Scottish Symphony Orchestra 2013 season of concerts announced

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra have announced their 2013-2014 season of concerts and broadcasts.

Wide ranging in its scope, the season will see the BBC SSO performing orchestral concerts throughout the UK and in Europe, including a tour to Holland. It will present concert series in Aberdeen, Ayr, Edinburgh and Perth and at its home base at Glasgow City Halls.

The 2013-14 season follows on from a hugely successful season in 2012-13, which saw year-on-year ticket sales in Glasgow increase by 22 per cent, subscriptions rise by 24 per cent, and ticket sales in Aberdeen rise by 44 per cent.

Gavin Reid, Director of the BBC SSO says: “These are exciting times for the BBC SSO and for audiences everywhere. We are absolutely thrilled to be presenting a new season that once again demonstrates the range and virtuosity of this incredible orchestra.”

The orchestra will welcome many distinguished guest artists to Scotland, beginning in September with the acclaimed American baritone Thomas Hampson, who opens the Glasgow concert season with performances of songs by Mahler.

The BBC SSO’s home base at Glasgow City Halls forms the backdrop to its flagship projects, which will include a major exploration of American composers, including Copland, Gershwin, Ives, Barber and John Adams’ jazz-tinged symphony, City Noir. The orchestra celebrates the centenary of Benjamin Britten throughout the season, and his fascination with the music of Mahler, with Donald Runnicles conducting the Fifth and Ninth Symphonies.

Associate Guest Conductor Andrew Manze brings his cycle of Vaughan Williams Symphonies to its conclusion with the epic choral odyssey A Sea Symphony. Manze also continues his cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos, featuring Scottish pianist Steven Osborne.

The line-up of outstanding guest artists includes cellists Alisa Weilerstein, and Joshua Roman, violinists Sarah Chang and James Ehnes, soprano Elizabeth Watts, the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and a quartet of pianists: Steven Osborne, Freddy Kempf, Denis Kozhukhin and Lars Vogt.

Donald Runnicles directs the National Youth Choir of Scotland and a quartet of world-class vocal soloists – soprano Miah Persson, mezzo Christine Rice, tenor Jeremy Ovenden and bass Neal Davis – in a recent completion of Mozart’s unfinished Requiem, prepared by the great Canadian Mozartian Robert Levin.

[Reported by Mike Watkins]