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effects of which an orchestra is capable. To be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Discovering Music. FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3–3.45pm. Sunday promenade concerts with different organists. Edinburgh Scottish Opera: La bohème Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 4pm. £14–£62. Tony award- winning director Stewart Laing’s modern twist on this perennial masterpiece of Italian opera sees Paris’ vibrantly shabby bohemian quarter relocated to 21st century New York. Puccini’s lusciously scored romantic tragedy tells the story of a group of penniless artists and the poet Rodolfo’s love affair with the terminally ill Mimi. Conducted by Francesco Corti and featuring soloists Celine Byrne, Avi Klemberg and Nadine Livingston. Organ Recital St Michael & All Saints’ Church, Panmure Place, Tollcross, 5pm. Retiring collection. Bach, Sweelinck, Locke, Leighton and others performed by Philip Sawyer.

Monday 19

Edinburgh FREE Scottish Opera: La bohème Unwrapped Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 6pm. If the thought of sitting through a full-length opera fills you with trepidation, or if you’re a seasoned opera-goer with an interest in what happens backstage, this hour-long taster is a perfect introduction to the workings behind the scenes and an introduction to the principal characters and plot. A Question of Chemistry? Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22–26 George Street, 240 2780. 6pm. £8. The Royal Society of Edinburgh and Scottish Opera examine the role of composer and librettist in the creation of an opera. With critic Andrew Clark, composer Stuart MacRae, librettist Louise Welsh and Scottish Opera Director Alex Reedijk. Informal drinks reception afterwards. St Andrews Lunchtime Concert Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 1.15pm. £2 (members free). Violin and harp duo, Ricky Walla and Ulrike Mattanovich, perform Saint-Saëns’ gorgeous Fantasia for violin and harp.

Tuesday 20 Glasgow Fantasies for Piano Ramshorn Theatre, 98 Ingram Street, 548 2558. 1.15pm. £4. Italian pianist Massim Folliero performs the contrasting but equally brilliant Fantasies of two Romantic composers whose bicentenaries are celebrated this year: Chopin and Schumann.

Lothian Road, 228 1155. 1.30pm. Edinburgh ✽✽ Get Organised Usher Hall, £3. City organist John Kitchen performs a concert of works by the prolific Johann Strauss, including Tales from the Vienna Woods, the Emperor Waltz and the famous Radetzky March. Scottish Opera: La bohème Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £14–£62. See Sun 18. Organ Recital St Mary’s RC Cathedral, York Place, 8pm. Retiring collection. Organist Simon Nieminski pays tribute to his Polish ancestry with a programme of works including Chopin and his own transcription of Elgar’s Polonia.

St Andrews Lunchtime Concert Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 1.15pm. £2 (members free). Simon Chadwick performs on the Medieval harp.

Wednesday 21

Dundee Scottish Ensemble: Eight Seasons St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seagate, Castlehill, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £14.50 (free–£11). A heady mix of Italian Baroque and Argentinean Tango. The Ensemble performs a stunning compilation of Vivaldi’s 18th- century masterpiece Four Seasons interspersed with the movements of Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, written almost 250 years later. Paisley FREE Organ Recital Paisley Abbey, Abbey Place, 889 7654. 7.30pm. Celebrated organist Dame Gillian Weir gives a recital.

St Andrews Lunchtime Concert Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 1.15pm. £2 (members free). Clarinettist Gillian Craig and pianist Audrey Innes give a performance of Weber’s Grand Duo Concertante. The Minister Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, 01334 475000. 10.15pm. £5. Roger Scruton’s short chamber opera is performed by soloists from St Andrews Opera and the RSAMD, with instrumental accompaniment by Ensemble 2021. Michael Downes conducts. With an introductory talk by Scruton.

Thursday 22

Glasgow Westbourne Music The Merchant House, 7 West George Street, 649 5347. 12.45pm. £7 (£3–£6). Scottish musicians cellist Robert Irvine and guitarist Allan Neave perform a diverse repertoire, from the baroque to exotic works from Spain and the Americas.

Edinburgh Scottish Opera: La bohème Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £14–£62. See Sun 18. Kelso Borders Music & Arts Guild Concert Mellerstain House, Gordon, 01835 864120. 7.30pm. £17.50 (members £12.50). Trio Ecossaise performs Brahms’ lovely Trio in A minor, Op 114 alongside works by Beethoven, Bloch and Muczynski. Dinner is available afterwards for an extra £5.50.

St Andrews Ensemble 2021 Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 1.15pm. £2 (members free). Richard Ingham directs the chamber ensemble, which specialises in 20th-century and contemporary music, through a concert of works by Stravinsky, Pärt, Tom David Wilson and Charlotte Harding. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Pastoral Symphony Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 7.30pm. £10–£19 (concessions available). Irresistibly evoking the idylls of the untouched countryside, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony never fails to transport. Hear it alongside selections from Dvorák’s Legends and a performance by Tom Poster of Ligeti’s Piano Concerto, its frantically complex polyrhythms and otherworldly soundscapes a striking contrast to the rest of the programme.

