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Classical Music
Classical
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to suzanne@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black and Carol Main.
* Indicates Listpicks entry
Thursday 8
Glasgow FREE Kelvingrove Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Argyle Street. 276 9599. Mon—Sat. 1pm. Free lunchtime organ recitals every day by different organists.
PREVIEW OPERA SCOTTISH OPERA: FALSTAFF
Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 13, Thu 15, Sat 17, Wed 21 & Sat 24 May; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 18, Sat 21, Thu 26 & Sat 28 Jun
Edinburgh
I Cappella Nova: Viva Victoria! Greyfriars Kirk. Greyfriars Place. 668 2019. 7.30pm. £10-£l2.50 (£7—£9.50). A performance of music by one of the Renaissance period's very finest composers. Tomas Luis de Victoria.
I Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Nelson and Napoleon Queen‘s Hall. 87—89 Clerk Street. 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8—£25. Beethoven‘s .S'ymphony N0 3: Emic‘a and Haydn's Nelson Mass conducted by Olari Elts. Last SCO concert this season.
Glasgow I Friday Lunchtime Concert Series RSAMD. 100 Renfrew Street.
Long before any government directives on obesity, Shakespeare’s Sir John Falstaff knew all about the challenges of being overweight. Tricked, for their own amusement, by the merry wives of Windsor, he is ridiculed, thrown into the Thames in an extra-large laundry basket and, finally, subjected to humiliation by the whole town. Perfect material for Shakespearean comedy and just right for an opera or two.
Salieri, Nicolai and Vaughan Williams have all turned to Falstaff for inspiration, but it is Verdi’s version, his last opera, that Scottish Opera have chosen for a new production directed by Dominic Hill. It is, of course, not just because Falstaff is fat that such an unfortunate fate befalls him. He is an egotistical buffoon who needs to be taught a lesson. ‘lt’s a fantastic piece,’ says Hill, who is one of Scotland’s leading theatre directors, but making his debut with full scale opera. ‘It has energy, joy and is a celebration of life, although its moments of profundity and reflection come
through strongly too.’
While the play was written in the late 15005, Verdi’s music is from 300 years later. ‘It is very much of the 19th century, so we have set it when it was written, with what we hope is a gutsy, earthy feel,’ says Hill. Its themes, however, could be of anytime. ‘I think the things it’s about are completely universal and timeless in terms of human behaviour.’
Examining two main themes of the time, namely the emergence of the middle class and the liberation of women, Hill’s Falstaff is also a celebration. ‘It was a time when women were liberated from the drudgery of endless childbirth and found for the first time some sort of independence. We are emphasising their sassiness, sexiness and wit in contrast with the absolutely ludicrous way men behave. They are smart, fun-loving and much more intelligent.’ Now, what was that earlier comment about timeless human behaviour? (Carol Main)
332 5057. lpm. £7 (£5). Mark Padmore (tenor) puts his pipes and Julius Drake (piano) puts his ivories to good use in a rendition of Schubert's Wintert’ist’.
I Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Nelson and Napoleon City Halls. Candleriggs. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10—£23. See Thu 8.
Edinburgh I Edinburgh University Music Society Symphony Orchestra Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 225 1900. 7.30pm. £tbc. Russell Cowieson conducts a programme of orchestral works from this accomplished student group. Tickets available from orchestra m mbers or on the door. * The Curve Foundation with The Scottish Flute Trio Brunton Theatre. Ladywell Way. Musseiburgh. 665 2240. 7.30pm. £13 (£1 1). The Scottish Flute Trio collaborates with Curve Foundation Dance Company. featuring choreography
by Ross Cooper. for a newly
commissioned piece by David Fennessy.
Saturday 10
Glasgow
FREE Junior Academy of Music Choir Concert RSAMD. 100 Renfrew Street. 332 5057. 4pm. Ticketed. Choral music from the Junior. Senior and Chamber choirs conducted by Maria Wilson and Frikki Walker.
