A visit to the French Embassy for the RSNO

By Imogen Phoebe Webb, 14 February 2015

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Reviewed at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow on 7 February 2015

Franck, Les Éolides (The Breezes), symphonic poem

Saint-Saëns, Cello Concerto no. 1 in A minor, Op.33

Fauré, Élégie in C minor, Op.24

Britten, Cello Suite no. 2, Op.80 (Declamato: Largo)

Ravel, Ma mère l'Oye (Mother Goose)

Ravel, La Valse

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Gilbert Varga, Conductor

Daniel Müller-Schott, Cello

Kristiina Poska makes an exciting return to conduct the RSNO

Simon Thompson, 20th March

Kristiina Poska directs the RSNO in gripping Tchaikovsky and Pärt, but words and music only occasionally match in Elena Langer's new song cycle.

***11

Felix Klieser plays Strauss with the RSNO, before Bruckner exodus

Simon Thompson, 21st February

Felix Klieser is quietly remarkable as he plays Strauss' First Horn Concerto with the RSNO, but why did so many people walk out during Bruckner's Eighth Symphony?

****1

Giedrė Šlekytė conducts the RSNO in passionate, exciting Mahler

Simon Thompson, 5th December

Giedrė Šlekytė makes a stellar conducting debut with the RSNO, while violinist Nemanja Radulović has a great look but a disappointingly ordinary sound.

****1

Mahler magic: RSNO opens season with the Seventh Symphony

Simon Thompson, 3rd October

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Thomas Søndergård open their season, continuing their Mahler cycle, with the Seventh Symphony.

****1

A dramatic, declamatory Elijah closes the 2025 Edinburgh Festival

Simon Thompson, 24th August

The festival’s closing concert brings drama from the RSNO and conductor Thomas Søndergård, but Christopher Maltman's Elijah brings the presence of greatness.

****1

Triumphant Tavener opens the Edinburgh International Festival

David Smythe, 2nd August

John Tavener's epic, eight-hour all-night vigil opens the festival in monumental style, directed by Thomas Guthrie.

*****

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Imogen Phoebe Webb

Imogen graduated with distinction in Contemporary Curating from Manchester School of Art, taking a particular interest in sound art. She read History of Art and Music at the University of Glasgow, receiving a prize for excellence in Performance, and enjoys a wide range of arts. She began studying voice with Patricia MacMahon in 2012, and covered 'Eve' in Scottish Opera Connect’s 2015 production of Dove’s The Walk from the Garden. In recent years she has studied with Susan Roper and Alison McGillivray, sung and performed on Baroque ‘cello and viol with Glasgow and Manchester-based ensembles.

A visit to the French Embassy for the RSNO and Gilbert Varga