News & Blog

Concert 1: National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Beijing

by Igor Yuzefovich (Principal Guest Leader)

Touring is a big part of a musician’s life, and even after years of experience, it’s something we all eagerly anticipate. Some tours take us to familiar cities and concert halls, while others introduce us to new places.

Sharing our passion and music with audiences everywhere, discovering new destinations, learning about different cultures and indulging in local cuisine are all aspects we very much look forward to.

An orchestra tour also provides a great opportunity for us players to bond. Away from our daily routines and responsibilities at home, we get to spend time with our colleagues and learn more about each other. It’s often surprising how much we discover about one another! These stronger bonds help us better connect musically with one another on stage, allowing us to present an even higher level of cohesion as an ensemble.

We were fortunate to have some free time to recover from the long flight and adjust to the time difference, and most of us took advantage of this to stretch our legs and visit the various nearby sections of the Great Wall of China.

The Wall and its towers and fortifications are an absolutely astonishing feat of human determination and resilience, stretching over 13,000 miles across 15 provinces. The sight is immensely impressive when seen in person. Our group drove to a section of the Wall a bit further from the traditional touristy stops, away from the crowds. We were rewarded for the nearly three-hour drive with some of the most incredible views of the Wall, the surrounding mountains and valleys, and we nearly had the whole section to ourselves as we walked along the top and climbed the steep steps and inclines. The weather was cooperating as well and a bit of light cloud cover gave us a much-appreciated reprieve from the summer heat and humidity. To stand there and take in the winding wall and the towers is truly a remarkable experience.

The following day we returned to the reason we were there: to perform at the NCPA. The whole venue is one of the most incredible complexes I’ve ever been to. The grandeur and sheer size of it, both inside and out is truly awe-inspiring. The acoustics are warm and rich and make playing on stage easy and enjoyable.

We finally had our first rehearsal with our host and soloist, violinist and director of the May Festival – Lü Siqing. Following his electrifying performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the first half, the Orchestra launched into Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony – a staple of the RSNO’s touring repertoire.

The energy and excitement of the opening concert of this tour permeated the performance.

Even though we’ve all performed this piece countless times there was a refreshing vitality to it, allowing our Music Director Thomas Søndergård to guide the Orchestra as if surfing the musical wave the Orchestra was creating.

The energy of the opening concert was intoxicating and the audience’s overwhelming reaction was rewarded with two encores from the Orchestra, sending everyone home with a taste of Scotland – humming Christopher Gough’s Eightsome Reels late into the night.

Tour Highlights

by Cillian Ó Ceallacháin (Associate Principal Trombone)

This was my first time in Asia and also my first full tour with the Orchestra since joining. Getting to play in these enormous, state-of-the-art concert venues was a real pleasure. The National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing was a particular highlight. This massive venue contains an opera house and a smaller chamber music venue as well as the hall we performed in. Away from the concert halls, Shanghai was a great city to be able to explore on a free day. I ate some fantastic food and I’m a complete convert to the idea of noodles for breakfast!

Concert 2: Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts, Nanjing

by Veronica Marziano (First Violin)

Nanjing was the second concert of our tour. I had very fond memories of the city from our previous tour to China and wished we could stay longer!

As is often the case in China, the concert hall impressed us with its architecture and acoustics. Some of the highlights included: spotting a few keen members of the audience peeking at the first violin parts during the interval (perhaps future professional violinists?) and a young and very enthusiastic girl who sat in the second row who received the flower bouquet from the concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich himself at the end of the concert. It was very heartwarming to see how much the audience enjoyed our performance. I hope we’ll visit again soon!

Photo Highlights

from Colin McKee (Second Violin)

Concert 3: Chenshan Botanic Gardens, Shanghai

by Beth Woodford (Viola)

There was a real buzz about arriving in Shanghai, being the Orchestra’s first time in this vibrant city. As with much of China, the Botanic Gardens flaunted an interesting mix of futurism (I was served ice cream by a robot) versus tradition (perusing the rose gardens).

The concert itself was fabulously received. A Last Night of the Proms-esque programme featuring the Chinese violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers halfway through. This was performed by Lü Siqing, who spent the whole tour with us. A light display and live drone footage added extra wow factor!

We finished the concert with two encores: Auld Lang Syne and My Motherland. Umbrellas were raised and ponchos donned as a monsoon broke – quite an incredible atmosphere as our solo piper (Emma Hill) paraded through the crowds.

Spirits were not dampened though, and the audience sung along with vigour.

 

Tour Highlights

by Alison Murray (Assistant Principal Horn)

We were so lucky to be able to tour China and perform in five great venues.

