Historic Amsterdam concert precedes RSNO’s tour of prestigious European venues in 2010
Scotland’s national orchestra appears in eight countries in January and February
RSNO, RSNO Chorus, RSNO Junior Chorus travel to Amsterdam in January 2010 with preview Scottish performance at Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Six-date tour of Europe in February with Grammy Award-winning violinist
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) flies the cultural flag for Scotland early in the new year with a schedule of seven highly significant performances across Europe, beginning in The Netherlands’ artistic capital, Amsterdam, on Sunday 17 January and then, in February, travelling to Baden-Baden, Luxembourg, Paris, Munich, Vienna and Belgrade.
One of the world’s most important concert halls, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is currently presenting a season of high-profile concerts, The Requiem Series. The RSNO, RSNO Chorus (with RSNO Chorus Director Timothy Dean) and RSNO Junior Chorus (with RSNO Junior Chorus Director Christopher Bell) are honoured to have been invited to perform the first of the series’ 2010 concerts, on Sunday 17 January. RSNO Music Director Stéphane Denève will lead the 250 musicians and voices in Fauré’s Requiem, featuring soloists English baritone Christopher Maltman and Scottish soprano Lisa Milne. This will be followed by a virtuosic second half celebrating the RSNO and Denève’s ongoing advocacy of the music of Albert Roussel with the composer’s Third Symphony and Ravel’s La Valse. The RSNO is also presenting a special, one-off preview performance of the same concert, at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh on Friday 15 January.
February will see the RSNO embark on a major six-date international tour, performing at more of the greatest concert venues in Europe. Commencing at the Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden (Friday 5 February), the Orchestra will appear at the Philharmonie, Luxembourg (Saturday 6 February), Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris (Monday 8 February - performing in the city for only the second time in the Orchestra’s history), Philharmonie Gasteig, Munich (Tuesday 9 February), Konzerthaus, Vienna (Wednesday 10 February) and the Sava Centre, Belgrade (Thursday 11 February). Stéphane Denève and Scotland’s national orchestra will be joined by Grammy-winning American violinist Hilary Hahn, who performed with the RSNO, to critical and audience acclaim, on its previous European tour in 2008.
RSNO Music Director Stéphane Denève:
“After five years building my musical partnership with the RSNO, I feel a great sense of pride and excitement to bring both the full RSNO musical forces, including both choruses, to Amsterdam and then to tour with the RSNO to some of the most important venues across Europe. This is both affirming and challenging, and I am convinced that we will be able to show that our ‘auld alliance’ is producing music at the highest level.”
Simon Woods, Chief Executive of the RSNO:
“When the Orchestra performs abroad it 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. These concerts are tremendous opportunities to show the RSNO’s superb quality and passion for making great music, as well as to reflect the real strength of Scotland’s cultural sector.”
“When the Orchestra performs abroad it 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. These concerts are tremendous opportunities to show the RSNO’s superb quality and passion for making great music, as well as to reflect the real strength of Scotland’s cultural sector.”
The Scottish Government is providing £80,000 from its International Touring Fund to support the RSNO’s performances in Europe. Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said:
“This forthcoming European tour provides a huge opportunity to help raise Scotland’s profile internationally, demonstrating the excellence and distinctiveness of one of our national performing companies. The performances by the orchestra in these prestigious music-loving cities of Europe will improve people’s perceptions and heighten Scotland’s cultural reputation, while continuing to enhance the RSNO’s international standing.”
“This forthcoming European tour provides a huge opportunity to help raise Scotland’s profile internationally, demonstrating the excellence and distinctiveness of one of our national performing companies. The performances by the orchestra in these prestigious music-loving cities of Europe will improve people’s perceptions and heighten Scotland’s cultural reputation, while continuing to enhance the RSNO’s international standing.”
The RSNO's 2010 European tour is generously supported by Dunard Fund and the Scottish Government’s Touring Fund. The RSNO also gratefully acknowledges the assistance of key partners TOTAL E&P UK, Scottish Development International, VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
Fauré Requiem
The Usher Hall, Edinburgh – Friday 15 January 2010
Fauré Requiem
Roussel’s Symphony No3
Ravel La Valse
Stéphane Denève conductor
Lisa Milne soprano
Christopher Maltman baritone
RSNO Chorus
RSNO Junior Chorus
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam – Sunday 17 January 2010
Fauré Requiem
Roussel’s Symphony No3
Ravel La Valse
Stéphane Denève conductor
Lisa Milne soprano
Christopher Maltman baritone
RSNO Chorus
RSNO Junior Chorus
NB: To coincide with the performance at The Concertgebouw, Bailie Liz Cameron, Vice-Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau will host a reception at the prestigious venue on Sunday 17 January for key Amsterdam-based conference clients, media representatives, university alumni and VisitBritain staff.
RSNO European Tour 2010
Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden - Friday 5 February 2010
Fauré Pelléas et Mélisande
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No1
Dvořák Symphony No8
Stéphane Denève conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
Philharmonie, Luxembourg - Saturday 6 February 2010
MacMillan The Confession of Isobel Gowdie
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Dvořák Symphony No7
Stéphane Denève conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris - Monday 8 February 2010
Fauré Pelléas et Mélisande
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Dvořák Symphony No8
Stéphane Denève conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
Philharmonie Gasteig, Munich - Tuesday 9 February 2010
Fauré Pelléas et Mélisande
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Dvořák Symphony No8
Stéphane Denève conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
Konzerthaus, Vienna - Wednesday 10 February 2010
MacMillan The Confession of Isobel Gowdie
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No1
Dvořák Symphony No7
Stéphane Denève conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
Sava Centre, Belgrade - Thursday 11 February 2010
Fauré Pelléas et Mélisande
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No1
Dvořák Symphony No8
Stéphane Denève conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
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