Articles de David Smythe

Scottish Opera’s 60th birthday present proves a triumph, with outstanding singing from Karen Cargill, Sunyoung Seo, Viktor Antipenko and Roland Wood. 

Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony and his incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream are performed at Perth Concert Hall. 

In a warm Glasgow homecoming, Sir Donald Runnicles gives a magnificent, moving Mahler 9, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. 

The spirited principals and chorus of the Royal Conservatoire Scotland are directed by PF Harris in Chabrier’s fizzing opéra bouffe.

John Butt directs the Dunedin Consort and a top team of soloists in St Mary's Cathedral for Handel's seasonal favourite. 

Handel's chorus-heavy oratorio fielded a dream team of distinguished soloists.

The programme featured Sibelius's vividly terrifying Tapiola, alongside a gorgeous Four Last Songs with Elizabeth Llewellyn and Vaughan Williams's wistful Fifth Symphony.

Scottish Opera’s visually stunning new production is headed by a strong trio of Lauren Fagan, Julieth Lozano and Samantha Hankey. 

Lydia Teuscher, Andrew Staples and Hanno Müller-Brachmann prove a beautiful trio of angels and the SCO Chorus are on top form in Haydn's biblical oratorio.

From performing Mahler in a pared-down chamber arrangement in an empty hall two years ago, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra returns to the “full fat” variety in a packed Usher Hall. 

Festive Dvořák, intense Martinů with Katia and Marielle Labèque, and an awesome performance of Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Two works premiered in Paris in 1913 – Lili Boulanger's Faust et Hélène and Stravinsky The Rite of Spring – excite the Edinburgh International Festival audience... but spark no riots. 

Returning to the Edinburgh International Festival after their astonishing Peter Grimes, the Bergen Philharmonic and Edward Gardner bring another opera, Richard Strauss' murderous Salome. 

Sir Donald Runnicles led a vivid account of The Pines of Rome and an exciting yet thoughtful performance of Carmina Burana with three superb soloists.

Rachel Redmond is a sweet voiced Galatea in the Dunedin Consort's performance of the Cannons version of Acis and Galatea in Perth. 

Martyn Brabbins celebrates with a world premiere from Errollyn Wallen, Evelyn Glennie revisiting iconic MacMillan and a broad, noble Elgar First Symphony.

Last minute step-in Noa Wildschut gives a thoughtful Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, before a thrilling Symphonie fantastique from the RSNO. 

Set in the sinister backstreets of Venice, this production from 2013 boasts strong singing all around and brisk, bright conducting by Stuart Stratford.

BBCSSO bids a fitting farewell to outgoing Chief Conductor Thomas Dausgaard with two epic Nielsen symphonies and memorable Mozart from clarinettist Jörg Widmann.

The RCS performs Jonathan Dove’s Flight with his specially commissioned reduced orchestration, with very fine ensemble singing.