Friday 23 Glasgow The Glasgow Phoenix Choir: Springtime Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £8–£15. The choir celebrates the coming of spring with special guests The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra and West Lothian Schools Brass Band. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Pastoral Symphony City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£24 (concessions available). See Thu 22.

Piano Recital: Sylvia Sze-Hua Jen Milngavie Town Hall, Station Road, Milngavie, 942 3102. 8pm. £5 (children free). Milngavie Music Club presents the award winning Taiwanese-born pianist in a varied programme featuring Bach’s Partita No 6, South African composer Carl Vine’s 5 Bagatelles, Chopin’s Barcarolle and works by Mozart and Janácek.

Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. Edinburgh Edinburgh Quartet Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. £13.50 (£11.50). The acclaimed quartet performs chamber works by Haydn, Britten and Dvorák. ✽✽ RSNO: Naked Classics Usher 7.30pm. £10. It is said that the applause after the premiere of Shostakovich’s Symphony No 5 was longer than the symphony itself. Having been publicly denounced by the Stalinist regime for his Fourth, the significance of the symphony to Shostakovich’s career, and even his life, was enormous. Presenter Paul Rissmann, conductor Stéphane Denève and the RSNO explore this great work. Fires of Love Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 7.45pm. £8 (£6). The early music quartet presents a concert of 17th- century works for voices, baroque guitar, theorbo, woodwind and percussion. Scottish Ensemble: Eight Seasons The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.45pm. £12.50–£14.50. See Wed 21.

Kirkcaldy East Fife Male Voice Choir Adam Smith Theatre, Arts and Theatres Trust Fife Ltd, Bennochy Road, 01592 583302. 7.30pm. £10. A varied programme of music to suit all musical tastes with guest soprano Jessica Leary.

St Andrews Lunchtime Concert Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 1.15pm. £2 (members free). Violinist Jacob Keet and friends give a lunchtime performance.

Saturday 24

Glasgow FREE BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Hear and Now City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. Pianist and leading exponent of contemporary music John Tilbury joins the BBC SSO and conductor Ilan Volkov for Morton Feldman’s Piano and Orchestra in a concert of all 20th-century works. Also with Cardew’s Bun for Orchestra No 1 and Wolff’s Spring. To be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Under 12s not admitted. Max 4 tickets per applicant.

✽✽ RSNO: Naked Classics Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street,

353 8000. 7.30pm. £10. See Fri 23. Glasgow Chamber Orchestra: Chopin 2010 Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 8pm. £12. A celebration of the works of Frederic Chopin, Poland’s best-loved composer, whose contribution to the piano repertoire is arguably second to none. Peter Cynfryn Jones conducts.

Edinburgh Scottish Opera: La bohème Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £14–£62. See Sun 18. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Pastoral Symphony The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8.50–£26 (concessions available). See Thu 22.

Kirkcaldy East Fife Male Voice Choir Adam Smith Theatre, Arts and Theatres Trust Fife Ltd, Bennochy Road, 01592 583302. 7.30pm. £10. See Fri 23.

Linlithgow Djordje Gajic and Andrea Gajic Linlithgow Primary School, Preston

Classical Music Hitlist THE BEST CLASSICAL & OPERA*

✽✽ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Zacharias and Schubert One of Germany’s greatest 21st century pianists, Christian Zacharias (pictured) is an SCO favourite and equally at home on the podium as at the keyboard. Hear him in both roles in an intriguing all-Schubert evening. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thu 15 Apr; City Halls, Glasgow, Fri 16 Apr. ✽✽ RSNO: Naked Classics A chance to experience symphonic music in a unique and exciting way. A mix of projections, lighting, excerpts from the orchestra and interviews with conductor and players, all led by presenter Paul Rissmann to reveal the stories and ideas behind the music. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 23 Apr; Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 24 Apr. ✽✽ Get Organised Originally designed to be the visual and musical focal point of the Usher Hall, the venue’s organ is still one of its crowning glories. ‘City Organist’ since the post was created in 2002, John Kitchen puts the instrument through its paces in a upbeat lunchtime programme of waltzes and marches by Strauss. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Tue 20 Apr.

Road, 01506 844645. 8.30pm. £8 (£4–£7). Classical and gypsy music, featuring Kreisler, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky, performed by the violin and accordion duo.

Perth Scottish Ensemble: Eight Seasons Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 7.30pm. £12–£14.50. See Wed 21. St Andrews St Andrews Chorus Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 7.30pm. £3–£9. Michael Downes conducts as the choir performs Mozart’s fantastic Mass in C minor alongside other works by the composer.

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15–29 Apr 2010 THE LIST 81