LITERARY ADAPTATION
SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: THE BOY WHO KICKED PIGS
City Halls, Glasgow, Fri 10 Nov;
Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 11 Nov
Not normally thought of as a writer, the fourth Doctor Who’s somewhat grotesque short novel The Boy Who Kicked Pigs is the basis of the 800’s commission from Irish-born composer Brian Irvine. While Tom Baker’s tale is not for the faint-hearted, it fits well with the orchestra’s evening of Gothic horror that embraces Frankenstein!,
narration. It takes little extracts and characterises them through music and speech.’ Hinting that this version might not be his last, he says, ‘In many ways, I’d like to do it as a full-on music-theatre piece. For now, I’m focussing on a couple of episodes in Robert’s life to give a flavour of what it’s about.’
As well as being relatively unknown as an author, Irvine considers Baker to be rather odd. ‘A lot of people find it a bit offensive,’ he says, ‘but I’ve thought of it in the vein of the terrible stuff that happens in cartoons, when you can get away with it. It’s dark, awkward in parts and quite a
with composer/conductor HK Gruber, and Bernard
Hermann’s film music from Pyscho.
All about a horrible 13-year-old who hates humans so much he comes up with endless evil ways to kill them, the book is a sort of morality tale in which the nasty Robert Caligari get his come-uppance through being eaten to death by killer rats. About his new score, Irvine says, ‘It has some orchestral music, some singing and some
Street. 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8—£24 (£64218). See Fri I0.
I The Haydn Lute MO St ('ecilia‘s Hall. Niddry Street. (>68 20I9. 8pm. £7 (£4). Performing a veritable feast of Haydn. Hagen. Scheidler. Kohaut and Falkenhagen for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The Haydn Lute Trio are David Parsons (lute). Lara James (classical Violin) and Miguel (‘aly'o (classical cello).
Bearsden
I Milngavle Choir: Remembrance Day Recital St Andrew's Church. 29 Roman Road. 942 4635. 3.304.30pm. A Remembrance Sunday performance of works including Puccini's .«llessu (11' Gloria.
Stirling
I Robert Irvine and Graeme McNaught Tolbooth. Jail Wy’nd. (no 2333. 8pm. £I0 (£8). Join Irvine and MeNattght as they dip into a triple bill of cello sonatas by Debussy. Rachmaninoy and Beamish. and Schumann's I'll'l’ Pieces in Folk Sty/c.
Glasgow
I Organ Recital Kely'ingroy'e Art Gallery & Museum. Argyle Street. 276 9599. 2.30—3pm & 3.30-4pm. l‘ree. Take a seat in the Museum‘s magnificently restored centre hall and enjoy some
character.’
wonderful music courtesy of lidinburgh organist John Kitchen.
I Symhonies Des Plaisirs St Andrew's in the Square. St Andrew ‘s Square. 559 5902. 3pm. £8 (£2 £(i). lirench mtisic for renaissance guitar and voice. with elegant chansons and rustic dances. plus Spanish 17th century guitar dances as found on the group's latest recording .Iluri:u]m/u.s'. Tickets on the door or in ady'ance from 0870 (II 32 652. I Karl Jenkins Requiem Royal (‘oncert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £l7 £27. The renowned composer leads members of the BBC SS() and a massed choir from around Scotland in a combination of traditional Requiem mass Latin text and settings of Japanese haiku poems. Proceeds to the Teenage ('ancer Trust.
Edinburgh
I Mhairi Lawson and David Owen Norris St ('ecilitfs Hall. Niddt'y Street. (368 201‘). 8pm. l‘ree. Join the soprano and fortepianist as they tackle Haydn's ()riginu/ ('unroncllm. Sc! 2. Piano Sonqu in D Major; Hu/J XVI/37 and xlriunnu u Mum. The performance w ill be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in Dec.
Glasgow I RSAMD Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (‘ity Halls. ('andleriggs.
challenge to turn it into something with energy and
Alongside the SCO, a scratch youth choir will help bring Irvine’s score to life. ‘Quite simply,’ he says, ‘you can create things with young people that have a strength and individuality, which, in a sense, is an exciting genre of music all of its own. I’m interested in making things with young people that professionals cannot do.’ (Carol Main)
353 8000. 7.30pm. £I0 (£(i). Principal BBC SSO condttctor. llan \olkoy leads the orchestra and chorus in a performance of Rayel’s ‘sy mphonic choret)graphique'. [hip/mix (’I ('li/m‘.
Edinburgh
I Takacs Quartet Queen’s Hall.