I RSNO Junior Chorus with HSNO City Halls, Candleriggs. 353 8000. 7pm. £10. It‘s the end of term concert for the RSNO Junior Chorus. in which Christopher Bell conducts Howard Blake's The Land of('(nmlr'ipunr’. a setting of poems by Robert Louis Stevenson.
I Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra (ireyfriars Kirk. (ireyfriars Place. 225 1900. 7.30pm. £8 (£5; children £3). Gerard Doherty conducts a performance of Stravinsky"s I’ult‘inellu and Strauss‘ I)(’(lI/i and 'I'runsfigumlinn. Tickets available on the door.
I The Kevock Choir Queen's Hall. 87—89 Clerk Street. 668 2019. 7.30pm. £5—£ 1 2. The 80-strong choir as conducted by Graham Lovett. featuring larger than life show favourites. folk songs. spirituals and religious pieces.
Glasgow
FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art (iallery & Museum. Argyle Street. 276 9599. 3—3.45pm. Sunday Promenade concerts
with different organists.
I Children’s Classic Concerts: Big Bad Brass Royal Concert Hall. 2 Sauchiehall Street. 353 8000. 3pm. £10 (£6). A big. bold and brassy selection of music from Medieval to Muppets.
I Cappella Nova: Viva Victoria! St Andrew‘s in the Square. St Andrew's Square. 353 8000. 7.30pm. £10—£12.5() (£7—£9.5()). See Thu 8.
I Junior Academy of Music Big Band RSAMD. 100 Renfrew Street. 332
5057. 7.30pm. £6 (£4). An entertaining
programme directed by Lachie Birch.
Edinburgh
FREE Sunday Afternoon Fun: Early Music Forum National Museum
of Scotland. Chambers Street. 247 4-122. 12.45—3.45pm. Find out about some real/v old-school music.
59“ St Giles’ at Six: The Chapter
House Singers St Giles‘ Cathedral.
Royal Mile. 226 0673. 6pm. Motels and anthems by Palestrina. Handel and Mendelssohn directed by Les Shankland.
Cockenzie
“it Sacred Songs Seton Collegiate Church. 466 2009. 3.15-4.30pm. Clarelynn Rose performs songs in Latin and French with baroque lute
accompaniment. Part of Ixulyfest Edinburgh.
LIST >l<
THE BEST CLASSICAL & OPERA
, =1: Philippe Quint: Vlolln Recital Russian-born New Yorker with a name inspired by the kings of France, violinist Quint has been compared to Paganini. Playing a 1723 Stradivarius violin, Qunit’s performance will be followed by a CD signing, a glass of wine and chance to chat with the great virtuoso himself. St Cecilia ’3 Hall, Edinburgh, Wed 14 May.
* Plano Legends: Angela Hewitt in Recital Fantastic opportunity to hear Bach’s 48 Preludes and Fugues performed over two evenings by one of the finest Bach interpreters in the world. Surely no one can be more skilfully passionate about Bach than this astonishing Canadian pianist. City Hal/s, Glasgow, Sat 17 & Mon 19 May.
a: Meadows Chamber Orchestra The Meadows Chamber Orchestra can always be relied upon for its fascinating programmes, often with a local Edinburgh connection. Tonight, Edinburgh might be the root source, but conductor Garry Walker and composer Edward Harper both have reputations that take them much further afield and now put Scotland’s capital in an international musical perspective. Stockbn‘dge Parish Church, Edinburgh, Sat 17 May.
* The Curve Foundation with The Scottish Flute Trio innovative collaborative project between three flutes. percussion and dancers features a brand new piece from composer David Fennessy called Foot Foot and Other Stories, which he has written especially for this project. if that wasn't enough, there is also Gordon McPherson’s Three Minute Philosophy and Voices from the Ancient World by 80-year-old birthday girl Thea Musgrave, both of which were previously commissioned by the Scottish Flute Trio. Brunton Theatre, Musse/burgh, Fri 9 May
8—22 May 2008 THE LIST 93