The complex world of Górecki, Bacewicz and Cytż is contrasted with Dvořák and Chopin as The Scottish Ensemble embarked upon an Eastern European journey with guest director Bartosz Woroch.
Eisenstein is a Tory Minister out of his depth on a European mission. Mischief and fun galore in RCS’s well sung Die Fledermaus, a fitting tribute to Timothy Dean as he stands down as Head of Opera.
Karen Cargill returns to Scottish Opera as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle in a double bill with The 8th Door, a new opera from Lliam Paterson and Vanishing Point’s Matthew Lenton.
BBCSSO and Richard Farnes’s special chemistry in a night of British music. Thoughtful Butterworth and noble Elgar and Lawrence Power joined the forces for a wonderfully spirited performance of Macmillan’s Viola Concerto.
Music, singing and movement blend together in a powerfully moving double bill of French Tragedy, Les Malheurs d’Orphée and Le Vin herbé at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Alina Ibragimova with the Scottish Ensemble perform exuberant early teenage Mendelssohn, deeply spiritual Pärt and Vasks, politically lethal Hartmann and utterly thrilling Bach.
The early Handel opera Agrippina is given a rare and playful outing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with clear Italian singing, joyous Baroque playing and lively stage production.
An excellent performance of Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s The Last Supper receiving its Scottish première, with Roderick Williams and Susan Bickley heading a luxury cast.
Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with pieces by Tavener, MacMillan and Lauridsen contrast with Byrd and Dowland in a thoughtful and moving performance of Christmas musical icons from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus.
Music from Vaughan Williams is contrasted with two pieces from Dobrinka Tabakova in The Scottish Ensemble’s candlelit concert, Ascent. Senior NYOS strings swell the ranks to produce a reflective evening of richness and warmth.
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is used a reference in Anna Meredith’s Anno, an immersive performance by the Scottish Ensemble with surround visuals by illustrator Eleanor Meredith.
Psappha and The Hebrides Ensembles celebrate 25 years of music-making with a new commission, a tribute to Maxwell Davies and Schoenberg’s soulful Verklärte Nacht.
The RSNO continues its cycle of Prokofiev’s Piano Concertos to celebrate its 125th season, coupled with some Russian fairy-tale magic and a rare outing for Rachmaninov’s Third Symphony.
Scottish Opera’s boutique touring production of The Elixir of Love is a fun-filled delight. Fine singing, perfect comic timing, all to a score for just five players. It worked a treat.
