Music CLASSICAL
Saturday 27
Glasgow RSNO: St Andrew’s Party Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£32 (concessions available). Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and the RSNO host their annual evening of world-class music and banter, joined by special guests. Edinburgh Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £9.50–£63.50. See Fri 19. Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra: Autumn Concert Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 226 0000. 7.30pm. £tbc. Andrea Gajic is soloist in Brahms’ demanding Violin Concerto in an evening of music also featuring Beethoven’s Leonore Overture and Elgar’s Symphony No 2. Edinburgh University Chamber Choir Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 8pm. £8 (£5). Organist Stuart Hope and harpist Alina Bzhezhinska join the choir in a performance of some much- loved works by Benjamin Britten, including the Te Deum in C, the Hymn to St Cecilia and excerpts from the Ceremony of Carols. Eric von Ibler conducts.
Paisley Chopin Bicentenary Celebration with Aleksander Kudajczyk Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close, 887 1010. 7.30pm. £10 (£8; under 26s £2.). The St James Orchestra presents a concert to mark the 200th anniversary of Frederic Chopin’s birth, joined by renowned contemporary Polish musician Aleksander Kudajczyk.
Perth FREE St Andrew’s Day Big Sing Perth Concert Hall, 01738 621031. 6pm. Eight Perthshire choirs team up with international musicians for 20-minute musical sets in this musical smorgasbord. Expect songs in tongues from Gaelic to Mandarin.
St Andrews FREE Amici Cantate and Michael Kibblewhite Holy Trinity Church, Queens Terrace, 01334 478625. 10.30–11.30am. Singing a range of songs from gospel to Christmas carols, Amici Cantate join with local schoolchildren and the audience for a short programme of music. Come along and help to make a joyous noise. Part of the St Andrews Festival. FREE Amici Cantate and Michael Kibblewhite: Hands Across the Border Holy Trinity Church, Queens Terrace, 01334 478625. 8.30–9.30pm. Scottish, English and American seasonal tunes featuring all the Christmas favourites. Part of the St Andrews Festival.
Sunday 28
Glasgow The Brodsky Quartet RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 1pm. £10 (£7). The Brodsky quartet performs Purcell’s Fantasy in Five Parts, Britten’s Fantasy Quintet, Mozart’s String Quintet in C Major and Janácek’s String Quartet No 2. With guest viola player Scott Dickinson, more usually found as principal with the BBC SSO. FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3–3.45pm. See Sun 21. Amicus St Andrews in the Square, 1 St Andrew’s Square, 559 5902. 7.30pm. £12 (£8). Exciting new chamber orchestra with Michael Bawtree conducting pieces by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Strauss. A Celebration of MGM Film Music Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £22.50–£40. A reprise of the popular tribute to the golden days of MGM film music, which saw John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra collaborate with Sir Thomas Allen, Curtis 82 THE LIST 18 Nov–2 Dec 2010
Stigers, Kim Criswell and special guest Seth Family Guy MacFarlane. Tributes to Gershwin and Cole Porter share the bill with a range of silver screen favourites. University of Glasgow Choral Society Concert Bute Hall, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, 330 4092. 7.30pm. £tbc. The University Chapel Choir is joined by the Orchestra of Scottish Opera for a performance of Schumann’s rarely-performed cantata Das Paradies und die Peri. Edinburgh Linton Singers: Mary’s Meals Concert Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7pm. £8. The Linton Singers perform Praetorius’ Christmas Mass in aid of global food charity Mary’s Meals. Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 7.30pm. £8 (£5). Simon Smith is soloist in Beethoven’s gorgeous Piano Concerto No 4, and the orchestra performs Schumann’s Symphony No 1. David Watkin conducts. Edinburgh University Music Society Symphony Orchestra Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 7.30pm. £8 (£5). Russell Cowieson conducts Rimsky-Korsakov’s exotic, pictorial Scheherazade.
Dundee Dundee Symphony Orchestra Concert Caird Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £10 (£8; students £5). Robert Dick conducts the orchestra through a suitable festive programme including Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel Overture, Schumann’s Symphony No 4 in D minor and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite No 1.
Haddington FREE Saltire Carol Service Corn Exchange, Main Street, 01620 827282. 5.15–5.45pm. Community carol service with the Trinity Bells and the switching-on of the Christmas tree lights. Part of The Saltire. St Andrews The Edinburgh Quartet Holy Trinity Church, Queens Terrace, 01334 478625. 2.30–4.30pm. £10 (£4–£8). Performances of Haydn’s Op 77 No 1 in G, Dvorak’s Two Waltzes and Borodin’s String Quartet No 2 in D Major. Part of the St Andrews Festival.
