SEAVAIGERS WITH CHRIS STOUT AND CATRIONA MCKAY
29 April (Perth) | 30 April Glasgow | 1 May (Edinburgh)
The Scottish Ensemble (SE) returns to Aberdeen and Perth in April 2014 for its second set of residencies in the cities – each one specifically crafted in response to local needs in collaboration with community partners. Since launching its residency programme last year in Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Perth, SE has seen community engagement increase significantly across each of the cities.
Over four days in each city SE will be involved in an eclectic range of events including: masterclasses and workshops; coaching sessions; free community performances; a piano promenade with pianist Alasdair Beatson, and participatory events including a tea dance.
Each residency culminates with an evening concert. In Aberdeen on Thursday 24 April at the Music Hall the Scottish Variations programme is a contrast of romantic and folk-inspired works from Bohemia by Dvořák and Suk, with contemporary responses to a Gesualdo motet and a traditional Scottish tune.
In Perth on Tuesday 29 April at the Concert Hall – Sally Beamish’s critically acclaimed Seavaigers will feature in a genre-defying collaboration with award-winning duo, fiddler, Chris Stout and harpist, Catriona McKay. This programme will be repeated at performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Both residency concerts in Aberdeen and Perth will premiere a new commission – Scottish Variations – by six of Scotland’s leading composers.
Scottish Variations (Aberdeen)
Gesualdo ‘Moro lasso’
Sally Beamish Concerto Grosso
Dvořák Cypresses (arr. Suk)
Various composers* Scottish Variations (SE new commission)
Suk Serenade for Strings in E Flat major
Seavaigers (Perth)
Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor
Sally Beamish Seavaigers
Various composers* Scottish Variations (SE new commission)
Stout/McKay Sunstone (new material)
*David Horne, Stuart MacRae, Anna Meredith, Alasdair Nicolson, Alasdair Spratt, and Martin Suckling.
For further information, photographs or to arrange interviews, please contact Wendy Niblock on 07961 814834 / wendyjniblock@btinternet.com
SEAVAIGERS WITH CHRIS STOUT AND CATRIONA MCKAY
29 April (Perth) | 30 April Glasgow | 1 May (Edinburgh)
The Scottish Ensemble will perform their Seavaigers programme at concerts in Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Chris Stout and Catriona McKay join SE’s own virtuosos for a vivid sea journey from Dundee to Shetland in Sally Beamish’s double concerto, Seavaigers, which atmospherically depicts the birds, dolphins, fears and adventures of a spectacular North Sea voyage.
A recording of Seavaigers featuring these performers has a planned released on the McKay /Stout Music label for 2014.
In Scottish Variations – a work commissioned by the Scottish Ensemble – some of Scotland’s finest composers come together to offer their fresh perspectives on a traditional Scottish tune, ‘Tullochgorum’. Expect some unusual and surprising results from this composite set of variations from David Horne, Stuart MacRae, Anna Meredith, Alasdair Nicolson, Alasdair Spratt, and Martin Suckling.
An unconventional take on another double concerto. Bach’s well-loved Baroque masterpiece for two violins gets a radical (and subtly Scottish) overhaul when Chris Stout and Catriona McKay join Scottish Ensemble’s own leader Jonathan Morton for this performance.
RESIDENCY DETAILS – ABERDEEN
Monday 21 April
TEA DANCE at the Beach Ballroom (Beach Promenade, Aberdeen, AB24 5NR)
2pm for 2:30pm | Tickets: £6 (including refreshments) | 01224 641 122 | boxofficeaberdeen.com
The Scottish Ensemble take on the role of the palm court orchestra and perform favourites from the golden age of ballroom, from Foxtrot to Tango. Dance the afternoon away in the Art Deco surroundings of the Beach Ballroom.
Coaching with Grampian Youth Orchestra
7 – 9pm | The Lemon Tree (5 West North Street Aberdeen, AB24 5AT)
Scottish Ensemble musicians coach young string players on their repertoire and general string technique.
Tuesday 22 April
SE Sessions at MUSA (33 Exchange Street Aberdeen, AB11 6PH)
8:30pm | 01224 571 771 | musaaberdeen.com | Non-ticketed event, just turn up!
String virtuosos of the Scottish Ensemble perform short solo and group pieces from a broad range of musical styles in a relaxed and informal environment.
Wednesday 23 April
Primary School Workshops and Performance
9:30am -1pm | Mile End Primary School (Midstocket Road Aberdeen, AB15 5PD)
Scottish Ensemble musicians coach young string players and end the day with a lunchtime performance from the Ensemble.
Thursday 24 April
Scottish Variations Performance at The Music Hall (Union St, Aberdeen, AB10 1QS)
7:30pm | Tickets: £13, Students £5, Under 16s Free | 01224 641 122 | boxofficeaberdeen.com
RESIDENCY DETAILS – PERTH
Saturday 26 April
SE Perth Piano Promenade with Alasdair Beatson (piano)
Local pianist, Alasdair Beatson, joins the Scottish Ensemble for an afternoon of chamber music concerts with a twist. With the aim of filling the city with music, different members of SE will join Alasdair Beatson in three distinctive venues across Perth, where they will perform three chamber music masterpieces for piano and strings, one in each venue.
2pm | Salutation Hotel
Dvořák Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major
3:30pm | St John’s Kirk (tea and cake available following the performance)
Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat major
5pm | Perth Concert Hall
Schubert Piano Quintet in A major ‘The Trout’
Single tickets: £7 | Three-concert ticket: £15
Perth Concert Hall (Mill Street, PH1 5HZ)
01738 621 031 | horsecross.co.uk
Sunday 27 April
Loch Leven Community Campus Performance
11.30am | Assembly Hall | Tickets FREE, just turn up!
As part of their Perth residency the Scottish Ensemble will be performing an hour–long concert of selected works from their repertoire
Coaching with the Gordon Duncan Experience
Perth Concert Hall (Mill Street, PH1 5HZ) |
Scottish Ensemble musicians coach young string players on their repertoire and general string technique.
SE Sessions at The Bothy
8pm | The Bothy (33 Kinnoull Street PH1 5EN)
01738 449 792 | bothyperth.co.uk | Tickets FREE, just turn up!
String virtuosos of the Scottish Ensemble perform short solo and group pieces from a broad range of musical styles in a relaxed and informal environment.
Monday 28 April
Primary School Workshops and Performance
9:30am – 1pm | North Muirton Primary School (Uist Place Perth, PH1 3BY)
Scottish Ensemble musicians coach young string players and end the day with a lunchtime performance from SE.
Tuesday 29 April
Seavaigers Performance 7:30pm | Perth Concert Hall (Mill Street Perth, PH1 5HZ)
Tickets: £13, Students £5, Under 16s Free | 01738 621 031 | horsecross.co.uk
Listings: Glasgow and Edinburgh (SEAVAIGERS WITH CHRIS STOUT AND CATRIONA MCKAY)
Wednesday 30 April | 7:30pm | The Arches (253 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8DL)
Tickets: £12 Students £5 Under 16s Free
Booking through Glasgow Royal Concert Hall | 0141 353 8000 | glasgowconcerthalls.com
Thursday 1 May | 7:30pm | The Assembly Rooms (54 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2LR)
Tickets: £15 Students £5 Under 16s Free
Booking through The Queen’s Hall | 0131 668 2019 | thequeenshall.net
www.scottishensemble.co.uk
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