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| Orchestra announces 08:09 Season, with great artists, new concert formats and 'Sea' theme |
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"For my fourth year as the RSNO’s Music Director we delve into the many musical depictions of the sea, as evoked by Wagner, Vaughan Williams, Glazunov, Bridge, Sibelius, Mendelssohn, Ravel and, of course, Debussy. “I’m also particularly excited to be leading ambitious French music projects including Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust, Poulenc’s La voix humaine, the continuation of our Roussel cycle, and something very dear to my heart, our Springtime in Paris mini-festival. “With the wonderful musicians of Scotland’s national orchestra, and an exceptional line-up of world-class soloists, I’m deeply proud to offer to our growing audience another exciting journey of great music!" Denève explores musical responses to the sea Stéphane Denève and the RSNO first performed Debussy’s La mer “with loving care” and “French elegance” (The Independent) in 2006 and subsequently, to critical acclaim, on 2008’s tour of Germany, Austria and Croatia. In 2008-2009, Debussy’s La mer is joined by similarly titled overtures by Glazunov and Bridge, part of a series of musical responses to the sea and ocean which also includes Wagner’s Overture to The Flying Dutchman, Sibelius’ The Oceanides, Ravel’s Une barque sur l’ocean, Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and culminates in a performance of Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No1 Sea Symphony with the RSNO Chorus, British baritone Sir Thomas Allen and Christine Goerke, who won a Grammy Award in 2003 for her performance of the same work. Rare performance of Berlioz’ The Damnation of Faust In December 2008 the RSNO presents two ambitious concert performances of Hector Berlioz’ ‘dramatic legend’, The Damnation of Faust. Conducted by Stéphane Denève, and with projected surtitles, the Orchestra will be joined by the RSNO Chorus, RSNO Junior Chorus and three internationally acclaimed operatic voices: Jennifer Larmore (the most recorded mezzo soprano of all time, with over 70 recordings) as Marguerite, bass Nicolas Cavallier as Mephistopheles and tenor Gregory Kunde in the title role of Faust. New concert format for mini-festival of music inspired by Paris Springtime in Paris, two concerts over two weekends, is Stéphane Denève’s statement of admiration for his home country and the capital where he used to live. Each concert begins at the earlier time of 7pm and is in an entirely new, three-part format, extolling the music of composers who were either inspired by the French capital or who lived – or still live - in the city. Both concerts will feature themed pre- and post-concert foyer events and music. In the first concert, Paris with Style, Denève is joined by three internationally recognised keyboard players, pianists Frank Braley and Eric Le Sage and harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, for rare concert performances of works by Francis Poulenc: his Concerto for Two Pianos and his Concert champêtre for Orchestra and harpsichord. Mozart’s Paris Symphony (No31) and Offenbach’s Gaîté Parisienne complete the evening. The second concert, A Parisian Portrait, opens with Stéphane Denève and world-renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet leading an intimate selection of salon-style music, recalling the hey-day of private Parisian performances. In the second part of the concert, Stéphane Denève will take the audience on a personal tour through the music of Paris today, exploring the music of a number of different composers, schools and styles, including the world première of Guillaume Connesson’s Piano Concerto, and demonstrating that the spirit of Paris is very much alive in the 21st century. The concert concludes with Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. Performances to celebrate Mendelssohn 200 In February the RSNO and RSNO Chorus will perform works by Felix Mendelssohn to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth. The first concert of this two part commemoration, an all-Mendelssohn programme, presents contrasting sides of the German romantic: the dramatic Piano Concerto, performed by one of the most distinctive and important pianists in the world today, Stephen Hough, and the delicate transparency of the complete score of the incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The centrepiece of the second concert, led by RSNO Conductor Emeritus Walter Weller, features performances of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, with Latvian soloist Baiba Skride. Mendelssohn’s masterpiece sits alongside works of his heroes, Schubert’s Overture to Rosamunde and Haydn’s Nelson Mass. New Music The RSNO will give the world premiere of Guillaume Connesson’s Piano Concerto on 27 March 2009, the third occasion on which Stéphane Denève and the Orchestra have commissioned and premiered music by this talented, young French composer and the fourth RSNO Season to include work him. Une Lueur dans l'age sombre, premiered by the RSNO in 2005, was dedicated to Stéphane Denéve. His Aleph, Symphonic Dances — premiered