The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Preparations are being made for a major concert in Amsterdam followed by a European tour.
A commitment to education, nurturing talent and bringing classical music and concert experiences to all, places the company right at the heart of modern Scotland too.
Background a look at the history of the RSNO
The Scottish Orchestra was originally established in Glasgow in 1891 to accompany the Glasgow Choral Union and became the Scottish National Orchestra in 1950. Following a Royal Patronage in 1991, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as we know it today was born. The contributions of world-class conductors from Sir Alexander Gibson and Walter Susskind to Conductor Laureate Neeme Jrvi and Conductors Emeriti Walter Weller and Alexander Lazarev and world-renowned musicians has made the RSNO one of Europes premier symphony orchestras. Aside from many thousands of performances, the company has made over 200 acclaimed recordings to date and has received eight Grammy nominations. Part one of a Complete Cycle of Roussels orchestral works, which was the first recording with current Music Director Stphane Denve, was awarded the Diapason dOr de lanne for Symphonic Music in 2007.
On the road at home...
The orchestra regularly performs across Scotland with dates in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Edinburgh Usher Hall, Caird Hall Dundee and Aberdeen Music Hall. Other Scottish destinations include Perth, Inverness, Dunfermline, Ayr and Langholm. The company's last Christmas season across Scotland was a great success with diverse performances ranging from the ever popular Christmas Concert featuring narration by actor Tom Conti and full orchestral accompaniment to Howard Blakes enchanting animation The Snowman to the swinging success of the RSNO Big Band Christmas Party.
Highlights for 2010 include the Season of Words and Music, where performances explore the connections between orchestral works and the written word. The Season opened with Rimsky-Korsakovs Scheherazade based on the Arabian classic One Thousand and One Nights. Amongst a wide range of concerts there's also a series of choral performances, the Complete Cycle of Schumann Symphonies and a Contemporary Repertoire of living French and American composers.
... and away
The orchestra are embarked on an exciting six date European tour in February 2010. Performances were held in some of the most prestigious concert houses in Europe including the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris, the Philarmonie Gastieg, Munich and the Konzerthaus, Vienna. Prior to that the RSNO, RSNO Chorus and Junior Chorus led by Stephane Deneve performed an all-French programme of Faur, Roussel and Ravel at the historic Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in January. Discussing the pride in representing Scotland overseas, a spokesperson for the orchestra explained that when the RSNO performs abroad it always brings a great sense of occasion, but more than that it provides a platform for the musicians to play their roles as ambassadors for Scotland. It also provides tremendous opportunities to prove the RSNO's artistic excellence and, in doing so, Scotland's cultural sense.
Fresh approaches and new generations of classical music fans
The orchestra is committed to inspiring and engaging not only classical music aficionados but newcomers too. To ensure this, the RSNO has an innovative range of programmes and initiatives. Naked Classics is a multi-media performance of a range of classics. The performances include a full explanation of the music and on-stage interviews with the musicians. As part of the programme, musicians also complete work within targeted communities where cultural activities are very limited. Workshops and sessions culminate in a visit to a concert venue. Thirty such community visits were completed in 2009 and 500 people, who had never before experienced a classical concert, attended performances.
To engage the next generation of classical music lovers, the 'Standard Life Passport to Music' offers children under the age of 16 free entrance to nearly all of the RSNO's Season concerts in Scotland. Similarly, the 'Under 26 £5 Tickets Scheme' has attracted 5,000 applications to date. Commitments to education also include the exemplary RSNO Schools Concerts that provide an introduction to the orchestra and classical music for both primary and secondary school age children. The project includes a concert of music, multi-media slides, lighting and opportunities for participation.
Whether the company are inspiring and sparking a light in young musicians, delighting seasoned concert goers or flying the flag for Scottish talent abroad, the RSNO retains a special place in Scotland's cultural calendar and heart.