A tale of two Glorias: Poulenc and Vivaldi with the SCO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 10 October 2025

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“witty, ever-changing performances of two of the composer’s most accessible works”

Reviewed at Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 9 October 2025

Poulenc, Sinfonietta, FP 141

Poulenc, Gloria, FP 177

Vivaldi, Gloria in D major, RV 589

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Maxim Emelyanychev, Conductor

Anna Dennis, Soprano

Rachel Redmond, Soprano

Alberto Miguélez Rouco, Countertenor

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer, Choirmaster / chorus director

Saxophone dreams with Jess Gillam and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

David Smythe, 11th March

Jess Gillom and Scottish Chamber Orchestra in St Andrews in a wide-ranging programme of contemporary music. Ben Glassberg conducts.

****1

Baroque inspirations from Emelyanychev and the SCO

David Smythe, 20th February

Maxim Emelyanychev and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra offer a Baroque-inspired programme of Bach, Handel, Britten, a modern take on Scarlatti and wonderfully zany Schnittke.

****1

Maxim Emelyanychev and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra reshape Mozart

David Smythe, 29th January

In Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, Mozart’s final three symphonies are given a vibrant interpretation by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by the effervescent Maxim Emelyanychev.

****1

Gnarly Buttons central to the SCO’s John Adams programme

David Smythe, 12th December

Andrew Manze conducts an all-Adams programme in Glasgow, Maximiliano Martín the fearless soloist in Gnarly Buttons, bookended by mesmerising Shaker Loops and exuberant Fearful Symmetries.

****1

Reich+ from Colin Currie and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

David Smythe, 6th November

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Colin Currie fizz with energy in Duddell, Grime and Steve Reich.

****1

An acrobatic Orpheus and Eurydice in Edinburgh

Roy Westbrook, 13th August

The music plays second fiddle to Australian circus company Circa in Yaron Lifschitz’s production of Gluck's great opera.

***11

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Simon Thompson

Simon lives and works in Edinburgh, and teaches History and Modern Studies at a local high school when he is not writing about music. Born an Irishman, he is an enthusiastic adopted Scot, and has lived in the capital for fifteen years since university days, making the most of its many avenues for classical music. He spends his spare time enthusing about music, theatre, art and literature to anyone who will listen, including his long-suffering students, who have no choice.

A tale of two Glorias: Poulenc and Vivaldi with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra