THE EDINBURGH

SEASON 2014/2015

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A World of Music at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh

In September 2014 it will be fi ve years since I took up the post of Chief Conductor with this wonderful orchestra. Our relationship continues to blossom, and I am immensely proud of our achievements so far. It has been my intention to bring

some of the fi nest singers, soloists and conductors to Scotland and to showcase the brilliance, fl exibility and commitment of this remarkable group of musicians.

We open with an all-Russian programme, including Scriabin’s wonderfully Romantic piano concerto and the stunning Tenth Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich; and we will be exploring the kinship between the music of Beethoven and Sibelius, including a performance of the latter’s Violin Concerto with Guy Braunstein.

I’m also delighted that this year I’ll be celebrating an important birthday in Scotland with arguably the fi nest present a conductor could ask for - Beethoven’s Ninth

Symphony. The orchestra and I will be joined by a world-class line-up of soloists, and our friends the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, for what promises to be a very

memorable occasion. I hope you can be there.

Donald RunniclesChief Conductor, BBC SSO

THE BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S 2014/15 EDINBURGH CONCERTS

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RUSSIANCLASSICS

BEETHOVEN’S NINTH

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2014, 4.00PM

MUSSORGSKYA NIGHT ON THE BARE MOUNTAIN

(c.13 MINS)

SCRIABIN PIANO CONCERTO (c.29 MINS)

SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONY No.10 (c.53 MINS)

BARRY DOUGLAS PIANODONALD RUNNICLES CONDUCTOR

A horn calls softly, a piano dreams in the twilight, and Scriabin’s Piano Concerto begins its enchanted journey. That’s the centrepiece of the opening concert of our season: the fi nest piano concerto Rachmaninov never wrote, played by a soloist celebrated for his interpretations of the Russian piano repertoire. It’s a very diff erent world from Shostakovich’s shattering Tenth Symphony. A heartfelt cry for freedom written under the shadow of Stalinism, it’s still one of the 20th century’s most overwhelming symphonic experiences. Donald Runnicles conducts, and opens the concert by whipping up a storm with Mussorgsky’s exciting orchestral showpiece.

Prelude: 3.00pm (free to ticket-holders)Alexandra Smith from the University of Edinburgh discusses the cultural context of each of the composers in this concert.

SUNDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 4.00PM

MOZART SINFONIA CONCERTANTE (c.32 MINS)

BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY No.9 ‘CHORAL’ (c.68 MINS)

LAURA SAMUEL VIOLIN SCOTT DICKINSON VIOLA

ANGELA MEADE SOPRANOELIZABETH BISHOP MEZZO-SOPRANOSTUART SKELTON TENORMARKO MIMICA BASS-BARITONE

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL CHORUSCHRISTOPHER BELL CHORUS MASTER

DONALD RUNNICLES CONDUCTOR

A special occasion calls for a very special concert – and from the epic tragedy of its opening to its transcendent fi nal Hymn to Joy, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has long been classical music’s supreme act of celebration. So what better way for the BBC SSO to toast Donald Runnicles’ 60th birthday than with the work at the very centre of his beloved German Romantic tradition. First, though, two of the orchestra’s principal players begin the festivities with one of the few pieces that can truly look Beethoven in the eye: Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, music of sublime grandeur and heart-rending beauty.

Prelude: 3.00pm (free to ticket-holders)donald Runnicles in conversation.

RUNNICLES CONDUCTS SIBELIUS

SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2015, 4.00PM

BEETHOVEN OVERTURE: CORIOLAN (c.9 MINS)

SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO (c.33 MINS)

SIBELIUS SYMPHONY No.7 (c.24 MINS)

BEETHOVEN LEONORE OVERTURE No.3 (c.14 MINS)

DONALD RUNNICLES CONDUCTOR GUY BRAUNSTEIN VIOLIN

“I believe in civilisation” said Jean Sibelius, and amidst the turmoil and uncertainty of the early 20th century, he created a fi nal symphony of monumental grandeur and elemental strength. Sibelius’ Seventh Symphony might just be the greatest since Beethoven; what’s certain is that few composers share such a profound kinship. Guy Braunstein will dig deep into the yearning soul of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, while Donald Runnicles bookends the concert with two famous overtures by Beethoven, depicting a journey from darkness to light.

