Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is Scotland
's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh
. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears regularly at the Edinburgh, East Neuk, St Magnus and Aldeburgh Festivals and The Proms
. The SCO's international touring receives support from the Scottish Government. The Orchestra rehearses mainly at Edinburgh's Queens Hall.
(1987-1991) and Ivor Bolton
(1994-1996). The American violinist and conductor Joseph Swensen served as Principal Conductor from 1996 to 2005, and is now the SCO's Conductor Emeritus. Sir Charles Mackerras
held the position of Conductor Laureate until his death in 2010. The Estonian conductor Olari Elts served as the SCO's Principal Guest Conductor from October 2007 to September 2010. In October 2008, the SCO announced the appointment of Robin Ticciati
as the orchestra's next principal conductor, effective as of the 2009-2010 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. In October 2010, the SCO announced the extension of Ticciati's contract as principal conductor for an additional 3 years, through the 2014-2015 season.
notably the series of Strathclyde Concertos
. Einojuhani Rautavaara
's Autumn Gardens received its world premiere with the SCO in 1999. The SCO premiered Sally Beamish
's Concerto for Orchestra (Sangsters) in November 2002. The SCO has commissioned more than a hundred new works, from composers including Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (the SCO's Composer Laureate), Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir, Sally Beamish, Karin Rehnqvist, Lyell Cresswell, James MacMillan, Hafliði Hallgrímsson, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Stuart MacRae and Edward Harper.
and Hyperion
. It has a recording partnership with the Glasgow-based record company, Linn Records
, with whom it has recorded 12 albums, including several recordings of Mozart symphonies conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears regularly at the Edinburgh, East Neuk, St Magnus and Aldeburgh Festivals and The Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
. The SCO's international touring receives support from the Scottish Government. The Orchestra rehearses mainly at Edinburgh's Queens Hall.
History
The orchestra was formed in 1974, with Roderick Brydon as its first Principal Conductor, from 1974 to 1983. Other principal conductors have included Jukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka Saraste
Jukka-Pekka Saraste is a Finnish conductor and violinist.Saraste was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula, in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä...
(1987-1991) and Ivor Bolton
Ivor Bolton
Ivor Bolton is an English conductor and harpsichordist. He studied at Clare College and at the Royal College of Music...
(1994-1996). The American violinist and conductor Joseph Swensen served as Principal Conductor from 1996 to 2005, and is now the SCO's Conductor Emeritus. Sir Charles Mackerras
Charles Mackerras
Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
held the position of Conductor Laureate until his death in 2010. The Estonian conductor Olari Elts served as the SCO's Principal Guest Conductor from October 2007 to September 2010. In October 2008, the SCO announced the appointment of Robin Ticciati
Robin Ticciati
Robin Ticciati is a British conductor of Italian ancestry. His paternal grandfather was a composer and arranger. His father is a barrister, and his mother is a therapist...
as the orchestra's next principal conductor, effective as of the 2009-2010 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. In October 2010, the SCO announced the extension of Ticciati's contract as principal conductor for an additional 3 years, through the 2014-2015 season.
Contemporary music
The SCO's work in contemporary music has included collaborations with Gordon Crosse, John McLeod, and with Peter Maxwell DaviesPeter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE is an English composer and conductor and is currently Master of the Queen's Music.-Biography:...
notably the series of Strathclyde Concertos
Strathclyde Concertos
The Strathclyde Concertos are a series of ten orchestral works by the English composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.Commissioned by Strathclyde Regional Council, each work features an instrumental soloist and small orchestra. The first concerto, for oboe and orchestra, appeared in 1986, with the tenth...
. Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
's Autumn Gardens received its world premiere with the SCO in 1999. The SCO premiered Sally Beamish
Sally Beamish
Sally Beamish is a British composer of chamber, vocal, choral and orchestral music. She has also worked in the field of music theatre, film and television, as well as composing for children and for her local community....
's Concerto for Orchestra (Sangsters) in November 2002. The SCO has commissioned more than a hundred new works, from composers including Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (the SCO's Composer Laureate), Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir, Sally Beamish, Karin Rehnqvist, Lyell Cresswell, James MacMillan, Hafliði Hallgrímsson, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Stuart MacRae and Edward Harper.
Discography
The SCO has recorded for a number of labels, including Deutsche GrammophonDeutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
and Hyperion
Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.-History:The company was named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by George Edward Perry, widely known as "Ted", in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by...
. It has a recording partnership with the Glasgow-based record company, Linn Records
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.-History:While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became frustrated with some of the specialist test LPs they were using...
, with whom it has recorded 12 albums, including several recordings of Mozart symphonies conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.
Principal Conductors
- Roderick Brydon (1974-1983)
- Jukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka Saraste is a Finnish conductor and violinist.Saraste was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula, in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä...
(1987-1991) - Ivor BoltonIvor BoltonIvor Bolton is an English conductor and harpsichordist. He studied at Clare College and at the Royal College of Music...
(1994-1996) - Joseph Swensen (1996-2005)
- Robin TicciatiRobin TicciatiRobin Ticciati is a British conductor of Italian ancestry. His paternal grandfather was a composer and arranger. His father is a barrister, and his mother is a therapist...
(2009-present)