MUSIC | Classical
RSNO: John Lill Plays Grieg Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £11.50–£35 (£5–£17.50; under 16s free). Christian Kluxen conducts Lars-Erik Larsson’s En vintersaga and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 1; John Lill is the soloist in Grieg’s enduringly popular Piano Concerto. Saturday 15
Glasgow Glasgow Orchestral Society Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church, Nithsdale Rd, Pollokshields, 427 1968. 7.30pm. £10 (children & unemployed £5). Ross Gunning conducts Bizet; Offenbach; Britten’s arrangement of Rossini’s Soirees Musicales; Saint-Saens and Falla. RSNO: John Lill Plays Grieg Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11.50–£35 (£5–£17.50; under 16s free). See Fri 14. Edinburgh Edinburgh Singers Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 668 2019. 7.30– 9.30pm. £10 (£8; under 12s free). Bach’s Magnificat and seasonal songs. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Weber Wind Concertos The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk St, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £10–£29 (£5–£27; under 16s free). See Fri 14. St Andrew Camerata: An Eastern European Christmas Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7.30pm. £tbc. Sacred and secular works from Eastern Europe to celebrate Christmas, together with readings.
Sunday 16
Glasgow Scottish Cinema Organ Trust Pollokshaws Burgh Halls, 2025 Pollokshaws Rd, 632 5811. 2.45pm. £7 (members £6). Recital of Christmas music on the cinema organ. Edinburgh FREE Christmas Choirs National Museum of Scotland, Chambers St, 0300 123 6789. 1–4pm. Seasonal tunes from local choirs. FREE St Giles’ at Six: Rudsambee St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. Christmas choral music. Raymond Gubbay: Christmas Classics with Lesley Garrett Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £15.50–£37.50. The celebrated soprano stars in an evening of seasonal music, accompanied by the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, conducted by Paul Bateman.
Monday 17
Glasgow Glasgow Schools Christmas Concerts City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7pm. £9 (£7). Young musicians performing in various ensembles. Glasgow Philharmonic Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew St, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £15 (£12). Christmas concert from Glasgow’s leading male voice choir, featuring showtunes, carols and Christmas songs. Edinburgh St Mary’s Music School Christmas Concert Palmerston Place Church, 12 Palmerston Place, 538 7766. 7.30–9.30pm. £8 (£5; children £1). Seasonal favourites with young musicians.
Tuesday 18
Glasgow Glasgow Schools Christmas Concerts City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7pm. £9 (£7). See Mon 17. 128 THE LIST 13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013
Glasgow Philharmonic Male Voice Choir Extra Concert Adelaides, 209 Bath St, 248 4970. 7.30–9.30pm. £10. Following their sold- out Christmas concert, the choir gives a special extra concert with two guest choirs. The Opera Experience Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Rd, Giffnock, 946 0966. 7.30pm. £10. Glasgow-born tenor Martin Aelred is accompanied by classical guitar and the Sounds International Choir. Raymond Gubbay: Christmas Classics with Lesley Garrett Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £24.50–£37.50. See Sun 16. Sandie Bishop & Flora Tzanetaki Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Avenue (off University Avenue), 334 0454. 7.30pm. Entry by donation. Bishop
(violin) and Tzanetaki (piano) play violin & piano sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms, as well as Bach’s celebrated Chaconne for solo violin, in a benefit for Amnesty International. Edinburgh James Gillespie’s High School Carol Concert Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £6–£10. Seasonal favourites from young instrumentalists and singers.
