The SCO in July Thursday, 9 July 2009

I’ve just got hold of details of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s July activities. They’re doing a new recording, splitting up for two separate tours of Scotland, and then will be at the Royal Albert Hall for the Proms at the end of the month.

Read on for all the details – and don’t forget to check out their blog SCO on tour.

Following the runaway success of the award-winning recording of Mozart’s last four symphonies, Nos 38-41, with Sir Charles Mackerras, the Orchestra is back in the studio next week. They will record another double-disc on Linn Records, featuring Symphonies 29, 31 ‘Paris’, 32, 35 ‘Haffner’, and 36 ‘Linz’. It is due for release in Spring 2010.

The players go their separate ways this month, with the SCO Strings island-hoping in the Western Isles, while the SCO Wind and Brass perform in Perthshire and Argyll.

Fantastic Principal Cello, David Watkin, directs an 18th century inspired programme of music by Handel, Geminiani, JS Bach and CPE Bach. He is joined by soprano Julia Doyle and Principal Oboe Robin Williams for arias by Handel and the cantatas and arias of JS Bach.

The tour will see the players perform in An Lanntair, Stornoway (23 July), Sgoil Lìonacleit, Benbecula (24 July) and, for the first time, Castlebay Hall, Barra (25 July).

Meanwhile, the SCO Wind and Brass make a welcome return to the Birnam Institute on 24 July, with a lively programme featuring instantly recognisable classics by Mozart and Rossini. Music by Pärt, Françaix, Krommer and Gervaise are also included in the concerts.

Following their performance in Birnam, the players debut in the splendour of St John’s Cathedral in Oban on 25 July.

Tickets for all these concerts are available online now at www.thebooth.co.uk.

On 31 July, the full Orchestra performs in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2009 BBC Proms. Brilliant young Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin directs and is joined by Nicholas Angelich for Schumann’s Piano Concerto and a stellar line up of singers for Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.

For more information, including full programme information and ticket prices, visit www.sco.org.uk.