in 2007 - was described by The Guardian as ‘bright toned and imaginatively scored...crowd—pleasing, colourful music’ . The Toronto Star called it ‘a riveting showpiece’ Connesson’s Piano Concerto forms part of the second section of the RSNO’s A Parisian Portrait, a segment devoted to music by the New Parisians — a selection of composers living and working in the French capital whose work is championed by Stéphane Denève. In April 2009, acclaimed trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger, the RSNO and conductor Kristjan Järvi will give the UK premiere of an RSNO co—commission: Kurt Schwertsik’s Divertimento Macchiato for Trumpet and Orchestra. Schwertsik, a pupil of Stockhausen, is credited as a founder member of the ‘Third Viennese School’ of composition. His past collaborations include work with HK Gruber, who will conduct the RSNO for the opening performance of the 2008 Edinburgh International Festival. The composer’s music has been said to be characterised by its tonality, humour and musical irony. 08:09 Season Soloists Scotland’s national symphony orchestra is joined by some of the most talented and revered pianists for the 08:09 Season. Piotr Anderszewski will open the Season with Szymanowski’s Sinfonia concertante. British pianist Paul Lewis, who continues to garner acclaim for his Beethoven performances, returns to play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No2. Scotland’s Steven Osborne will perform Brahms’ Piano Concerto No2 in concert as well as in the preceding Naked Classics event. John Lill CBE resumes his regular Scottish appearances, performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No1. Sunwook Kim, the youngest winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition, performs Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Stephen Hough, whose approach to the keyboard was described by The Guardian as “The most perfect piano playing conceivable” returns for his second appearance, performing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No1. American violinist Rachel Barton-Pine makes her début with the Orchestra, as do fellow violinists, Latvian Baiba Skride and Israeli Vadim Gluzman. Alexandra Soumm, who was introduced to UK audiences by the RSNO in 2007, will perform Glazunov’s technically demanding Violin Concerto. Frank Peter Zimmermann, who appears regularly with all of the world’s greatest orchestras, returns to Scotland to perform Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Tchaikovsky International Competition prize winner Mario Brunello makes his début with the RSNO, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No1. Håkan Hardenberger, whom The Times referred to as “…the finest trumpet player on earth!” makes a welcome return to the Orchestra, performing an RSNO co-commission, Austrian composer Kurt Schwertsik’s Divertimento Macchiato. Argentinean cellist Sol Gabetta also makes her RSNO début, as the soloist for the season finale concerts, performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. The partnership between Stéphane Denève and one of the superstars of the voice, Dame Felicity Lott, continues to florish in 2008. In November the British soprano will perform Francis Poulenc’s mini opera La voix humaine. Conductors The RSNO continues its warm relationship with one of the most important conductors in the Orchestra’s history, Neeme Järvi. Further to the re-establishment of their much-lauded recording partnership, Maestro Järvi takes his relationship with Scottish audiences to the next level, leading performances of Sibelius’ The Oceanides and Violin Concerto, and Prokofiev’s Symphony No5. Conductor Emeritus Alexander Lazarev rejoins the Orchestra to conduct a programme including Borodin’s dramatic Symphony No2. Following his warmly-received first public concert as RSNO Assistant Conductor last year, in 08:09 David Danzmayr will champion rarely-performed Viennese works in A Viennese Gala and provide the musical accompaniment for that special time of year in Romantic Valentine’s Classics. The multiple Grammy-nominated recording partnership of the RSNO and José Serebrier make a welcome appearance together on the concert platform. Serebrier was the pupil of legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski, and so it is appropriate that he will be conducting Stokowski’s rare orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, in a programme which also features Glazunov’s La mer. Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Christof Perick, makes his Scottish conducting début with an all-Mozart programme, including two of the composer’s most popular symphonies, No38 Prague and No31 Jupiter and selected arias from The Abduction from the Seraglio. Music Director of l’Orchestre Nationale de Lyon makes a welcome return to the RSNO following a successful début last year. Jun Märkl will conduct a programme of Liszt and Tchaikovsky, featuring the Russian composer’s Symphony No6 Pathétique. Roberto Abbado makes his second appearance in two years with the Orchestra, returning to conduct a programme including Beethoven’s Symphony No5. James Judd is a regular guest conductor with British orchestras and is currently Music Director Emeritus of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He joins the RSNO to perform a programme which includes Frank Bridge’s The Sea and Beethoven’s Symphony No6 Pastoral. Kristjan Järvi follows his father Neeme’s appearance for his second programme with the RSNO. Dvořák’s Scherzo capriccioso opens an evening that also features Bruckner’s Symphony No6. Naked Classics Naked Classics enters its third season with a 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. Thursday 16 October 2008 Brahms Piano Concerto No2 Stéphane Denève (conductor)
