Pushing boundaries: Scottish Ensemble’s Shifting Patterns in Perth

Scottish Ensemble

By David Smythe, 30 October 2025

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“a hugely exciting track as harmonies clash, rhythms shift and collide”

Reviewed at Perth Concert Hall, Perth on 29 October 2025

Górecki, String Quartet no. 2 "Quasi una fantasia", Op.64

Meredith, Honeyed Woods (arr. Richard Jones)

Meredith, Tuggemo

Meredith, Chorale

Meredith, Shill (arr. Richard Jones)

Meredith, Haze

Meredith, Blackfriars

Meredith, Nautilus

Scottish Ensemble

Scottish Ensemble at the QEH: hugely energetic, top-quality playing

Stephen Pritchard, 29th September

A carefully chosen programme of exciting, short pieces which all share parallel energetic explorations of musical patterns and pulses.

*****

Karen Cargill and the Scottish Ensemble burst into Songs for Life

David Smythe, 13th November

Life, death, childhood, community and love are celebrated in Songs for Life by Karen Cargill with the Scottish Ensemble in an exquisitely filmed performance.

*****

Scottish Ensemble’s adventures in music for a winter’s night

David Smythe, 7th December

A deeply soulful musical adventure for a winter’s night from the Scottish Ensemble to celebrate their 50th anniversary

****1

Soulful Advent music from the Scottish Ensemble with Sean Shibe

David Smythe, 8th December

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.

****1

Utterly thrilling: Prelude – Skydiving from a Dream

David Smythe, 10th November

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.

*****

From Naxos to Carthage: Ancient Classical Tales from Karen Cargill and the Scottish Ensemble

David Smythe, 20th February

Mezzo soprano Karen Cargill and the Scottish Ensemble guest-led by Matthew Truscott in a programme of music from Purcell to Stravinsky all inspired by tales from Ancient Greece.

****1

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David Smythe

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.

Still pushing boundaries: Scottish Ensemble’s Shifting Patterns in Perth