Prelude: 3.00pm (free to ticket-holders)guy Braunstein discusses his career and the Sibelius Violin Concerto.

Barry Douglas (photo: Katya Kraynova)

Guy Braunstein (photo: Ofer Plesser)

Clockwise from top left:

Marko Mimica (photo: Nikola Serventic), Elizabeth Bishop

(photo:Sasha Vasiljev), Stuart Skelton ( photo:John Wright),

Angela Meade (photo: Dario Acosta)

Photo opposite:

Donald Runnicles (photo: John Wood)

STAGE

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Season Tickets Single Tickets

Area : £64.80 for all three concerts (saving £16.20) Area : £52.80 for all three concerts (saving £13.20) Area : £40.80 for all three concerts (saving £10.20) Area : £26.40 for all three concerts (saving £6.60)

Area : £27.00Area : £22.00 Area : £17.00 Area : £11.00

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Box OfficeUsher Hall Box Office Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2EA

Box Office opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10am to 5.30pm.

When there is an event on a Sunday the box office is open from 1pm until 30 minutes after the start of the event.

Cheques should be made payable to: City of Edinburgh Council

All major credit cards accepted. Please note there is a £1 transaction fee for bookings by telephone, online or by post.

Buy a ticket for all three concerts and receive a 20% discount (discount applies to all categories except standby tickets).

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Single Ticket Concessions

Over 60s, BBC Scottish Symphony Club Members, Registered Unemployed: £2.00 off full price single ticket (proof of status may be requested)

Registered disabled: Both you and a companion will receive 50% discount on any single full price ticket

Under 16s and school pupils: £5.00

Student Tickets: £5.00. (Those in full time education can buy any remaining tickets for £5.00 each. This offer is available only on the day of performance (proof of status may be requested)

groups: get a group of 10 together and have 1 extra ticket free (that’s 2 free tickets for a group of 20, etc. – only one concession applies)

BOX OFFICE: 0131-228 1155 www.usherhall.co.uk

Area : £27.00Area : £22.00Area : £17.00Area : £11.00

Getting to the Usher HallThe Usher Hall is located between the Royal Lyceum Theatre and Traverse Theatre. It is close to both Haymarket and Waverley train stations (approx. 15 minutes walk to either). A taxi rank is situated opposite the hall. There is limited on-street parking, however a 24-hour car park is located behind the hall on Castle Terrace.

Disabled AccessThere are wheelchair access places in the Stalls and Grand Circle and wheelchair accessible toilets are available.

Customers’ personal details are held in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Data Protection Act 1998. If consent is given at the time of ticket purchase, this information will be passed to the BBC SSO and may be used to contact you with information about forthcoming concerts or BBC events. These details will not be passed on to any third party. If you wish to have your name removed from the orchestra’s mailing-list please E-mail: bbcsso@bbc.co.uk or telephone: 0141-422 6728.

The information in this brochure was correct at the time of publishing. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra reserves the right to amend artists and programmes for any of the listed concerts if necessary.

Cover photograph: Donald Runnicles (photo: John Wood)

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A large print, text-only version of this brochure is available. For a copy please telephone: 0141-552 0909.

BBC Scottish Symphony OrchestraBBC ScotlandCity Halls, CandleriggsGlasgow G1 1NQ

E-mail: bbcsso@bbc.co.uk bbc.co.uk/bbcssofacebook.com/bbcssotwitter.com/bbcsso

All the concerts in this series are promoted in association with The Usher Hall.

All concerts are scheduled to be recorded for future transmission on BBC Radio 3.

bbc.co.uk/radio3