Scintillating Bruckner from Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish

Ryan Wigglesworth conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Marian Batsashvili and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

By Patrick Maxwell, 27 July 2025

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“a space that is perfect for such symphonic mountains as these”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 27 July 2025

Wigglesworth, For Laura, after Bach (BBC commission: world premiere)

Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor, K466

Liszt, Grandes Études de Paganini S 141: no. 3 in G sharp minor, "La Campanella"

Bruckner, Symphony no. 7 in E major, WAB 107

Mariam Batsashvili, Piano

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Ryan Wigglesworth, Conductor

Astonishing Mahler 2 from Runnicles and the BBC Scottish

David Smythe, 1st March

Sir Donald Runnicles and the BBC Scottish reunite for an astonishing Mahler 2 with Karen Cargill, Jennifer Davis and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus.

*****

Sweeping Rachmaninov and scorching Barber from the BBC Scottish

Simon Thompson, 8th February

Despite the presence of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto on the bill, it is a gripping performance of Samuel Barber's First Symphony that steals this Usher Hall Sunday matinee.

****1

Meditative and powerful Górecki at Celtic Connections

David Smythe, 20th January

The Celtic Connections festival showcases Górecki’s Sorrowful Songs, the BBC Scottish with soprano Francesca Chiejina conducted by Pawel Kapula with a thoughtful introductory song set from Alice Zawadzki.

****1

Celebrating 90 years of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

David Smythe, 20th November

Martyn Brabbins conducts MacMillan’s Confession of Isobel Gowdie, BBCSSO founder Ian Whyte’s forgotten Violin Concerto with Stephanie Gonley, and a memorable Rachmaninov 2.

****1

Canellakis brings sparkle and shine to Stravinsky and Bernstein

Simon Thompson, 21st August

Karina Canellakis brings a riot of Technicolor to the Edinburgh International Festival, but countertenor Hugh Cutting threatens to steal the show in Chichester Psalms.

****1

Revelatory Birtwistle and Beethoven from the BBC Scottish SO

Peter Quantrill, 28th July

A composer-conductor's insight yields lasting rewards in Earth Dances and the Eroica at the Royal Albert Hall.

*****

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Patrick Maxwell

Patrick Maxwell is a writer and journalist, based as a historian at New College, Oxford. He regularly reviews books for The Big Issue in Scotland, writes editions of Russian literature for Warbler Press in New York and on news and culture for the online magazine The Article in London. A chorister at Westminster Abbey, he sings in the Choir of New College, and is the Conducting Scholar of Schola Cantorum. Patrick divides his time between Oxford and London.

Scintillating Bruckner from Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish SO at the Proms