Music Classical
by Bach, Ennio Morricone and Offenbach. ■ New Edinburgh Orchestra Nicholson Square Methodist Church, 25 Nicholson Square, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £8 (£1–£5). Tim Paxton conducts Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, orchestra commission Bruno Clifton’s At sunset, troubled light, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and Beethoven’s famous Symphony No 3 (‘Eroica’). ■ Durham University Palatinate Orchestra Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University, Bristo Square, 650 2427. 8pm. £2. An evening performance of Stravinsky’s Symphony No 1, Ives’ Unanswered Question and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. ■ Scottish Chamber Choir St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 8pm. £10 (under 16s free). The choir performs a selection of sacred works by Bach: two cantatas and the Lutheran Mass in G. Sunday 13
Glasgow FREE Singing in the Park Kelvingrove Park, Otago Street, 334 6363. 2pm. All ages and experience welcome in this mass singalong of music and chants from all over the world. All that’s required is a set of vocal cords, and bring a picnic. Part of the West End Festival. FREE BBC SSO: Listen Here! Portrait of an Orchestra City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 2.30pm. Ticketed. Join the BBC SSO for the start of its 75th anniversary celebrations with a colourful selection of works including Sibelius’ stirring Finlandia and a new piece by Sally Beamish. FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3–3.45pm. Sunday promenade concerts with different organists. ■ Epsilon Ensemble St Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 353/355 Kilmarnock Road. 3.30pm. £5 (£3; under 16s free). French chamber music including Poulenc’s Sextet for piano and winds and Debussy’s Children’s Corner Suite. ■ New World to a New Century: Music for Recorders and Voices St Bride’s Episcopal Church, 69 Hyndland Road, 6pm. By donation. Glasgow chamber choir Cathures is joined by the Scottish Recorder Orchestra for contemporary, religious and secular works. Part of the West End Festival. ■ Sounds of Summer Glasgow University Memorial Chapel, The Square, off University Avenue, 7.30pm. £10 (£7). Glasgow University Chapel Choir performs. Part of the West End Festival. ■ Merchant Voices: A Summer Musical Journey City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £2. The Merchant Voices community choir in a range of musical styles and influences as part of Refugee Week Scotland. ■ Celtic Miracles St Peter’s RC Church, 46 Hyndland Street, 9pm. £10 (£7). The singers of medieval music group Canty are joined by William Taylor on the Celtic harp for a musical journey through the mysteries of the Celtic saints. Part of the West End Festival. ■ RSAMD Piano Festival RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. Times vary. Prices vary. See Thu 10.
Edinburgh ■ Edinburgh Quartet South Leith Parish Church, Constitution Street. 6pm. £11 (£8). The acclaimed Edinburgh Quartet performs Mozart’s Quartet in B flat (‘Hunt’), along with works by Shostakovich and Borodin. Part of the Leith Festival. ■ St Giles’ at Six St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 6pm. Retiring collection. The Michael Garrett Ensemble performs original compositions and arrangements by Michael Garrett. 88 THE LIST 10–24 Jun 2010
POPULAR CLASSICAL MUSIC RSNO SUMMER POPS Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 12, Sat 19, Fri 25, Sat 26 Jun; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 13, Thu 24, Sun 27 Jun.
By their very nature, ‘pops’ concerts are about much-loved orchestral repertoire that audiences never tire of listening to. Making sure that the formula for presenting them isn’t tired, the RSNO has very cleverly booked American pop classics conductor Jeff Tyzik (pictured) for its 2010 Summer Pops season. In a package deal where this master of the art of popular classical music not only conducts all seven performances but additionally takes the role of genial host to the orchestra’s Glasgow and Edinburgh audiences, favourite pieces from New York, Italy, England and Scotland are testimony to why pops concerts have now been a phenomenon for well over 100 years.
‘There are two main differences between these concerts and the
orchestra’s main season concerts,’ says Tyzik. ‘One is the wide variety of musical styles – pop, classical, jazz – and the other is my connection with the audience. I’ll be speaking throughout the evening, engaging with the audiences in a way that wouldn’t happen normally.’ During the performances Tyzik will give information about the music, composers and instruments, and about why particular pieces are being played in a way that is fun but not patronising. ‘I’m not going to try to be a comedian,’ he says, ‘but to find something new about the music which people will find interesting.’
