RSNO Announces 2007-2008 Season PDF Print E-mail

  • Stéphane Denève’s contract extended to 2011
  • Dance theme features major ballet scores   
  • New works commissioned from Guillaume Connesson and John Corigliano   
  • World-class soloists and guest conductors for new Season
  • Conductor Laureate Neeme Järvi returns to the RSNO with Wagner Scottish début   
  • Naked Classics continues for second year, Classic Bites developed as new Rush Hour Series  
  • Edinburgh Festival Theatre is RSNO’s Edinburgh venue for 2007-2008   
  • Bigger Subscription discounts and single ticket prices held at last year’s level

 

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) today announced its 2007-2008 Season, designed to build on the 30% average growth in audiences across Scotland in 2006-2007; carrying forward the Orchestra’s successful audience development initiatives and showcasing the ever-increasing stature of the RSNO/Denève partnership.  RSNO Music Director Stéphane Denève extends contract until 2011Stéphane Denève will continue as Music Director of Scotland’s national orchestra until at least the end of the 2010-2011 Season, extending his contract by a further three years.  Long term ambitions include foreign tours on three continents, recording the orchestral works of Roussel, and the fulfilment of the Mahler Symphony cycle.


RSNO Music Director Stéphane Denève welcomed the continuation of his relationship with the Orchestra: 

“When something is totally right, it needs little explanation.  I love the RSNO, I adore our audience and I feel totally at home now in Scotland.  That is why I didn’t hesitate in accepting my renewal and continue to build my very close relationship with this wonderful organisation.

“We have a fantastic year ahead to look forward to.  Premières of Connesson and Corigliano, a superb line-up of world-class soloists, an exciting ‘Dance' theme exploring the best ballets and symphonic dances of our repertoire, including a complete Daphnis and Chloé and my first Rite of Spring; and the continuation of our Mahler Symphony cycle with his third and fourth. I have been delighted to introduce wonderful music to so many new faces in the audience over my first two years with the Orchestra - especially at our Naked Classics and Classic Bites concerts. And introducing young people and families to the live symphonic experience is a wonderful privilege.”


In his third year with the Orchestra, Denève continues his celebration of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler, performing Nos. 3 and 4, and opens the Season with a world première of Guillaume Connesson’s Aleph: Symphonic Dances.
For a third year, Denève presents music of his compatriot, Albert Roussel, with a performance of Symphony No4 (following Symphony No3 in 2006-2007 and Bacchus et Ariane in 2005-2006).

 
Dance theme features major ballet works
The Season’s main theme is Dance, Movement and Rhythm, an opportunity for the Orchestra perform some of the most colourful works of the orchestral repertoire, including Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales and Mother Goose Suite, and Beethoven’s Symphony No7, named ‘The Apotheosis of the Dance’ by Wagner.  20th century dance related music featured includes Stravinsky’s Firebird, The Fairy’s Kiss and Rite of Spring, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Aaron Jay Kernis’ New Era Dance, Guillaume Connesson’s Aleph: Symphonic Dances and a complete performance of Ravel’s Daphnis at Chloé, with surtitles. Many other dance allusions appear embedded in works throughout the season, such as Debussy’s Iberia and Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony.

New works
The 2007-2008 Season opens with a world première of Guillaume Connesson’s Aleph: Symphonic Dances, the third instalment of the ‘cosmological trilogy’ that includes Supernova (2000) and RSNO commission Une Leure dans l’age Sombre (2005). This new work is a co-commission with the Toronto Symphony and New World Symphony orchestras.  Also new to the UK will be multiple Grammy Award and Pulitzer prize-winning American composer John Corigliano’s Percussion Concerto, a UK première and RSNO co-commission*. 

