The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is to embark on a two-season quasquicentennial anniversary celebration:
· Scotland’s national orchestra, the third oldest continuously active professional orchestra in the UK, celebrates its 125th anniversary over two Seasons
· The RSNO moves into its new, purpose-built rehearsal, performance and recording facility, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra Centre
· 2015:16 and 2016:17 Seasons will be headed by RSNO Music Director Peter Oundjian, with appearances from all members of Orchestra’s Artistic Team; Neeme Järvi, Walter Weller, Alexander Lazarev, Thomas Søndergård, Jean-Claude Picard and also former Music Director Stéphane Denève
· Increased focus on artist collaboration and programme investigation, with Artist in Focus weeks and new performance strands, including Under The Skin of…and Discover Days
· Celebration of the music of Sergei Prokofiev and Cole Porter, who share their 125th anniversaries in 2016
· Three large-scale choral works led by Peter Oundjian for the 2015:16 Season; Mahler Symphony No 2 and Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 bookend the orchestral year, with Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony featuring at the midpoint of the Season
· Scottish premieres of James MacMillan’s The Death of Oscar and Little Mass, RSNO co-commissions
· RSNO concert inaugurates new organ for the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
· RSNO ensembles RSNO Alchemy and RSNO Chamber return in 2015:16 to present new series
· Film music programming continues for 2015:16, with Heroes and Superheroes, and the return of The Music of John Williams and to precede the new Season a partnership with Edinburgh International Film Festival, presenting Back to the Future with live orchestral soundtrack to celebrate the movie’s 30th anniversary