Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to jules@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Jules Graham and Carol Main.
Glasgow
I Hons Music Student Performance (ilasgow L'niversity (‘oncert Ilall. l’niver'sity Avenue. 330 4092. H0 2pm. Free. .‘vlusic in the University ol'(ilasgow presents a lunchtime recital including songs by Reynaldo Hahn and cello music by Martin performed by honours students.
I Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Naked Classics Royal ('oncert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12.50. Learn more about popular classical pieces with an illtistrated discussion followed by a performance of the work in question: Strauss' Iain llc'lilt'nlt'ln'n.
I Scottish Ensemble: Fantasy Variations ('ity llalls. ('andleriggs. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £l L50 £15 (£3 £l2). A jam-inspired lirst hall with outstanding pianist (iw‘ilym Simcock performing his New Work for Piano and Strings with a romantic follow up in the form of George
SFASON I‘INAI l SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE WITH GWILYM SIMCOCK City Halls, Glasgow, Thu 26 Apr; Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Apr
linescu’s epic ()(‘ll'l amongst other musical treats. See preview. below.
Edinburgh
I Scottish Chamber Orchestra Queen's Hall. 37 3‘) ('ler‘k Street. 608 20l‘). 7.30pm. £8 £24 (£0 £l8). Joseph Swensen returns to conduct the S(‘() in a thrilling musical programme featuring formidable l’innish pianist Julio Polijonen perfoming Shostakovich's I’iano ('oni'r'rto .\"o 2. which he composed for his son. alongside llaydn‘s Symphony No 9‘) and Beethoven's .S'vmpltonv .\.’o 2.
Glasgow
I Hyoung-Joon Chang RSAMI). I00 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. lprn. £7 (£5). International concert pianist and Professor of Piano at Seoul National l'niversity. lIyoung-Joon (hang. performs l)ebussy‘s l’t't'llalt's, Hook ()Ilt’. l.is/t.s Ila/little No 2 in If minor and Sci'iabin's [Ella/(2 ()p 8, No l2.
I Masterclass: Hyoung-Joon Chang RSAMI). I00 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 2.30pm. l‘ree. ticketed. The pianist passes on his wisdom at this post-concert piano masterclass.
I Plug Upbeat - Fidelio Trio RSAMI). I00 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. (rpm. £5. A sneak preview of the forthcoming l’lug festival. featuring three of the most in demand interpreters of new music.
Well known for its innovative programming, the Scottish Ensemble bring their 2006/07 season to a close with a collaboration that straddles the worlds of classical and jazz. Leading young jazz pianist and composer, Gwilym Simcock, joins the group as soloist for the first performances of his specially commissioned new piece, Point of Contact, for piano, Vibraphone and strings. A recently appointed BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, 25 year-old Simcock started his training as a classical musician, studying piano with a view to becoming a concert pianist, and French born, as well as composition. He moved to jazz at London’s Royal Academy of Music and hasn’t looked back since. ‘I got interested in jazz at Chetham’s School of Music,’ he says, ‘and just thought it was amazing. It has the elegance of classical concerts, but with the freedom to improvise. That really appealed to me and I knew then that that was what I wanted to do and the way I wanted to write music.’ In the new commission, his first for jazz and classical strings, Simcock is on piano with the astonishing young percussionist Ben Bryant on Vibraphone. Both improvise within the structure of the piece, while the string players of the Scottish Ensemble play what is written on the page. ‘lmprovisation and composition are so closely linked,’ says Simcock, ‘with one informing the
other.’
In a career that has recently taken him to Germany one minute to work on his piano concerto with a big band there, and the next to Italy for recording sessions, a jazz club at home in London, his own big band at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival and, now, touring in Scotland with the Scottish Ensemble, Simcock is genuinely appreciative of the variety on offer. ‘lt's all very different and all extremely enjoyable. I really am very, very lucky.’
(Carol Main)
78 THE LIST :4; All! 1I)M;2y.')l)()/
I Scottish Chamber Orchestra (‘ity
llalls. ('andleriggs. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £l0 £22.50 (£7.50 £10.80). See Thu 26. Edinburgh
I Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Season Finale Usher llall. Lothian Road. 228 l I55. 7.30pm.
£10 £28. The season is brought to a stylish climax with Stephanie Deneve conducting top lirench pianist Helene (irimaud in Beethoven's I’iano ('ont'i'rto No 5 ‘Iz‘m/wror' and an enlarged orchestra in Strauss' 12in llt’ltlt’llll’lN'll and Berlioz's Li's l’ranr‘s-Jurgi's.
Paisley I The Arklestone Singers: Dreams to Sell Lylesland (‘hurch. Rowan Street.
0l505 850344. 7.30pm. Tickets available on the door: £7 (including glass of wine).