In the Viva Italia concert, soloist is BBC Cardiff Singer of the World winner Giordano Luca, while in the last night RSNO Scottish Prom, global superstar Scot Evelyn Glennie plays a new concerto by America’s Eric Ewazen inspired by Burns. ‘We have these great artists,’ says Tyzik, ‘but the real star of the show will be the RSNO.’ And what about the last-night tradition of the conductor wearing a kilt? ‘Well,’ says Tyzik, ‘let’s just say that I’m intrigued by that possibility.’ (Carol Main)
■ Chamber Music Recital Canongate Kirk, Royal Mile. 6pm. £10 (£5). Music for ensemble in aid of the Society of Friends of St Andrew’s Jerusalem. Tickets on the door. ■ European Doctors Orchestra Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 668 4949. 7.30pm. £15 (£8). This orchestra of doctors from all over Europe meets just twice a year for rehearsals and concerts, and visits Edinburgh for a performance of MacCunn’s Overture: The Land of the Mountain and the Flood, Bruch’s Violin Concerto with soloist Josephine Robertson, and Dvorák’s Symphony No 8. ■ RSNO: New York, New York! Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155.
7.30pm. £5–£30 (cabaret seating £32 per person). See Sat 12. FREE Under Junction Bridge Under Junction Bridge, Junction Bridge, Great Junction Street, Leith, 9–11pm. Bring a bottle and a blanket as the Heritage Ensemble returns to perform a sunset concert of classical music and classic film soundtracks under Junction Bridge. Part of the Leith Festival. Livingston ■ West Lothian Festival of Brass Howden Park Centre, Howden, 01506 777666. 6.30pm. £10 (£7.50; festival ticket £22). A concert series in which six of Scotland’s top brass bands compete head to head.
Monday 14
Glasgow ■ Daniel’s Beard at The Cottier: West End Heritage Concert Cottier Theatre, 93–95 Hyndland Street, 357 4000. 5.30pm. £5 min donation. Hear the work of composers who have lived and worked in Glasgow’s West End and discover a new generation of composers from the area. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Piano Recital: Julian Jacobson Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. 6pm. The pianist performs Alison Kay’s Concert Studies and Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Edinburgh ■ Get Organised Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 1.10pm. £3. Music for trumpet and organ performed by Tom Poulson and Calum Robertson.
Tuesday 15 Glasgow ■ Daniel’s Beard Lunchtime Recital Lansdowne Church, 416 Great Western Road, 1pm. £5 min donation. A lunchtime performance by clarinettist Jo Nicholson and pianist Sam Hutchings. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Chorus at the Kibble Kibble Palace, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 276 1614. 7.30pm. The Closeshave Barbershop Chorus performs favourites old and new. Part of the West End Festival.
Edinburgh ■ Organ Recital St Mary’s RC Cathedral, York Place, 8pm. Retiring collection. Simon Nieminski takes requests. Wednesday 16
Glasgow ■ Baroque at St Bride’s 2 St Bride’s Episcopal Church, 69 Hyndland Road, 357 1795. 1pm. £8 (£3). More Baroque masterpieces, this time by Vivaldi, Corelli and Scarlatti. Part of the West End Festival. ■ Daniel’s Beard Chamber Concert Lansdowne Church, 416 Great Western Road, 7.30pm. £5 min donation. An evening performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, Bach’s Cello Suite in D minor and Dohnanyi’s Sextet. Part of the West End Festival. Edinburgh FREE Lunchtime Concert St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 12.15pm. Organist Michal Brycks performs works by de Grigny, Durufle, Franck and others. Part of the Old Town Festival.
Paisley ■ Organ Recital Paisley Abbey, Abbey Place, 889 7654. 7.30pm. £10. Alexander Anderson gives a recital.
Thursday 17
Glasgow ■ Westbourne Music The Merchant House, 7 West George Street, 649 5347. 12.45pm. £7 (£3–£6). The Scottish Ensemble brings this season to a close. ■ British Choral Classics St Bride’s Episcopal Church, 69 Hyndland Road, 7.30pm. £5. The Choirs of St Mary’s perform some British choral favourites by Byrd, Tippett and Holst. Part of the West End Festival. Edinburgh FREE Lunchtime Concert St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 226 0673. 12.15pm. Feargus Hetherington and Will Pickvance perform Scottish music, featuring the violin made from a tree that Conan Doyle climbed as a child. Part of the Old Town Festival.