Wednesday 19 Glasgow Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival: Katherine Jenkins Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £35–£55. Crossover singer performs carols and showtunes.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC CHRISTMAS CONCERTS ACROSS SCOTLAND Various venues and dates, Edinburgh and Glasgow, see classical listings
Christmas isn’t Christmas without carols. And, of course, The Messiah. That’s certainly what the evidence of this month’s listings would suggest. Carols by candlelight, carols for charity, carols with brass, orchestra, organ, carols for male choirs, female choirs, mixed choirs and soloists – the choice is endless in the run up to Christmas. New on the scene this year is Edinburgh Brass Band, who give their debut concert at St John’s in the West End, so a perfect location for some seasonal music as antidote to Princes St shopping. Sunday 16 December is choir-time marathon, with the National Museum of Scotland providing several in free performances in the afternoon, Rudsambee, again free of charge, in St Giles’ Cathedral early evening and soprano diva Lesley Garrett with the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union in the Usher Hall later on. In Glasgow, the following week is alive with Christmas sounds night
after night, with Jingle Bell Christmas bringing upbeat numbers like ‘Let it Snow’ and ‘Santa Baby’ to the Royal Concert Hall. Even Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins appears in a mid-week Christmas show- stealer. Handel’s Messiah can be heard this festive season in two versions.
Dunedin Consort give their acclaimed interpretation with small numbers and original instruments pre-Christmas and Edinburgh Royal Choral Union give their annual New Year performance at the Usher Hall, something they have done for 126 years, so it should be good. Take a picnic for the interval.
If, however, you say bah humbug to all Christmas music, then head for Red Note and The End of the World, in a one-off, site-specific music theatre performance about the predicted apocalypse on 21 December. There is only space for 100, so if sold-out – and it turns out not to be the end of the world – there’s plenty more music to choose from coming up in 2013. (Carol Main)
Edinburgh FREE Very Wednesday St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 12.15pm. Will Pickvance (piano) and guests play classical favourites and new material. Dunedin Consort: Handel’s Messiah The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk St, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £12–£22. The Dunedin Consort gives its annual performance (on original instruments) of Handel’s blockbuster. John Butt directs. Red Note: Hymn of Thanks St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 9pm. £10 (£5). Red Note’s string quartet plays epically sad music, including the fifth movement of Gorecki’s Quartet No 3, Takemitsu’s A Way a lone, the adagio from Beethoven’s String Quartet No 15 Op 32, and Arvo Pärt’s keening Fratres.
Thursday 20
Glasgow Bothwell Philharmonic Choir Christmas Charity Concert Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew St, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £14. Opera favourites, carols and seasonal songs, featuring special guest soloists. Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus and Orchestra: Celebrate! Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10–£14. Seasonal songs and Christmas favourites in a benefit concert for Children’s Hospice Association Scotland. Red Note: Hymn of Thanks Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Avenue (off University Avenue), 334 0454. 9pm. £10 (£5). See Wed 19. Edinburgh Raymond Gubbay: Carols by Candlelight Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £15.50–£37.50. The Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Consort of Voices with guest soprano Rachel Nicholls, and conductor Michael Bawtree perform sacred works by Handel, Vivaldi, Bach, Corelli and Gruber. In 18th century costume, no less.
Friday 21
Glasgow A Traditional Christmas City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £15 (under 14s £12). The Scottish Concert Singers and conductor Colin McKenzie present seasonal favourites. Raymond Gubbay: Carols by Candlelight Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £22–£32.50. See Thu 20. Edinburgh Red Note: The End of the World (for one night only) Traverse @ Summerhall, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 228 1404. 9pm. £6–£15.50. One-off music-theatre presentation featuring music by Gareth Williams, John Harris, Hanna Tuulikki, Colin Broom and Ludwig van Beethoven and writing by Oliver Emmanuel. Andy Arnold directs. Places are strictly limited. Booking essential.
Saturday 22
Glasgow The RSNO Christmas Concert: The Snowman Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, 353 8000. 2pm & 6pm. £12.50–£34 (£6.25–£17). Family-friendly concert of carols and seasonal tunes, including a screening of the 1982 film of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman with live musical accompaniment. Christopher Bell conducts. Edinburgh FREE Music in the Museum National Museum of Scotland, Chambers St, 0300 123 6789. 3.15pm. Free afternoon concert. FREE Jeremy Cull St Cuthbert’s