www.list.co.uk/music CLASSICAL
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to classical@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Carol Main & Tasmin Campbell. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 21
Glasgow FREE Kelvingrove Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 1pm. Daily lunchtime organ recitals. FREE Glasgow Music Festival Prizewinners 2010 Glasgow University Concert Hall, University Avenue, 330 4092. 1.10pm. The Douglas Academy Trio performs Debussy’s Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano and Saint Saëns’ Trio, while David Jervis plays Gaubert’s Nocturne & Allegro Scherzando and works by Harty and Takemitsu. ■ Red Note RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). Classic minimalist performances of John Adams’ Shaker Loops, Gavin Bryars’ Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, and a brand new composition by Gabriel Jackson, winner of last year’s BASCA British Composer Award. Edinburgh ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Mozart at the Piano 1 The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £9–£27 (concessions available). Star Russian pianist Piotr Anderszewski joins the SCO to direct from the keyboard two contrasting Mozart piano concertos, the 20th and the 27th, K466 and K595 respectively. Beethoven’s Scenes from Prometheus and Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture are also on the programme with Alexander Janiczek as violinist/conductor.
Kelso ■ London Bridge Piano Trio Mellerstain House, Gordon, 01573 410225. 7.30pm. £17.50 (BMAG members £12.50). Benjamin Nabarro, Kate Gould and Daniel Tong perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio No 2 in G major and works by Haydn.
St Andrews ■ Scottish Opera: Carmen Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, 01334 475000. 7.30pm. £16 (£5–£14). Scottish Opera presents Bizet’s seductive opera, moved forward over a century to the 1960s, when Spain languished under Franco’s authoritarian regime. Ashley Dean directs this new version of the tale of the soldier Don José’s obsession with fiery beauty Carmen.
Friday 22
Glasgow ■ Baby come Bach RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 1pm. £10 (£7). Internationally renowned French marimbist Eric Sammut visits the RSAMD, bringing with him music by everyone from Bach to Joplin and Lennon/McCartney. ■ Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Mozart at the Piano 1 City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £11.50–£25 (concessions available). See Thu 21. Edinburgh FREE Lunchtime Concert St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, 668 2019. 1.10pm. Cellist Eric de Wit is joined by Shuann Chai on fortepiano for Beethoven’s Sonata for cello and piano Op 5, No 1 and Variations on a theme of Mozart, and Ries’ Romance in G.
OPERA BY MOZART SCOTTISH OPERA: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Fri 29 Oct, Sun 31 Oct, Tue 30 Nov, Thu 2 Dec, Sat 4 Dec; Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Fri 19 Nov, Sun 21 Nov, Tue 23 Nov, Thu 25 Nov, Sat 27 Nov.
Poacher turned gamekeeper isn’t overly common in the world of opera, but one internationally famous singer who has successfully moved from performing to directing is Sir Thomas Allen. Bringing the same team who produced a hugely enjoyable Barber of Seville for Scottish Opera in 2007, Allen returns with Mozart’s opera which shares the same central character, The Marriage of Figaro. In tall tales of everyday upstairs-downstairs life, the opera’s action is on
the day – the day of madness – before Figaro’s wedding to Susanna, played by one of Scottish Opera’s ‘Emerging Artists’, Nadine Livingston, who finds working with Allen as director of enormous benefit. ‘He knows what it’s like for singers from every angle,’ she says, ‘and he’s got every base covered.’ Having sung in Figaro many times, it is no wonder that Allen knows it intimately. ‘He’s got such insight into the piece and into everything we’re doing.’ says Livingston, ‘Even in stagecraft techniques, it’s incredible what he’s teaching us.’ As a young baritone with Welsh National Opera, The Marriage of Figaro
was one of Allen’s first successes playing Count Almaviva, Figaro’s employer, who also has his eye on Susanna. ‘He’s absolutely sympathetic to young singers and completely agrees that the sort of environment provided by Scottish Opera is a perfect place to start.’ The production is, says Livingston, ‘very traditional and extremely beautiful, with a gorgeous set and stunning costumes.’ One subtle difference is Livingston’s portrayal of Susanna. ‘The old tradition is of playing her coy,’ she says, ‘but she’s actually very strong and feisty. She always knows what’s going on, is always in control, even if people think she’s not. The central theme is a couple in love, who take pleasure in winding each other up. I can’t wait for it to start.’ (Carol Main) ■ Puppet show and song performances of ‘A Little Bit of Figaro’ will take place Wed 10 Nov, 11.30am and 1pm, Festival Theatre cafe, Edinburgh; Forest café, Edinburgh, Wed 10 Nov, 2.30 & 3.30pm.
■ Homecoming Concert for The Royal Regiment of Scotland The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). A concert by the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, with all proceeds going to The Royal Regiment of Scotland Association. ■ RSNO: Bach to Elgar Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £10–£32 (concessions available). Bach’s energetic Piano Concerto No 1 is performed by renowned Bach pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Also with Sibelius’ Scene with Cranes from Kuolema and a
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✽✽ JAM: Sound a New Song As part of its tenth birthday celebrations, the John Armitage Memorial Trust – aka JAM (pictured) – makes a welcome return visit to Scotland after an absence of four years. A tireless champion of the best of new music, JAM’s 2010 commissions and premieres make for an exciting and unforgettable programme. Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, Sun 29 Oct. ✽✽ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Romantics Unbound Another unmissable premiere, this issue is by Scottish based composer Sally Beamish. Her Homage à Brahms not only pays tribute to the great 19th century Romantic composer, but celebrates the 75th Birthday of the BBC SSO. A change from ‘Happy Birthday to You’. City Halls, Candleriggs, Thu 4 Nov. ✽✽ Red Note And yet another premiere in a plethora of autumnal new music, this time courtesy of Red Note Ensemble who give the first performance of the Doonies Hill Antiphon for strings by Gabriel Jackson, who has taken his inspiration from the name and site of an RAF radar station in Aberdeen during the time of the Battle of Britain. RSAMD, Glasgow, Thu 21 Oct; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 22 Oct.
big, flag-waving finish with Elgar’s Symphony No 1, lauded after its premiere as being the finest work ever written by an English composer. ■ Red Note Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. 8pm. £10–£16 (£6–£12). See Thu 21.
Saturday 23 Glasgow ■ Portrait of the Composer: Bach at the Keyboard City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 2.30pm. £12. Richard Egarr has received critical acclaim for his performances of the works of JS Bach. Here he demonstrates why with a recital of works the from the composer’s fruitful years at the court in Cöthen and selections from The Well- Tempered Clavier.
21 Oct–4 Nov 2010 THE LIST 81