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Classical | MUSIC
OPERA ORFEO ED EURIDICE Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thu 19, Sun 22, Wed 25, Sat 28 Feb; Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Tue 3, Thu 5, Sat 7 Mar
It’s a well-known tale. And one especially so in the world of opera, as the great myth of Orpheus and his determination to rescue his beloved wife from the underworld is one which inspired what is generally regarded as the first proper opera, Monteverdi’s Orfeo. But it is not early opera that Scottish Opera turn to for their telling of the story (and neither is it Haydn or Offenbach who were both also drawn to its subject matter), but 18th-century Gluck and his ‘reform’ style, in which the ‘noble simplicity’ of the music and drama takes centre stage. In a new production of Orfeo ed Euridice, Ashley Page,
previously artistic director of Scottish Ballet, leads an internationally renowned creative team as both director and choreographer. Not surprisingly, dance is a key component of the piece, with the beautifully elegant ‘Dance of the Blessed Spirits’ contrasting with the darker colours of the ‘Dance of the Furies’. ‘My ballets have almost always had a strong sense of collaboration between the disciplines of dance, music and design,’ says Page. ‘So, directing an opera with a considerable dance element seems a logical step for me to take.’
On the musical front, the role of Orfeo was originally written for a castrato, but these days is sung by a mezzo-soprano. In this case it’s Australian Caitlin Hulcup, who was last seen with the company six years ago in Così fan tutte, with soprano Lucy Hall singing opposite her as Euridice. ‘I’m particularly looking forward to working with such a talented, high-calibre group of singers and dancers,’ says Page. ‘I had a great time with Scottish Ballet and built up a wonderfully loyal and enthusiastic following there, so it feels right to be creating something for Scottish audiences again.’ (Carol Main)
CLASSICAL HIGHLIGHTS
HITLIST EDINBURGH
SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
ST PETERSBURG SYMPHONY
Nicola Benedetti
Usher Hall, Sun 15 Feb, usherhall. co.uk Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet; Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor featuring the great Natalie Clein, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 6 in B minor ‘Pathétique’. Alexander Dmitriev conducts.
R E L W O F N O M S
I
ORCHESTRA: MITSUKO UCHIDA
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thu 5 Feb, usherhall.co.uk; City Halls, Glasgow, Fri 6 Feb, glasgowconcerthalls.com One of the most loved pianists of her time, Mitsuko Uchida takes on the beauty and wit of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G.
SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE WITH AMY DICKSON: SAX
SERENADE
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat Feb 21, thequeenshall.net The Scottish Ensemble are joined by guest soloist Amy Dickson for Glazunov’s delicous saxophone concerto.
JAMIE BARTON The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 7 Mar, thequeenshall.net Cardiff Singer of the Year and Lieder Prize winner 2013, mezzo- soprano Jamie Barton gives her first European recital.
Donald Runnicles conducts. Also Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 22 Feb, usherhall.co.uk
BBC SSO: HEAR AND NOW – PIERRE BOULEZ
City Halls, Sat 28 Feb, glasgowconcerthalls.com Works by Marko Nikodijevic, Manfred Trojahn and Vito Žuraj, plus Pierre Boulez’s spectacular ...explosante- fixe.... Matthias Pintscher conducts.
HEBRIDES ENSEMBLE: BBC SSO: OSBORNE PLAYS
CLARINET QUINTETS
CAMERATA SALZBURG BEETHOVEN
Greyfriars Kirk, Mon 2 Mar, greyfriarskirk.com The ensemble plays quintets for clarinet by Johannes Brahms and the Korean- born composer Isang Yun (1917– 1995). Usher Hall, Sun 15 Mar, usherhall. co.uk Ben Gernon conducts Bartok’s Divertimento, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 5, Rondo for Violin and Orchestra K373 and Symphony No 29, plus Bruckner’s Adagio For Strings, with guest violinist Nicola Benedetti.
SCOTTISH CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA: MOZART REQUIEM GLASGOW
City Halls, Thu 19 Mar, glasgowconcerthalls.com Sibelius’ Karelia Overture Op 10 (not the similarly-named Suite) is followed by Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 2, featuring Steven Osborne. Finally, Stenhammar’s Symphony No 1. Andrew Manze conducts. DUNEDIN CONSORT: ST
Usher Hall, Thu 12 Mar, usherhall. co.uk A night of unfinished works: Mozart’s Requiem in the version by his pupil Süssmayr, and the two existing movements of Schubert’s Symphony No 8. Philippe Herreweghe conducts, with guest soloists and the SCO Chorus. Also City Halls, Glasgow, Sun 15 Mar, glasgowconcerthalls.com
BBC SSO: RUNNICLES MATTHEW PASSION
CONDUCTS SIBELIUS City Halls, Thu 19 Feb, glasgowconcerthalls.com Sibelius’ Finlandia and Symphony No 7 are interweaved with Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, featuring Russian virtuoso Alina Pogostkina, and ’Leonore’ Overture No 3 Op 72b.
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Fri 27 Mar, thecathedral.org. uk John Butt OBE directs Bach’s gripping baroque masterpiece with soloists only, with each of the choir parts sung by just one singer. Also Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 29 Mar, thequeenshall.net
5 Feb–2 Apr 2015 THE LIST 81