David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.
Intensely dramatic Berlioz with mezzo Catriona Morison with the RSNO and Thomas Søndergård, framed by Bert Sørensen’s vivid Evening Land and a sparklingly fresh Sibelius 2.
A semi-staged concert that boasts strong musical performances and appealing production values makes a spirited case for reappraising Gilbert and Sullivan's penultimate collaboration.
Memorable role debuts from Dorothea Röschmann, David Butt Philip and Catriona Morison make Ariadne auf Naxos with the RSNO and Lothar Koenigs a night to savour.
Nicola Benedetti, the Festival's artist-in-residence, captures perfectly the intoxicating mix of Italian early music with her handpicked Baroque Orchestra.
The RSNO welcomes the audience back in a light and joyful French programme conducted by Thomas Søndergård with its own oboist Adrian Wilson as soloist in L'Horloge de flore.
A dramatic new opera from Errollyn Wallen, with the Dunedin Consort, chorus and a strong cast including Isabelle Peters, Matthew Brook, Nardus Williams and Allison Cook.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra wraps up Perth Festival in style with a cheerful Mozart symphony and Nicola Bendetti revisiting Mendelssohn’s Violin concerto.
Russian soprano Ilona Domnich, pianist Sholto Kynoch and enthusiast Michael White in a programme of songs and speech reflecting Rachmaninov’s colourful life.
A short, tender MacMillan piece, filmic Sibelius and an astonishing percussion concerto from Rautavaara written for – and performed by – Colin Currie rounds off a successful SCO digital series of concerts.
Thomas Søndergård steers the RSNO into the finale of their first digital season with Nicky Spence luminous in Britten’s Les Illuminations and the players joyous in Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
Matthew McVarish’s Scottish soldier brings Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale vividly to life, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on sparking form conducted by Gordon Bragg.
