Music Classical
FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3–3.45pm. Sunday promenade concerts with different organists. FREE New Vistas Gilmorehill G12, 9 University Avenue, 330 5522. 3pm. Ticketed. New music by John Maxwell Geddes and young Scottish composers inspired by landscapes, seascapes and starscapes. With the Paragon Ensemble.
✽✽ Bach: Christmas Oratorio Bute Hall, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, 330 4092. 7.30pm. £9 (£6). First performed in celebration of Christmas 1734, the six parts of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio are each intended for performance on a different day of the festive period, from Christmas Day to Epiphany. Here parts 1, 3, 5 and 6 are performed by the Dunedin Consort and Players joined by students from the RSAMD and Glasgow University. John Butts directs. ■ Beethoven: Missa Solemnis City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£18. Graham Taylor conducts the City of Glasgow Chorus and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in Beethoven’s infrequently performed second setting of the Mass, one of his greatest works. With vocal soloists Jeni Bern, Jane Irwin, Justin Lavender and Paul Keohone. ■ Songs from the Heart Café Cossachok, Russian Cultural Centre, 38 Albion Street, 553 0733. 9pm. £6. Russian songs, romances and operatic arias with soprano Maria Kozlova and George Gaijic on accordion.
Edinburgh ■ St Giles at Six: Organ Recital St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. Retiring collection. Brigitte Harris performs works by Clérambault, JS Bach, Mendelssohn and Marcel Dupré. ■ Meadows Chamber Orchestra Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.45pm. £10 (concessions available). Peter Evans conducts a diverse programme including Elgar’s Violin Concerto with soloist Tom Bowes, Kenyan composer Njane Mugambi’s Pum bum bum peh for brass and drums, and Dorward’s Aldhammer Album, a set of short pieces inspired by the sights and sounds of Prestonpans. Stirling ■ Bach: Christmas Oratorio Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Dumbarton Road, 01786 471917. 7.30pm. £12 (£10). The Rosenethe Singers and the Scottish Bach Players see in the festive season with a performance of JS Bach’s 1734 Christmas Oratorio on Advent Sunday. ■ Stirling Orchestra Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473 544. 7.30pm. £6–£8 (£2). Stirling Orchestra performs works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky.
Monday 1
Glasgow ■ Music on Mondays RSAMD (Guinness Room), 100 Renfrew Street, 1pm. £tbc. Pianist Sinae Lee performs Alasdair Spratt’s Fantasy with Fugue and tackles Beethoven’s monumental Piano Sonata Op 106 (‘Hammerklavier’). Edinburgh ■ Jean-Philippe Collard Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.45pm. £11–£19. The leading pianist presents a programme of French music, including excerpts from Messiaen’s epic masterpiece, Vingt Regards sur L’Enfant-Jesus, as well as works by Poulenc and Ravel.
Tuesday 2
Glasgow ■ RSAMD Students Ramshorn Theatre, 98 Ingram Street, 552 3489. 78 THE LIST 27 Nov–11 Dec 2008
1.15–2pm. £4. Students perform music for piano trio.
✽✽ FREE BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra:
Discovering Music City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 2pm. Seating unreserved. Stephen Johnson discusses one of the warhorses of the piano repertoire, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 3, followed by a complete performance with pianist Nelson Goerner, conducted by Stefan Solyom. Part of the Russian Winter series. ■ Katherine Jenkins SECC: Clyde Auditorium, Finnieston Quay, 0870 040 4000. 7pm. £45 (£25–£35). The Welsh popular opera star, Britain’s best-selling classical artist of all time, with show- tunes, Welsh songs and famous classical arias. Edinburgh FREE The Edinburgh Quartet Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 1.10pm. Quartets by Mozart and Seiber.
Wednesday 3
Glenrothes ■ Fife Electronic Organ Society Concert Glenwood High School, South Parks Road, 01592 651540. 7.15pm. £6 (£3; children 50p). An interesting programme of diverse music and song featuring international star Chiho Sunamoto. St Andrews ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Faust Plays Dvorák Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 7.30pm. £9–£19 (£17.50-£15). Rossen Milanov conducts a folky, atmospheric programme with Cherubini’s Overture to Medea, Dvorák’s Legends and Weber’s Symphony No 1. Isabelle Faust joins in for Dvorák’s romantic and energetic Violin Concerto.