Thursday 16 April 2009 Beethoven Symphony No6 Pastorale James Judd (conductor) 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 the Naked Classics programme made 30 community visits, equating to over 500 people attending an orchestral concert through community outreach workshops and visits. More Free Tickets for Children, £5 Scheme for Under 26s, 50% Subscription Savings The RSNO’s commitment to free tickets for children will increase in 08:09 with the announcement of a new sponsorship of the scheme from Standard Life. The highly successful scheme, which enabled over 1,500 children across Scotland to attend RSNO Season concerts for free in 07:08, will be named Standard Life Passport to Music and is to be developed in the coming years to include a dedicated resource website and printed materials, as well as accompanying schools’ workshops and promotional activity. Since the inception of the RSNO’s free card for Under 26s, which reduces concert tickets to £5.00 for young people, over 3,000 online applications have been received. The scheme continues in 08:09, as part of the RSNO’s ongoing investment to widen the appeal of live orchestral music. The RSNO continues to offer single tickets priced from £10, frozen for the third year running, in Glasgow and Edinburgh and from £8.50 in Aberdeen. The highly successful flat price of £12.50 for all tickets at Dundee’s Caird Hall, which has helped contribute to a large increase in ticket sales over the last two years, continues for its third Season. Subscribers to four concerts or more will continue to make substantial savings - from 20% when subscribing to four concerts in each of the cities and up to 51% for Glasgow full Season Subscribers (the equivalent of a £368 saving for a Band A full Season subscriber). It is possible to purchase Glasgow Subscription tickets for as little £5 per concert. Corporate Partners The RSNO are delighted to announce a record number of partnerships with businesses across the country, building on their reputation for delivering rewarding associations with corporate Scotland. TOTAL E&P UK Limited has extended its commitment to the RSNO for a further three years. This includes the continuation of the TOTAL Denève Series and a strategic programme of education projects in Aberdeen City and Shire, culminating in the creation of a community composition. With the objective of introducing more children and families to live orchestral music, Standard Life is giving crucial support to the RSNO's Kids Go Free initiative. Re-titled Passport to Music, their sponsorship will allow the Orchestra to offer under 16s free concert tickets, as well as funding tailored materials to maximise their enjoyment and attendance. Other new partners include First ScotRail, the Orchestra’s Official Transport Partner, who are sponsoring the Classical Tracks Series and will encourage concert-goers to take the train with exclusive ticket offers. The RSNO would like to thank all of its sponsors and partners who make a crucial contribution to the work of the Orchestra: TOTAL E&P UK Limited, Standard Life, First ScotRail, Capital Solutions, stv, Classic FM, BBC Radio 3, The essentiagroup, Western SAAB, The Courier, Cadenhead’s, Springbank Distillers Ltd, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Aon Limited, Bell Lawrie, the BIG partnership, Citigroup, The Evening Times, Clydesdale Bank, The Franco-Scottish Business Club, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, MacRoberts Solicitors, McGrigors, The Miller Group, prg specialised professional recruitment, RESPONSE, The Scottish Council for Development & Industry, Smart Graphics, Willis UK & Ireland. RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods unveiled the new season: "Our 08:09 Season is a riot of colours and styles. The diversity of the symphonic repertoire never ceases to surprise, and I feel that next year's programmes are particularly wide-ranging and interesting. With a great list of soloists and conductors joining us, I think that audiences will find that our 08:09 Season offers an irresistible choice.“ Share this page...         |
Concerts Calendar
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Thu, Oct. 16th
Naked Classics:
Johannes' 2nd Joanna Concerto
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall -
Fri, Oct. 17th
The Great Concertos:
Osborne plays Brahms
Edinburgh Festival Theatre -
Sat, Oct. 18th
The Great Concertos:
Osborne Plays Brahms
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall -
Sat, Oct. 25th
Musical Fantasies:
Bruch's Violin Concerto
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
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