Beijing was busy! Thanks to ‘Jacquie Tours’ (Associate Principal Second Violin Jacquie Spiers did so much research on what to do and how to get there), our free time was spent visiting The Summer Palace and Forbidden City/Palace Museum, Jingshan Park with great views over Beijing and Huode Zhenjun Temple. We walked over 48,000 steps in 2 days! We all ate a few ice lollies (pea and jasmine being popular flavours) to cool us down in the extreme heat. We also enjoyed the concert in Beijing Concert Hall.

The outdoor venue in Shanghai was in the beautiful Chenshan Botanical Gardens. I loved the cactus and orchid greenhouses. They were spectacular and so colourful. But the highlight of the tour was our visit to the Great Wall at Huangyaguan from Tianjin. We were almost the only people there and the views were stunning.

A great tour spent with lovely people!

Concert 4: Shanghai Symphony Hall

by Oliver Roberts (Associate Principal Flute)

Visiting Shanghai is like glimpsing the future. It’s spectacular and huge. The tall buildings dwarfing, for example, the perhaps more familiar sight of The Shard, with some buildings being more than twice its height!  

Like the other cities we visited, there was generous, luscious planting – immaculate hedges, trees, climbing plants hugging and adorning the bridges and buildings, and many red geraniums, though I think Beijing won the flower-off with its countless roses!  

Within these considered landscapes, architectural futurism exists alongside the more European and classical – gorgeous buildings with features like fluted columns, pediments, pilasters, arches, proudly complement the towering giants like the Oriental Pearl Tower.  

To reach Shanghai Concert Hall, we travelled through charming, cosy-albeit-upmarket, little towns. Beautiful tall trees shade the buildings and streets from the heat, making things comfortable for those less accustomed to the heat of the Chinese springtime.  

The Concert Hall upon arrival seemed much less of an artistic statement, nestled to the side of one of the many pleasant little shopping streets, particularly when compared with the more imposing landmarks like Beijing’s NCPA. 

Inside, however, the unassuming made way for the spectacular. The opulent wood panels, expansive yet intimate seating, were a beautiful visual complement to the outstanding acoustical qualities of the hall.  

Our conductor, Thomas, was particularly thrilled by the sounds the hall allowed for, stepping out into the auditorium to listen as we rehearsed. Our Assistant Conductor, Celia Llácer, took Thomas’ place to allow for his exploring.  

The atmosphere of the hall, contributed to by many things, from its unusual ambient lighting, sounds, textures and ineffable magic, made for another memorable concert during what was a very special tour – wonderful music with wonderful colleagues and friends.  

 

Photos Highlights

from Nikita Naumov (Principal Bass)

Concert 5: Tianjin Grand Theatre

by Celia Llácer (Assistant Conductor)

And just like that, the final day of our tour arrived!

After two weeks travelling across China, I think we were all starting to feel the fatigue. I decided to take it easy that morning. While some people headed into the city for some last-minute shopping or to visit a few more tourist spots, I chose to spend some time studying and catching up with real life. By the afternoon, however, we were all ready for our final rehearsal.

Before each concert, we usually spend some time getting familiar with the hall, playing excerpts from different pieces to adjust to the acoustics. And this is where my role as Assistant Conductor begins! Part of my job is to assess the balance from the audience’s perspective and conduct the Orchestra so that Thomas can hear what the audience hears. On this occasion, I was asked to conduct Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with our soloist, Lü Siqing.

Then came the concert… and what a success! The audience absolutely loved it. No one would have guessed it was the last day of our tour. They also went wild for our Scottish encores Farewell to Stromness and Eightsome Reels.

After the concert, it was time to pack up the instruments, get changed, and head straight to Beijing Airport. Travelling with such a large group, we were slightly worried about making it on time but our team, efficient as always, handled everything perfectly! Around ten hours later, we were finally back home.

For me personally, this was my very first orchestral tour and my first time visiting China. I genuinely couldn’t have wished for a better team to share this experience with.

 

Tour Highlights

by Constance Fraser (Head of Development)

International tours are a great opportunity to engage with new and existing corporate contacts overseas. This year I was delighted to arrange tickets for employees of Cirrus Logic based in Shanghai and Beijing. The RSNO works closely with Cirrus Logic in Scotland, and it was brilliant to be able meet more of their global network and celebrate their support of the arts in Scotland.

I was lucky enough to be on the last tour in China and really benefitted from re-engaging with contacts I made last time we were there. Our friends at the Scottish Government Office in Beijing joined us throughout the tour and filmed a vlog at the National Centre for Performing Arts (watch below). This video is part of the British Embassy’s UK On Stage campaign, celebrating the impact of British arts across the world. It was great fun filming with Head of the Scottish Government Office in China Catriona Radcliffe and Scottish Government Officer Nicole Du.

I was very excited to work with Arran Whisky this tour, who generously provided beautiful gifts for our guests. Sharing Scotland’s most precious export is a huge part of an RSNO tour, bringing together distinguished guests, artists and of course our musicians for a toast! We are grateful for their support.