MUSIC | Classical
PIANO-FOCUSED FESTIVAL THE PIANO Various venues, Glasgow, Wed 13 Nov–Sun 1 Dec
Now presenting its third annual November-time programme, Glasgow’s The Piano festival is back with a whole raft of piano-focussed concerts ranging from the super-accessible film scores of Ludovico Einaudi, performed by the man himself, to the astonishing tour de force that is Stockhausen’s ‘Kontakte’.
Amid all the current furore about female conductors – or, rather, the lack of them – The Piano puts female artists centre stage. Over the weekend of Fri 15–Sun 17 Nov, you can experience one of Bach’s greatest keyboard interpreters, Angela Hewitt, and the glitzy glamour of the famous French Labeque sisters in a programme inspired by New York and Paris. Nicolas Hodges and Colin Currie are the performers for the Stockhausen performance. London born Hodges comes to Scotland from Stuttgart, where he teaches piano at the conservatory there. Currie (pictured), brought up in Edinburgh, is a massive fan of the piece they perform together, the title of which simply translates as ‘contacts’ and refers to contacts between acoustic, instrumental sounds made by the two players and the electronic sounds of the pre-digital tape. It is a theatrical piece, requiring agile physicality of Currie in particular. ‘I have loved “Kontakte” since I was 12’, he says, ‘and used the music for wallpaper in my bedroom.’ By all accounts, it is a truly remarkable piece of music and the Glasgow performance is one not to be missed. As the piece ends, Currie describes it by saying, ‘You are left frozen in magic. To live these moments collectively, to fuse in this joint meditative state, is one of the deepest human experiences we can share.’ (Carol Main) ■ See glasgowconcerthalls.com for info.
of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. noon. £4 (£3). Works by Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Prokofiev. BBC SSO: Britten 100 – Noye’s Fludde City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 3–5pm. Free but limited to four per application. Martyn Brabbins conducts, with Siobhan Redmond as the voice of God. Amicus Orchestra Renfield St Stephen’s Church, 260 Bath Street, 332 2826. 7pm. £12.50 (£8; students £5). Gordon Bragg conducts works by Tom Wilson, Ravel, Takemitsu and Prokofiev’s Symphony No 1. Guest soloist: James Willshire (piano). Katia and Marielle Labèque Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £15–£20 (£13–£18; under 26s £5). Distinguished piano duo plays Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin and Philip Glass. The Piano 2013. Edinburgh Scottish Opera: Don Giovanni Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 4pm. £10– £78. See Thu 14. FREE St Giles’ at Six St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. The Nenthorn Ensemble plays Mozart.
Tuesday 19
Edinburgh Scottish Opera: Don Giovanni Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £10–£78. See Thu 14. 94 THE LIST 14 Nov–12 Dec 2013
Wednesday 20 Edinburgh FREE Very Wednesday St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 12.15pm. Will Pickvance (piano) and guests entertain each Wednesday. Edinburgh Quartet St Andrew’s and St George’s Church, 13 George Street, 225 3847. 5.30pm. Free–£10. Quartets by Haydn.
Thursday 21
Glasgow BBC SSO: Mahler 4 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11– £24. Martyn Brabbins conducts works by Britten and Mahler’s Symphony No 4, featuring Elizabeth Watts (soprano). MusicLab: Rory Boyle Professorial Address Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £11 (£8.50). New works. Edinburgh FREE Erskine String Quartet Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. 6–6.30pm. Music by Britten’s teacher Frank Bridge. Scottish Opera: Don Giovanni Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £10–£78. See Thu 14. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Schumann Symphony Cycle I Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £10–£30 (£5–£28; under 16s free). Robin Ticciati conducts Schumann symphonies and Mozart’s Piano
Concerto No 25 with Paul Lewis. Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7.45pm. £8 (£5). Music for St Cecilia.
Friday 22
Glasgow RCS Stevenson Winds Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 1pm. £11 (£8.50). Student showcase. John Wilson & the John Wilson Orchestra Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £24. Classic film music. Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Schumann Symphony Cycle I City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £14–£28. See Thu 21. Edinburgh RSNO: Lugansky Plays ‘The Emperor’ Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £11.50–£36 (students & under 26s £5; under 16s free). Peter Oundjian conducts Messiaen and Rachmaninov, plus Beethoven’s ’Emperor’ Concerto featuring Nikolai Lugansky.
Saturday 23 Glasgow Andrea Bocelli The SSE Hydro, Exhibition Way, 248 3000. 6.30pm. £45. Multi-million-selling tenor. Glasgow University Chapel Choir Glasgow University Memorial Chapel, University Avenue, 330 4092.
7.30–8.15pm. £8 (students £6). Student concert. RSNO: Lugansky Plays ‘The Emperor’ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11.50–£35 (students & under 26s £5; under 16s free). See Fri 22. Edinburgh FREE Lunchtime Concert St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 12.15pm. Salvatore Vaccarella (piano). Scottish Opera: Don Giovanni Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.15pm. £10–£78. See Thu 14. Chapter House Singers St Mary’s Cathedral, 23 Palmerston Place, 225 6293. 7.30pm. £10 (accompanied schoolchildren free). Choral works by Britten, Finzi and Leighton. Edinburgh University Music Society Sinfonia Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square, 651 3212. 7.30pm. £8 (£5). Student concert. Meadows Chamber Orchestra Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, meadowsorchestra.org.uk 7.45pm. £11 (£9; students £5; children £1). Chris George conducts works by Mozart, Beethoven and John de Simone.
Sunday 24 Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh University Chamber Choir St Andrew’s and St George’s Church, 13 George Street, 225 3847. 3–5pm. Mealor’s A Spotless Rose and traditional carols.