The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, and is internationally recognised for its innovative approach to music-making and programme planning. Formed in 1974 with a commitment to serve the Scottish community, it is also one of Scotland’s foremost cultural ambassadors. The Orchestra performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland, and appears regularly at the Edinburgh, St Magnus, East Neuk, and Aldeburgh Festivals and the BBC Proms. Its busy international touring schedule has recently included Poland, Hungary, Turkey, India, Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium, and The Netherlands. The Orchestra’s international touring receives support from the Scottish Government.
The Orchestra has recently appointed young British conductor Robin Ticciati to the post of Principal Conductor. He took up the position in September 2009 and conducts five weeks of concerts in the 2009/10 Season.
The SCO’s long-standing relationship with Conductor Laureate Sir Charles Mackerras has resulted in many exceptional performances and recordings, particularly at the Edinburgh International Festival where they established an enviable reputation for concert performances of opera. Their recordings together include seven Mozart operas, a Grammy-nominated set of Brahms’ Symphonies, the full cycle of Beethoven Symphonies (with the Philharmonia Orchestra), four CDs of Mozart Piano Concertos with Alfred Brendel, Mozart’s Requiem and a disc of Kodály and Bartók for Linn Records. The Orchestra’s recording with Sir Charles of Mozart’s last four symphonies was released to international acclaim on Linn Records in February 2008. The disc has won the Symphonic Works Award at the Midem Classical Awards; BBC Music Magazine Disc of the Year and the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2009 Classical BRIT Awards. Sir Charles and the SCO have most recently released a CD of Beethoven’s last three piano concertos with soloist Artur Pizarro, and in July recorded a second volume of Mozart Symphonies for release next year.
Following nine successful years as Principal Conductor, Joseph Swensen became the Orchestra’s Conductor Emeritus in 2005. Swensen has developed a unique relationship with the SCO as soloist as well as conductor and he and the SCO have released five CDs together through the Orchestra’s partnership with Linn Records.
Other conductors who appear regularly with the SCO include Principal Guest Conductor Olari Elts, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Andrew Manze, John Storgårds, Thierry Fischer, Louis Langrée, Andrew Litton and Nicholas McGegan; regular soloist/directors include Christian Zacharias and Piotr Anderszewski.
The Orchestra enjoys close relationships with many leading composers and has commissioned more than a hundred new works, including pieces by Composer Laureate Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir, Sally Beamish, Karin Rehnqvist, Lyell Cresswell, James MacMillan, Hafliði Hallgrímsson, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Stuart MacRae and the late Edward Harper.
The Orchestra plays a prominent role in the Edinburgh International Festival. In September 2009, it was awarded its second Bank of Scotland Archangel by The Herald in recognition of its sustained high quality contribution to the Festival. The Archangel is the highest honour presented within the Awards, and the Orchestra is the first winner to have been awarded an Archangel twice.
The SCO has led the way in music education with a unique programme of projects. SCO Education provides workshops for children and adults across Scotland and has attracted interest and invitations from overseas.
The Orchestra broadcasts regularly and has a discography now exceeding 150 recordings available by calling 0845 270 1812 or online at shop.sco.org.uk.
(read less)
