (£6). Mezzo-soprano Felicity Palmer performs a programme entitled ‘Women on the Edge’, featuring songs by Purcell and Schumann. She holds a masterclass at 2.30pm – admission £3 (£2). ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Unfinished Masterpieces City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£24 (concessions available). See Thu 8. ■ Neil Wilson City Halls: Recital Rooms, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. The Scottish guitarist performs a colourfully varied programme, including works from his forthcoming album, from the clean lines of Bach to the passionate virtuosity of Piazzolla, Falla and more. Edinburgh FREE Organ Recital: Wayne Weaver Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 1.10pm. The organist performs works by Pachelbel, Bach, Muffat and Buxtehude. ■ RSNO: The Best of All Possible Worlds Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228
PREVIEW OPERA SCOTTISH OPERA: ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Wed 21, Sun 25, Thu 29 & Sat 31 Oct; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 21, Wed 25 & Fri 27 Nov
Sun-kissed blondes in bikinis aren’t the usual types found on the world’s operatic stage. Especially bouncing up and down on a spacehopper. Scottish Opera’s new co-production with New Zealand Opera of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers is a bit different. In it, Algiers is a popular Latino soap, and the opera is set in a TV studio during filming. Following the lives and loves of the Mediterranean jet set, action keeps going even when the cameras have stopped rolling.
Singing the role of Haly, whose 19th century captain of the sea-pirates role is updated to that of bodyguard, is bass Paul Carey Jones. ‘The piece is very much rooted in traditional commedia dell’arte, but what’s great about a modern production is that there is a choice of either presenting it completely faithfully to the period of its composition, or to try to interpret the composer’s intentions for the audience of the day.’ Colin McColl’s updating has already been seen in New Zealand where audiences picked up on his interpretation straight away. Treating the music with the respect it deserves, McColl has succeeded, says Carey Jones, ‘in creating the feeling that the concept has grown from what the opera is really about, from within the opera, and not been imposed upon it.’
Composed by Rossini when he was 21 in the space of around three weeks, the opera’s main character is Mustafa, a sultan complete with harem but who has his eye on Isabella, the Italian girl of the title. In the updating, he becomes a Hugh Hefner-type figure. ‘The challenge for us is to maintain the great precision and energy of Rossini’s music without being constricted by it,’ says Carey Jones, ‘so that the music reinforces the concept and the concept reinforces the music.’ (Carol Main)
1155. 7.30pm. £10–£32 (concessions available). Conductor Kristjan Järvi opens with Bernstein’s playful Overture and Suite from Candide, followed by a move to lush late Romanticism with Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto, performed by Emmanuel Laville, and finally Brahms’ Symphony No 1. . ■ Balerno Music Festival Various venues, Balerno. Times vary. Prices vary. This community-run music festival returns for a second year with folk, jazz and classical concerts and workshops by local musicians. Please see www.balernomusicfestival.org.uk for details. Milngavie ■ Wihan Quartet Cairns Church, 11 Buchanan Street, 942 3102. 7.30pm. £10 (£5; children free). Milngavie Music Club’s 2009/10 concert series kicks off with the acclaimed Czech ensemble on one of its regular visits to the UK, bringing with it quartets by fellow Czech composers Dvorák, Smetana and Janácek.
Perth ■ Schubertiad: Opening Concert Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 7.30pm. £8–£25 (£10–£21.50).
Weekend tickets £105 (£90) and Sat/Sun day tickets £40 (£35). Perth’s third Schubertiad kicks off with two of the prolific composer’s greatest works. Llyr Williams performs the tempestuous, Beethovenian Piano Sonata in C minor, D 958, and for a complete contrast is joined by top string players for the infectiously spirited ‘Trout’ Quintet.
Saturday 10
Glasgow ■ RSNO: The Best of All Possible Worlds Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£32 (concessions available). See Fri 9. Edinburgh ■ Screening of Puccini’s Tosca Cameo, 38 Home Street, 0871 704 2068. 6–9.30pm. £25 (£19.50–£21.50). Get the best seat in the house as the third season of Met’s Live in HD broadcasts gets underway at the Cameo, with Puccini’s dramatic three-way love story brought live to Edinburgh from the US. Featuring Finnish soprano Karita Mattila in the title role and conducted by James Levine.
Classical Music
■ Orchestra of the Canongait Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 7.30pm. £4–£12 (£3–£10 in advance). Pianist Helena Buckmayer joins the orchestra and conductor Robert Dick for Mozart’s jaunty Piano Concerto No 22. Also with Haydn’s Symphony No 104 (‘London’), the last in an incredible output of 104 symphonies. FREE Organ Recital: John Butt Palmerston Place Church, 10 Palmerston Place, 220 1690. 7.30pm. Glasgow organist John Butt performs works by Bach, Franck, Mendelssohn and Purcell. ■ Balerno Music Festival Various venues, Balerno, 07710 703372. Times vary. Prices vary. See Fri 9. Perth ■ Schubertiad: Lunchtime Concert Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 1pm. £12 (£10). See Fri 9 for ticket packages. An hour- long concert exploring the late String Quartet in G, D 887, along with Britten’s Divertimento (tbc). ■ Schubertiad: Impromptu Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 4pm. £10 (£8). In the true Schubertiad spirit, this concert is an intimate, informal mixed bag of favourites, excerpts, rarities and masterpieces. Schubert would feel right at home. ■ Schubertiad: Octet Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 7.30pm. £8–25 (£10–£21.50). Alexander Janiczek leads a one-off ensemble in the wonderful Octet, performed together with a selection of Lieder.
Sunday 11
Glasgow FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3pm. Sunday promenade concerts with different organists. ■ Paul Potts Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £27.50. Still going strong after winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2007, Paul Potts shows unusual longevity. Here he sings selections from his second album, Passione, which doesn’t mess with his debut’s predictable, poperatic formula, except that it’s all sung in Italian. Edinburgh FREE St Giles’ at Six: Philomusica of Edinburgh St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. Retiring collection. Songs and instrumental music based on the Aberdeenshire roots of Satie, Grieg and the writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon. ■ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Maestros’ Choice 1 Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £10–£26 (£8–£24). See Thu 8. ■ Meadows Chamber Orchestra The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.45pm. £10 (£1–£8). A tribute to the late Edinburgh composer Edward Harper with his 1993 Overture, written for the orchestra’s 21st birthday. With Stravinsky’s Danses Concertantes, Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini performed by Alex Taylor, and Strauss’ Metamorphosen. Peter Evans conducts. ■ Balerno Music Festival Various venues, Balerno, 07710 703372. Times vary. Prices vary. See Fri 9.
Perth ■ Schubertiad: Lunchtime Concert Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 1pm. £12 (£10). See Fri 9 for ticket packages. The talented young Heath Quartet with Alasdair Tait in the beautiful Quintet in C. ■ Schubertiad: Impromptu Concert Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 4pm. £10 (£8). See Sat 10.
8–22 Oct 2009 THE LIST 81