Blog

SCO Chorus at Greyfriars Kirk

The SCO Chorus performs an a capella concert this summer amid the beautiful surroundings of Edinburgh's Greyfriars Kirk. Here, tenor Andrew Davidson tells us more about the upcoming performance on Saturday 8 June...

Terror in the concert hall...

This week the brilliant pianist, composer and academic Robert Levin joins us for concerts in Edinburgh (9 May) or Glasgow (10 May), for a programme of music by Reicha, Mozart and Schubert.

Watch Robert Levin talk about the atmosphere of the concert hall in Mozart's time and the excitement of cadenzas that bring "that lively sense of terror" to a performance!

 

A great end to the SCO Britten celebrations!

In this week's concerts, SCO Principal Horn Alec Frank-Gemmill performs Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, alongside the brilliant lyric tenor John Mark Ainsley. Arguably one of Britten's finest works, the piece is framed by music from Birtwistle, Suckling and Mozart, and is fitting end to the SCO's Britten Centenary Celebrations this month.

Britten Centenary Celebrations!

April is Britten month here at the SCO and this week we're delighted that SCO Associate Artist Richard Egarr presents the first of three SCO concerts celebrating the centenary of Benjamin Britten.

Welcome to the SCO 2013/14 Season!

Our 2013/14 40th Anniversary Season has now been launched! Take a look at our new Season brochures to discover the brilliant music, conductors and soloists we have planned, and for all the details on booking subscriptions and tickets.

For a taste of what's in store, watch just a few of the brilliant guest artists joining us next Season...

Operantics in St Andrews

Last weekend saw 72 amateur instrumentalists and singers descend on the Younger Hall in St Andrews for Operantics, a fun weekend of music-making with the SCO Chorusmaster Gregory Batsleer. 

Participants travelled from across the country to play together as an orchestra and chorus with coaching from SCO musicians.  As the name Operantics suggests, a range of operatic repertoire was tackled during the weekend from Mozart's Così fan tutte to Verdi's Aida plus an extract from Wagner's Lohengrin!

Making music with friends

This month Mezzo Soprano Clare Wilkinson joins the SCO as one of the soloists in Nelson Mass, which is performed in both Edinburgh (28 February) and Glasgow (1 March). We caught up with Clare to hear more about performing alongside her SCO friends and her own pre-concert rituals!

The monsters are in town!

We're so excited about our Family Concert A Little Book of Monsters, which takes place at Edinburgh's Usher Hall tomorrow!  

Over the past few days, some characters have been spotted around the city taking in the sights. Just today, we caught sight of this famous monster being hounded for autographs outside the Usher Hall!

Monster Matt

This Saturday, the SCO takes to the stage at the Usher Hall with a choir of over 300 school pupils from nine Edinburgh primary schools to perform a family concert all about monsters! With music by Stephen Deazley and lyrics by Matt Harvey, A Little Book of Monsters is a collection of hilarious songs about cannibal animals, monster hunters and the monsters amongst us.

We spoke to poet Matt Harvey to find out more about the concert...

Dreaming of monsters...

With A Little Book of Monsters only a week away, everyone at the SCO is busy with final preparations and rehearsals. Some members of the SCO Connect team have even been having monster nightmares! SCO Connect Officer Kirsten Hunter tells us more...

The SCO Connect team is begining to dream about monsters which must mean the Family Concert, A Little Book of Monsters, is fast approaching!