Monday 29 Glasgow Mondays at One Concert Series RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 1pm. £6 (£4). Oboe players from the Woodwind Department join up for this showcase concert under leader Stephen West. FREE BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Discovering Music City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 2pm. Max 2 tickets per applicant. Conductor Martyn Brabbins and the BBC SSO explore Elgar’s symphonic study Falstaff, a musical portrait of the roguish Shakespearean character. To be recorded for BBC Radio 3; under 12s not admitted.
Tuesday 30 Glasgow Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. 7.15pm. £10–£63 (concessions available). See Fri 19. FREE St Mary’s Music School Chamber Music Concert Guinness Room, RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. Chamber music from some of Scotland’s most gifted young musicians. MusicLab does Birtwistle Concert Hall, RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £6 (£4). One of the most influential and important British composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, Harrison Birtwistle, is celebrated in appropriate style under the baton of Jessica Cottis.
Edinburgh FREE The Edinburgh Quartet Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 1.10pm. The acclaimed foursome performs Haydn’s Quartet in G Op 77 No 1 and Britten’s Quartet No 3. Artisan Trio St Andrew’s & St George’s Church, George Street. 6pm. £10 (£5). Recently formed trio of violin, cello and piano in the second of their Cascades series of chamber concerts featuring the best of contemporary and classic piano trios, linked by the music of Johannes Brahms. An early evening treat of Brahms’ Piano Trio No 2, Thea Musgrave’s Canta, canta! and General Reid His Dumpe by Alasdair Nicolson. Tickets available on the door.
Wednesday 1
Glasgow FREE Contemporary Music Ensemble Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. 1.10pm. A concert on a theme of ‘composing beyond norms’ from the University of Glasgow’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, with an exploration of contemporary and avant-garde repertoire, alternating between written scores and musical spontaneity. FREE Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Unwrapped Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. 6pm. See Thu 18. Ensemble Thing CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 8pm. £6. Thing offers a dynamic and engaging new take on the contemporary music ensemble, dedicated to playing original and interesting music. Perth Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Collard plays Ravel Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 7.30pm. £8.50–£23 (concessions available). Guest star, French pianist Jean-Phillipe Collard, joins the SCO for Ravel’s quirky, playful Piano Concerto in G, which is performed alongside Takemitsu’s contrastingly sombre How Slow the Wind and Beethoven’s Symphony No 4.
Thursday 2
Glasgow FREE Madrigirls Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. 1.10pm. The all-female choir presents a mixed bag of medieval, traditional and contemporary music.
✽✽ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: This Sceptered Isle
City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7pm. £10–£23 (£8–£21). The BBC SSO’s 75th birthday concert begins with the world première of a new work by Scottish composer Helen Grime and features as a special guest soloist fellow Scot, Nicola Benedetti. She performs Beethoven’s lyrical and highly popular Violin Concerto. Finally, a work the orchestra has performed often with Martyn Brabbins at the helm, Walton’s Symphony No 1. Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. 7.15pm. £10–£63 (concessions available). See Fri 19. RSAMD Wind Orchestra and Big Band RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £11 (£8). A grand night out with toe-tapping tunes from the jazzy Big Band combined with humorous repertoire on the lighter side from the RSAMD Wind Orchestra. Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh University Composer’s Orchestra Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 7.30pm. Nigel Osborne conducts a programme of new works composed and performed by university music students. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Collard plays Ravel The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £9–£27 (concessions available). See Wed 1.
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THE BEST CLASSICAL & OPERA
✽✽ Shadow Aspect Commissioned by Edinburgh Royal Choral Union last year to celebrate the choir’s 150th anniversary, Judith Bingham’s Shadow Aspect was such a success that it is receiving another airing this year, along with a brand new piece for solo timpani penned by the same composer and written especially for ERCU’s guest timpanist, Philip Hague. St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Nov. ✽✽ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: This Sceptered Isle It started as a modestly- sized studio orchestra in 1935, but the BBC SSO celebrates its 75th birthday as a model symphony orchestra of the 21st century. Joining the onstage party is violinist Nicola Benedetti, who gives her first performance in Scotland of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. City Halls, Glasgow, Thu 2 Dec. ✽✽ Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro (pictured) Stunningly beautiful production of Mozart favourite is directed by Sir Thomas Allen, a singer who has appeared in the opera many times himself in the past. An all- round superb cast is headed up by Thomas Oliemans as Figaro, with Nadine Livingston a delightful Susanna and baritone Roderick Williams in very fine form as the Count. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Fri 19, Sat 21, Tue 23, Thu 25 & Sat 27 Nov; Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 30 Nov, Thu 2 Dec, Sat 4 Dec.
Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7.45pm. £7 (£4). Director Noel O’Regan conducts EURS in a programme of music which links 16th-century continental Europe with Scotland. Perth ChildLine Christmas Concert Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 7.30pm. £9 (children £4.50). Musicians and singers from Perth and Kinross schools join together to provide a joyous evening of Christmas music, carols and popular classics.