Music CLASSICAL
Sunday 12 Glasgow FREE Kelvingrove Sunday Organ Recitals Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. 3–3.45pm. See Sun 5. Portrait of the Composer: Chopin in Glasgow City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 3pm. £12–£15. Louis Lortie and Aleksandar Madzar perform Chopin’s complete preludes, études and impromptus. West End International: Christmas at the Musicals Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm & 7.30pm. £15.50–£23. A show-stopping concert of seasonal musical hits. Quietudes II: Nine Lessons and Carols Glasgow University Chapel, University Avenue, 330 4092. 6pm. £tbc. The University of Glasgow’s annual service. FREE Strathclyde University Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Jordanhill Parish Church, 28 Woodend Drive, 959 2496. 6.30pm. With Jordanhill Community Choir. Glasgow Orchestral Society Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church, Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). A mixture of seasonal classics and Tchaikovsky’s Suite from Sleeping Beauty.
Chopin Retrospective
Edinburgh Christmas Carols in the Great Hall Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. 1pm, 2pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £12 (£9.20; children £6.50). Seasonal songs in the magnificent surroundings of Edinburgh Castle’s Great Hall. FREE Christmas Choirs National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. 3.45–4.15pm. Vocal cords at the ready for an afternoon singalong. Harps of Gold Christmas Concert The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 2.30pm. £10 (£8; children £5; family £25). The Clarsach Society presents an afternoon of festive carols and readings. Proceeds to be shared with the St Columba’s Hospice Rebuilding Project. Children’s Classic Concerts: Christmas Carnival Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 3pm. £10 (£6; family ticket £29). See Sat 11. FREE Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. 3.45pm. Period Christmas and Advent music. FREE Edinburgh University Carol Service McEwan Hall, Bristo Square, 650 4381. 7pm. Carol concert. Newtongrange Silver Band The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668
PORTRAIT OF THE COMPOSER, CHOPIN IN GLASGOW Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 9–Sun 12 Dec
As part of Svend Brown’s remarkable vision in his first season as artistic director of Glasgow’s Concert Halls, the Portrait of the Composer series is one that stands out. Throwing fresh light on the work and lives of some of Europe’s greatest composers, the series has so far provided fascinating insights into Bach and James Dillon and now turns to Chopin in the 200th anniversary year of his birth. ‘Basically, we want to give audiences options,’ says Brown. ‘You can just come along to the concerts to hear some of the finest pianists in the world perform wonderful music, but if you want more, there’s also a chance to learn about Chopin’s personal experience of performing.’ Chopin was one of the early 19th century’s virtuoso stars,
performing in Glasgow and Edinburgh as part of a foggy, damp tour of Scotland in 1848, the year before he died. Following in his footsteps over 160 years later are pianists Elizabeth Leonskaja (pictured), an Edinburgh Festival favourite, Boris Giltburg and Aleksandar Madzar plus Louis Lortie in the same recital. ‘We have four of the world’s finest Chopinistes playing the widest range of repertoire to represent his work,’ says Brown. ‘Without any fear of hyperbole I can put my hand on my heart and say that they are all highlights. Leonskaja is a particularly mesmerising musician. There’s no messing, no glitz and showbiz – she just sits down, plays and an hour has passed.’ In terms of repertoire, there’s the full range of waltzes, ballades,
preludes and etudes with all their ‘sheer beauty, passion, sorrow, love, death, dance and suffering. Nothing is missing,’ says Brown. Apart from the concerts, the series also features writer Janice Galloway In Conversation, an exploration of the Romantic age of great 19th century pianists. (Carol Main)
82 THE LIST 2–16 Dec 2010
2019. 7.30pm. £8–£10. One of Scotland’s top brass bands give their annual seasonal concert. Edinburgh Orchestral Ensemble Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7.30pm. £8 (£4/family ticket £15). Bizet’s popular Carmen Suites are presented alongside his Symphony in C. Dundee Dundee Choral Union Charity Gala Caird Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £13 (students £5). Conductor Norman Beedie leads the choir in a programme of Puccini, Verdi and Wagner.
Monday 13
Glasgow RSAMD Strings Lunchtime Concert RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 1pm. £5 (£3). Strings students perform solo and ensemble works.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Artur Pizarro The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019.
7.45pm. £11–£19 (concessions available). The world-famous pianist gives an all- Chopin concert, as the year of the composer’s 200th birthday draws to a close. Edinburgh Youth Choir Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, 556 3515. 7.30pm. £8 (£5). Carols by candlight in an evening of festive classics.
Tuesday 14
Glasgow Family Carol Service Glasgow University Chapel, University Avenue, 330 4092. 6pm. £tbc. With the University of Glasgow’s Chapel Choir. Dundee RSNO Christmas Concert Caird Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £12.50 (£6; students/schoolchildren £5). Christmassy multimedia event with a screening of Raymond Briggs’ classic animation The Snowman alongside carols and music performed by the RSNO Junior Chorus.
Wednesday 15
Glasgow FREE Celebrate Christmas! Barony Hall, Rottenrow East, 353 8000. 3–4pm. Strathclyde University’s annual concert of seasonal words and music. Swingin’ into Christmas RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). Musical Theatre students join with the RSAMD Big Band for lively favourites. Merchant Sinfonia and Merchant Voices Christmas Concert City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £2. The two popular community music groups join forces for a festive Christmas concert. Edinburgh Lothian Hospitals and Friends Carol Concert Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £10–£18 (concessions available). The annual Christmas concert raising funds for CLIC Sargent. This year’s celebrity soloists are glamorous classical vocalists All Angels. Scottish Ensemble: Candlelit Concerts The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.45pm. £12–£14.50 (£5–£11). Two Czech pieces: Dvorák’s Serenade for Strings and Janácek’s Kreutzer Sonata (arr Jonathan Morton).
St Andrews Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Christmas in Paris Younger Hall, North Street, 01334 462226. 7.30pm. £10.50–£19.50 (concessions available). Louis Langrée conducts Haydn’s Symphony No 86 together with Ravel’s Ma Mère L’Oye, Fauré’s Elegie and Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No 1 with Shanghai cellist Jian Wang.
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✽✽ Scottish Ensemble: Candlelit Concerts ‘Christmas with a twist’ from the Scottish Ensemble who pair the music of Czech masters Dvorák and Janácek in a series of intimate candlelit concerts. And not a Christmas carol or sleigh bell in sight. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Wed 15 Dec; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: Strathclyde Suite, Thu 16 Dec. ✽✽ Artur Pizzaro As the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth draws to a close, the New Town Concerts Society presents 1990 Leeds International Piano Competition winner, Artur Pizzaro, in an all-Chopin programme which draws on music from his current epic cycle in London of the composer’s complete works for solo piano. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 13 Dec. ✽✽ Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro Last chance to see Sir Thomas Allen’s stunningly beautiful production of the Mozart favourite. An all-round superb cast is headed up by Thomas Oliemans as Figaro, with Nadine Livingston a delightful Susanna and baritone Roderick Williams in very fine form as the Count. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thu 2 Dec, Sat 4 Dec.
Thursday 16
Glasgow RSNO: Big Band Christmas Party Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£32 (£6–£16). Eliot Murray directs the RSNO Big Band through an enjoyably cheesy selection with trumpeter Bruce Adams.
✽✽ Scottish Ensemble: Candlelit Concerts Royal Concert Hall:
Strathclyde Suite, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£14.50 (£5–£11; students £3 with Fonic card). See Wed 15. Swingin’ into Christmas RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). See Wed 15.
Edinburgh Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Christmas in Paris The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7.30pm. £9–£27 (concessions available). See Wed 15.