The Singers give their annual concert under the direction of Ken Patterson. featuring a suite of Scottish folk songs plus music from Mozart to Lloyd Webber. They'll be joined by guest baritone Douglas Nairne and the Arklestonc
(‘hamher linsemble.
Stirling
I Scottish Opera: Die Fledermaus Albert llalls. Dumbarton Road. (“786 473 544. 7.30pm. £16 (£I0 £14). Scottish ()pera presents a new production of Die Fledermaus. which will delight audiences
old and new alike.
Saturday 28
Glasgow
121' Scottish Opera: Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal. 282 Hope Street. 0870 000 0047. 2.15pm.
£8.50 £40. Puccini's famous tale of (‘io (‘io-San and her abandonment by her dashing American husband has become one of the most performed operas of all time. See feature. page I4.
I RSAMD Youthvvorks Music Percussion Extravaganza RSAMI). I00 Renl'rew Street. 332 5057. 3.30pm. l’ree. ticketed. Looking for something a little less run of the mill'.’ ('orne along to this upbeat concert performed by charismatic young [wrcussionists
I RSAMD Youthworks Music Chamber Music Concert RSAMI). I00 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 4pm. l‘ree. ticketed. (iroups from the wide variety of
chamber music activities held at the
Academy on a Saturday give an afternoon
concert.
; I African Sanctus (‘ity ilalls.
(‘andleriggs. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £l0 £20. International opera diva Maureen Brathwaite and renowned perctission ensemble Backbeat join the Bearsden ('hoir' for this multicultural celebration of power and energy. In the form of a Latin Mass integrated with traditional African sounds it's a sort of Mass meets Massai. with images from Africa accompanying the rriusic on a large screen.
I Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Season finale Royal (‘oncert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10 £30. See Fri 27.
Edinburgh
° I Fidelio Trio: Music by Haflidi
Hallgrimsson (ireyfriars Kirk. (ireyfriars Place. 225 l‘)()(). 7.30pm. £9
' (£6). The trio celebrate 30 years of music
making in Scotland with a programme including .S'olitairt'jor (‘t’l/o solo. the [PK Premiere of Notes From a Diary/or viola (llltl piano. Seven laptgrantsfor violin and cello. Homage to Mondrian for piano solo and .llt'lrtntr)rpltosi'sfor piano trio.
I Scottish Ensemble: Fantasy Variations Queen‘s Hall. 87 8‘) ('lerk Street. («)8 20l‘). 7.45pm. £12 £I4.50 (£3 £11.50). See Thu 26.
I Edinburgh Contemporary Music Ensemble Reid Concert Hall. lidinburgh l'niversity. Bristo Square. (350 2427. 8pm. £8 (£4). A programme of works for chamber orchestra. choir and ensemble penned by lidinburgh-dwelling
composers. including Harper's th‘t'l't‘lll‘l
THE BEST CLASSICAL & OPERA
2:: The Sixteen: Music from the Sistine Chapel The seventh choral pilgrimage of this outstanding group of 16 singers takes the Renaissance music of the Papal chapels as its inspiration. The sumptuous sounds of Allegri’s famous Miserere forms the centrepiece of a programme which aims to shed light on some of his more neglected music. Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, Sat 5 May.
iii The lntemational Classical Season: Maxim Vengerov with the 038 Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra He’s hailed as the best violinist in the world and is certainly a favourite in Glasgow. Experience the Russian star with this rather special orchestra and top British viola player Lawrence Power in Mozart and Shostakovich. Last concert in series. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Tue 8 May. Scottish Opera: Madama Butterfly New production of Puccini's classic has been hailed a triumph with particular attention being drawn to the success of casting the main solo roles. Hear it for yourself in Glasgow now or in Edinburgh in June. See feature, page 14. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sat 28 Apr.
in .llwnoriani Luigi Dal/apiccola. Usui's
Frozen Blast. Spence‘s I-ollowing l’atlis.
l’iniling Gateways and ('aponnetto‘s
liraiali.
Glasgow
I Organ Recital Kelvingrove Art (iallery & Museum. Argyle Street. 276 959‘). 2.30 3pm & 3.30 4pm. Free. Take a seat in the museum‘s magnificently
restored centre hall and enjoy some
wonderful music at one of the museum's Sunday Promenade concerts.
Edinburgh
I Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Chamber Concert Queen‘s Hall.
87 8‘) (‘lerk Street. ()08 201‘). 2.3(lpttt.
£8 £l4 (£6 £l0.50). Backed by the S('()
linsemble. pianist Juho Phjonen performs a programme of Sibelius and Shostakovich.
I St Giles at Six: The Edinburgh Academy St (iiles' ('athedral. Royal Mile. 226 0073. ()pm. Free. St (iiles'
latest opm instalment sees Academy
students performing music by Alfred Uhl. SS Wesley. Bernstein and di Lasso, for
5 choir. organ and instrumental ensemble.