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.
Dead Man Walking receives its UK stages premiere at RCS with two barnstorming central performances and a huge cast. Conductor James Holmes brought this modern American classic to passionate life.
Sir Thomas Allen’s crowd-pleasing Magic Flute returns to Scottish Opera in a finely sung performance with Tobias Ringborg drawing period colours from the orchestra.
Pekka Kuusisto’s direction of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra is playful, creative and joyous in a mixed programme from Biber to Bartók, Haydn to Messiaen wrapped round with Ravel.
In the unlikeliest of pairings at RCS, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas finds resonance with Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, delivered with spirited commitment.
Sir James MacMillan’s 60th Birthday Concert with SCO and Chorus rediscovers two major seminal works: the dramatic Veni, Veni, Emannuel with Colin Currie and the intense Seven Last Words from the Cross.
BBCSSO’s contributes to Berlioz – The Ultimate Romantic with a swaggering Waverley Overture, Dramatic Death of Cleopatra and an intriguing performance of Lélio, or what happened after Symphonie Fantastique.
The SCO delights and charms with François Leleux, Carolyn Sampson and Eleanor Hudson in a thoughtful programme of French music linking the Debussy and Berlioz anniversaries.
Climate change, challenged egos and a strange Ice woman tell a gruesome tale in Anthropocene, a finely sung new opera from Stuart MacRae, with libretto from Louise Welsh, set in the Arctic with a cinematic score.
Commedia dell'arte and zany surrealism: RCS opera school pulls off a highly amusing double bill of Gianni Schicchi and Les Mamelles de Tirésias with style.
The Scottish Ensemble with guitarist Sean Shibe perform a thoughtful programme of ancient and modern Christmas-themed music in a candlelit St John’s Kirk.
McFall’s Chamber’s bittersweet programme of Polish music referenced Tango in Warsaw, exploring the avant-garde of Grażyna Bacewicz and early and late Penderecki
Prelude – Skydiving from a Dream from Scottish Ensemble and Andersson Dance: mesmeric choreographed Bach and Lutosławski with a blistering performance of Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue played from memory and on the move. Thrilling, daring and exciting.
RSNO’s sparkling Prokofiev, heroic Tchaikovsky and lush Poulenc which celebrated 175 years of the RSNO Chorus was eclipsed by 80 Glasgow schoolboys who sang their hearts out with three songs from All Those Men Who Marched Away.
Thomas Søndergård and the RSNO with a beguiling performance of Ravel’s Schéhérazade from Catriona Morison, vivid Peer Gynt from Grieg and a vibrant Rachmaninov’s First Symphony
Opera Bohemia provides a fun-filled showcase for Conservatoire graduates in a finely sung Falstaff heading for the Edinburgh Fringe with a small orchestra.
Edinburgh Fringe’s late-night candlelit atmosphere: a packed St Patrick’s for a lovely Fauré Requiem from St Andrew Camerata and beautiful and haunting The Last Exit for soprano and clarinet at Old St Paul’s.
A wry and topical new version of The Beggar’s Opera from Robert Carsen and Ian Burton from Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord is energetic, fun and amusing. Les Arts Florissants provide colourful Baroque accompaniment.
McFall’s Chamber’s Red Blue Balance - music for chamber musicians and jazz trio, introduce three new works, revisit recent work and hark back to Bongo Club days with driving Zappa and swing band Raymond Scott pieces at Edinburgh’s Fringe.