Thursday 4
Glasgow ✽✽ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Russian Winter 3 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7pm. £10–£23 (£8–£21). In music to ward off the winter chill, Mikhail Rudy performs Rachmaninov’s youthfully passionate Piano Concerto No 1, alongside Stravinsky’s mini-drama The Soldier’s Tale and Scherzo à la Russe. With a Pre- Concert Prelude and Post-Concert Coda.
Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh University Composers’ Orchestra: Winter Presentation Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 7.30pm. Reid Professor Nigel Osborne conducts a selection of contemporary music as well as the premieres of several student works. ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Faust Plays Dvorák Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8–£26 (£6–£19.50). See Wed 3. ■ Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 7.45pm. £7 (£3). The early music specialists give a concert entitled Music in Dresden, featuring works by Hassler, Praetorius and Schütz. Noel O’Regan conducts.
Clydebank ■ Music for a Christmas Evening XX Town Hall, 01389 608042. £6 (£4). Now in its 20th year, this evening of festive entertainment showcases the musical talent of people from West Dunbartonshire, finishing with an audience sing-along. Until 6 Dec. Dundee ■ Illuminati Wind Quartet Marryat Hall, City Square, 01382 434941. 7.30pm. £10 (£5). Works by Bozza, Bridge and others performed by the quartet of former RSAMD students.
PREVIEW CLASSICAL ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA: DAMNATION OF FAUST Perth Concert Hall, Fri 5 Dec; Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 6 Dec
There aren’t many musical happenings that are too big for Edinburgh Festival Theatre, but the RSNO’s Damnation of Faust is one of them. By far the biggest event of their season, it is huge. With the Usher Hall still closed, and nowhere else in Edinburgh to accommodate the scale of Berlioz’s epic ‘légende dramatique’, the nomadic RSNO head for Perth Concert Hall prior to performing at home in Glasgow. ‘It’s an opera in concert’, says RSNO Music Director Stephane Deneve, who is also a renowned Berlioz specialist, ‘and is very visual and suggestive in that it works with your imagination so that when you listen to the music you can imagine different moods, atmospheres, places. To me, what Berlioz did is like a movie. He is the Spielberg of the 19th century.’ In common with opera, there are soloists playing the characters of the story, chorus and, of course, full orchestra, not to mention children’s chorus plus backstage orchestra.
The tale concerns the sad and lonely old doctor, Faust, being tricked into
making a pact with the devil because of his love for the beautiful Marguerite. So that she goes to heaven, Faust goes to hell. Berlioz was fascinated by the Faust legend and, according to Deneve, ‘It was certainly close to his personal story. It could almost be the Damnation of Berlioz!’ The cast assembled by the RSNO for this rare performance of the full score includes the stunning American mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore with fellow American Gregory Kunde taking the role of Faust. ‘It is a piece that is so fantastically passionate,’ says Deneve, ‘and if you don’t already know it, you will be blown away by its incredible tunes and sounds, especially with these top class singers who will make such an exciting evening of it.’ (Carol Main)
St Andrews ■ Charity Concert Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 7.30pm. £tbc. Presented by University of St Andrews Music Society. Stirling ■ Scottish Flute Trio with Robert Irvine and Rhian Macleod Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, 01224 641122. 8pm. £12 (£10). The Trio and guest cellist and percussionist play world premieres by Scottish female composers, including Thea Musgrave’s Taking Turns.
Friday 5 Glasgow ■ Friday Lunchtime Concert Series RSAMD (Academy Concert Hall), 100 Renfrew Street, 1pm. £9 (£6). Mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill and pianist Simon Lepper perform works by Mahler, Debussy and Grieg. ■ CLIC Sargent Christmas Concert Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£19. The Glasgow Hospitals’ Carol Concert celebrates 30 years of raising money for charity with the Glasgow
Chamber Orchestra and Junior Choir from Kelvinside Academy, with guest star, Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas. Iain McCrorie conducts ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Faust Plays Dvorák City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11–£24 (£8.50–£18). See Wed 3. ■ Daniel Grimwood Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Milngavie, 956 6100. 7.45–10pm. £13 (£12). Grimwood takes on the works of Franz Liszt. Edinburgh FREE Edinburgh University Singers: From Advent to Christmas National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. 1.15pm. John Kitchen conducts the ensemble in a seasonal programme. ■ Edinburgh University Wind Band Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 7.30pm. £5 (£3). Morven Bell conducts.
Falkirk ■ Classic Music Live! Falkirk Various Venues, 01324 713746. Times vary. Prices vary. See Fri 28.