Soloists

The 2007-2008 Season sees some of the finest classical musicians join Scotland’s national symphony orchestra.  Emanuel Ax is considered among the greatest pianists of his generation and will open the Season with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No5 Emperor.  Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky plays Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No1. Long-time friend of the RSNO, John Lill CBE, performs once again for Scottish audiences, on this occasion Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No1. Lars Vogt, considered by Sir Simon Rattle to be one of the most accomplished musicians of any generation, performs Grieg’s Piano Concerto.  The talented American Jonathan Biss makes his first appearance with the Orchestra and plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No22 (K.482).  The celebrated Canadian master of the keyboard Louis Lortie is the final pianist of the season, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No23 (K.488).
  
Natalie Clein is an exceptional British cellist and former BBC Young Musician of the Year and will be performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No1.  Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No1 will be played by world-renowned British-born cellist Steven Isserlis.

Percussionist Evelyn Glennie, who became Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2006 for Services to Music, makes a welcome return with the UK première performances of John Corigliano’s Percussion Concerto, an RSNO co-commission*.

Young British Classical Performer of the Year at the Classical Brits Awards 2006, Alison Balsom makes her first appearance playing Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto.

French violinist Renaud Capuçon, though no stranger to Scotland, makes his RSNO début with Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No1.  British prodigy Chloë Hanslip returns with Mozart’s Violin Concerto No3 and young Canadian Karen Gomyo performs Dvořák’s Violin Concerto.  Scottish virtuoso Nicola Benedetti returns for the season finale and will perform Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No1.

For audiences in Dundee there will be a special one night performance by Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.  The programme will also feature a return of two familiar French works, Debussy’s Prélude à l’apres midi d’un faune and La Mer. 

 
RSNO Conductor Laureate – Neeme Järvi
The RSNO is pleased to have re-established its relationship with one of the most important conductors of our time, Neeme Järvi.  Maestro Järvi returns with a programme of dramatic statement.  Haydn’s ‘Clock’ symphony, the ninth of the ‘London’ symphonies, is followed by the Scottish première of Henk de Vlieger’s symphonic arrangement of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, The Ring, an Orchestral Adventure. 

Emeritus Conductors
Following his previous season’s offering of non-Russian repertoire, Conductor Emeritus Alexander Lazarev returns to the music of his homeland this year, with a programme of symphonic, ballet and operatic music.  The Divertimento from Stravinsky’s The Fairy’s Kiss is followed by Tatiana’s letter scene from Tchaikovsky’s lyrical opera Eugene Onegin with Rachmaninov’s Third Symphony completing the programme.

Hugely popular Conductor Emeritus, Walter Weller, is joined by his friend, the equally well-loved British pianist John Lill.  Lill will perform Beethoven’s ‘third’ Piano Concerto No1.  The programme will also feature Weber’s Overture to Oberon and Schumann’s Symphony No3 Rhenish.

Guest Conductors
Three guest conductors make their débuts this season. Norwegian Arild Remmereit conducts Arvo Pärt’s Festina Lente, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No1 and fellow countryman Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No2.  Canadian Bernard Labadie conducts Mozart’s Mass in C and Schubert’s Symphony No5. Rossen Milanov, Associate Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducts a work by Philadelphian composer Aaron Jay Kernis entitled New Era Dance, followed by Mozart’s Piano Concerto No22 (K.482) and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No4.

Jakub Hrusa makes a welcome return to the RSNO after an acclaimed début in the 2005-2006 Season, with a programme weighted towards music from his homeland, including Smetana’s Bartered Bride Overture, and Dvořák’s The Noon-day Witch and Slavonic Dances.  BBC National Orchestra of Wales Conductor Emeritus Richard Hickox directs Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem, Mahler’s Rückert Lieder and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.  Kristjan Järvi makes his second visit, bringing Grieg’s Lyric Suite, Nielsen’s Flute Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony No6.  Carlos Kalmar joins the Orchestra following his début in 2000 with a Scottish-themed programme: Mendelssohn’s Symphony No3 Scottish, Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto and MacMillan’s The Confession of Isobel Gowdie. Claus Peter Flor rejoins the RSNO following their successful appearance together at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2006 with Janácek’s Prelude to From the House of the Dead, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem Also sprach Zarathustra.