87 8‘) (‘lerk Street. (\(ib’ 2(ll‘). 7.45pm. £9 £l7. New Town (’oncerts Society presents the Httdapest-lxtscd quartet. performing Mo/art's String Quartet in I) milmr I\' 42/ Hartok's String Qmu'lcl .\'u () and Beethoy en's String Quurlc! in u minm: ()p 132.
' Tuesday 14
Glasgow
I Lunchtime Concert: Brian Davidson Ramshorn Theatre. 98 Ingram Street. 552 3489. l.I5 2pm. £3. The pianist proy ides a lunchtime portion of Mendelssohn's Suites nil/mu! Him/s and Debussy ‘s I’I‘t'lut/(fis. [inn/t /. I Scottish Opera: Der Rosenkavalier 'I‘heatre Royal. 282 Hope Street. ()870 “()0 (i647. (i.3(lpnl. £9.50 £44. This esquisite fairy story is not to be missed. Richard Strattss‘ I)¢-r RUSI’II/y'tll'tI/l't‘l’ tells the story of
thw arch one in I8th century Vienna. (iorgeous production by l)a\'id .\lc\'icar and a consistently fabulous cast.
I Remembering Shostakovich ('ity' Halls. ('andleriggs. 3538000. 8pm. £|2.50 (£22 for both nights). Don‘t
miss this rare opportunity to witness Shostakoy'ich’s monumental cycle of 24 Preludes and l‘uges performed in its entirety. as pianist (lustay' I"eny(i takes to the key s for parts two and three (consecutively) of the Shostakoy'ich centenary cclelnations.
Edinburgh
I Sharat Chandra Srivastava and Gyan Singh St ('ecilia‘s lIaII. .\'iddry Street. (368 20I9. l.I0pm. liree. lixpect a line performance of afternoon Ragas as the master Indian classical \‘loiilIISt and phenomenal tabla player Visit from Delhi.
Wednesday 15
Glasgow
I Remembering Shostakovich ('ity Halls. (‘andleriggs 3538000. 8pm. £|2.50 (£22 for both nights). See Tue I4.
Edinburgh
I Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland with the Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society t‘sher llall. l.othian Road. 228 1 I55. 7.30pm. £10 £I4. .-\n ey'cning of light classical music. music from popular shows and exquisite solo pieces. as the wonderfully Versatile R.\l Band are joined by singers from lidinburgh‘s (itQS Society.
Thursday 16
Glasgow
I Mackintosh, McDonald and Us: Voices Across a Century (ilasgow t'niy'ersity' (‘oncert Hall. l'niy'ersity‘
.v\y enue. 330 4092. Ipm. £tbc. ('hausson and Schoenberg by Sttsan Hamilton (soprano). John (‘ameron (piano/celesta). Helen 'l'homson (harp) and John Hutt (barmonium). plus acoustic and clectroacoustie music composed by t'niy'ersity postgraduates. inspired by the .‘ylackintoshes’ designs. Scottish Opera: Tamerlano ’I‘heatre Royal. 282 Hope Street. 0870 not) oo47. 7.I5pm. £8.50 £40 (concessions available). See Tue 7.
I BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Sibelius Revisited 2 (’in llalls.(‘andleriggs 3538000. 7.30pm. U) £2 l .50 (concessions ayailable). ()smo Vanska conducts the orchestra in a performance of Sibelius' Syrup/unit .Vu 3 and Ku/lw‘t'u. ()p 7. They will be joined by Helsinki l‘niycrsity Male Voice (‘hoir who will giyc a post-concert performance of a cappella Nordic songs. Includes a pre- concert talk on the impact of the orchestra’s Iirst Sibelius cycle in (ilasgow a decade on.
I Katherine Jenkins Royal (‘oncert Hall. 2 Sauehiehall Street. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £30 £40. The Welsh popular opera star. Britain's best-selling classical artist of all time. with show- ttmes. Welsh songs and famous classical arias. She w ill be accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Inglis.
Edinburgh
I Die Fledermaus (Ellen Kent) Playhouse. I8 22 (lreensidc Place. 0870 0063424. 7.30pm. Uh £34. .-\ new production of Strauss" light-hearted opera presented by lillen Kent and Opera Internatioiuil. Sung in tinglish.
I Fettes College Concert
(lrey friars Kirk. (ircy friars Place. 3| l moo. 7.30pm. £tbc. ('horal and orchestral works performed by pupils from Scotland’s top independent school. Tickets ay'ailahle from the school on
3| l (i706.
I Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Great Romantics 2 Queen‘s Ilall.
87 8‘) (‘Ierk Street. ()(ib' 2U“). 7.30pm. £3 £24 (£0 US). Weber. Mendelssohn and Schumann by pianist .'\|e\ander .\Ielnikoy' and conductor John Nelson.
.’ It? N». ."(Tt‘o THE LIST 81