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

By David Smythe, 09 December 2019

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“the Ensemble’s selection was nourishment for the soul, candlelight heightening the experience”

Reviewed at St John's Kirk, Perth on 7 December 2019

Bach, Goldberg Variations, BWV988

Tavener, Tears of the Angels

Sibelius, Rakastava (The Lover) for string orchestra, Op.14

Meredith, Scottish Variation

Holst, St Paul's Suite, Op.29 no.2: Ostinato

Tchaikovsky, Serenade for strings in C major, Op.48: Waltz

Tüür, Insula deserta

Górecki, Three pieces in the old style, for string orchestra

Suckling, Postcard: In memoriam EMS

Bartók, Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68 (Pê-loc)

Grieg, Holberg Suite, Op.40

Hellawell, Sound Carvings from the Water’s Edge

Vivaldi, Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione: Violin Concerto in F minor, Op.8 no. 4, RV 297 "L'inverno" (Winter)

Gross, Tenderly

Britten, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge for string orchestra, Op.10

Dvořák, Serenade for Strings in E major, Op.22

Holst, In the Bleak Midwinter

Tüür, Insula deserta

Scottish Ensemble

Pushing boundaries: Scottish Ensemble’s Shifting Patterns in Perth

David Smythe, 29th October

Jonathan Morton leads the Scottish Ensemble in Górecki’s extraordinary Quasi una fantasia, before diving headlong into seven Anna Meredith tracks, featuring visuals by Ewan Jones Morris.

****1

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.

*****

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.