Playful, creative and joyous: Pekka Kuusisto directs the SCO

By David Smythe, 22 March 2019

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“Kuusisto is a disruptor, but in a playful and brilliantly creative way”

Reviewed at Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Edinburgh on 21 March 2019

Bartók, Soldier Song

Ravel, Le Tombeau de Couperin

Ravel, Sonata for Violin and Cello

Messiaen, Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time): L'Abime des Oiseaux

Crumb, Black Angels: God-Music

Biber, Battalia, for strings and continuo

Haydn, Symphony no. 45 in F sharp minor "Farewell”

Pekka Kuusisto, Violin, Conductor

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Benjamin Marquise Gilmore, Violin

Maximiliano Martín, Clarinet

Philip Higham, Cello

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

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

Simon Thompson, 9th October

Three sopranos, two Glorias and one French composer who isn’t great box office: the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus sound great, but where is the audience?

****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.

Playful, creative and joyous: Pekka Kuusisto directs the Scottish Chamber Orchestra