Naked Classics
After an acclaimed first season, Naked Classics continues its unique, informal and relaxed presentation/performance for those who are new to the experience of live orchestral music, as well as for music lovers who want to know more about their favourite works. Each Naked Classics concert at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall examines a key composition from the classical repertoire. In the first half, presenter Paul Rissmann dissects the work in an accessible and entertaining manner, using visuals, film clips, musical demonstrations, and discussions with the conductor, musicians and audience.  After the interval the Orchestra performs the work from beginning to end. Tickets are only £10 each.


Naked Classics also has an important education and outreach component, which involves taking RSNO musicians into communities where cultural provision is sparse, and bringing members of those communities to The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to hear these engaging and exciting presentations.  Last year over 1,500 visitors to the concert hall experienced live orchestral music for the first time through Naked Classics.

Classic Bites
The RSNO’s successful pre-Season taster concert, Classic Bites, evolves this year in Glasgow with the addition of three accessible, early-evening classical experiences. The programmes will be announced in September and all tickets are only £10 each.


Edinburgh Relocation for 2007-2008 Season
During the 2007-2008 Season the RSNO’s Edinburgh home, the Usher Hall, will be closed while Phase II of its renovations get underway, upgrading the ninety-three year old concert venue.  During this time, the RSNO will perform at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.  The RSNO will perform fifteen concerts during the period; six at the regular time of 7.30pm on a Friday, while the remaining nine dates will be on Sundays at the earlier time of 6.00pm.  The RSNO will return to the Usher Hall for the start of its 2008-2009 Season in September 2008.

Pricing
After the comprehensive and well received restructuring of the pricing policy in 2006-2007 the RSNO has frozen all single ticket prices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee for 2007-2008.


In Aberdeen, single ticket prices have been adjusted to be consistent with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, as part of an initiative to build audiences for orchestral music in the region.  The Music Hall has been split into four price bands, with the lowest ticket price now £8.50, a reduction of 32% from the previous season.

Subscribers to four RSNO Season concerts or more will continue to make substantial savings on single ticket costs.  Subscribing to four concerts saves 20% at all of the RSNO’s main venues.  By subscribing to all 14 concerts in Edinburgh patrons can make a 40% saving and for a 24 concert subscription in Glasgow patrons are able to save up to 55%.

The RSNO’s unique Kids Go Free programme, successfully trialled last year, will continue to provide free tickets for under 16s and a number of new marketing initiatives are planned to will raise awareness amongst children, families and schools.  Similarly, development of the RSNO’s free Under 26 card will continue in 2007-2008.  The card enables the purchase of concert tickets for £5.00.  In its first year, the programme saw over 1,600 applicants for the card, many of whom were new RSNO attenders.
 
Corporate Partners
The RSNO has an established track record of working with the business community to deliver creative and flexible partnerships.  In February 2007 the partnership with energy group TOTAL E&P UK Ltd was recognised with an Arts & Business Scotland Award.  The relationship with TOTAL E&P UK Ltd continues in 2007-2008 with a series of title-sponsored concerts in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and the progression of innovative education projects in the Grampian region.

The Orchestra is also grateful to sponsors Scottish Power, Western Saab and The essentiagroup for their continued support, to new sponsor ExxonMobil and to media partners stv, the Evening Times,  BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. The RSNO is looking forward to working with all sponsors and partners over the next year.

RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods unveiled the new season, saying: “This is time of extraordinary success for the RSNO, with dramatically increased attendance and almost unprecedented acclaim for the Orchestra’s performances. The announcement of Stéphane Denève’s commitment through 2011 is a happy day for music in Scotland. There have been great achievements already in this young relationship, but I firmly believe that the best is still to come, and our superb 2007-2008 Season will provide opportunities for more and more people to experience the special magic of Scotland’s national orchestra.”



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