Published on Saturday 24 February 2018 Written by David Smythe Ancient classical tales have inspired composers for generations with their high drama, exquisite poetry and wondrous stories that grip like a vice and won’t let go. A quick check of current television and film schedules demonstrates that we are as keen as ever on… Read more »
Published on Saturday 11 November 2017 Written by David Smythe The innovative Scottish Ensemble, just off the plane from Shanghai after performing their Goldberg Variations with Andersson Dance, continues to push boundaries. Almost a year ago to the day we were mesmerised by Anno, an extraordinary collaboration with Anna Meredith. Glasgow based theatre company… Read more »
Published on Friday 2 June 2017 Written by David Smythe It is intriguing to hear the effect of a guest musical director on a close-knit group of musicians like the Scottish Ensemble. Leading chamber music virtuoso Bartosz Woroch stepped into Jonathan Morton’s shoes for a fascinating programme of music from Eastern Europe garnering a subtly different… Read more »
Published on Saturday 18 March 2017 Written by David Smythe Scottish Ensemble and Johannes Fischer rehearsing on stage at Glasgow’s Oran Mor The hard thwack of Baroque timpani is what we associate with Baroque percussion, yet the addition of other period percussion instruments is rarely heard on the concert platform. Classical Baroque, particularly if played… Read more »
Published on Sunday 19 February 2017 Written by David Smythe Kelvingrove Art Gallery bustles with visitors every day, but at night becomes a theatrically lit Glasgow City landmark. There is something magical about a museum at night, for as the lighting dimmed, the main hall overlooked by its famous organ became a dramatic setting for… Read more »
Published on Monday 14 November 2016 Written by David Smythe The annual Hot 100 cultural contributors from Edinburgh’s magazine The List draws interest from right across the entertainment world in Scotland. Beating Donald Runnicles (80), John Butt (63) and even The Edinburgh Festival (8), emerging smoking hot in the lead this year is composer Anna Meredith…. Read more »
Written by David Smythe Published on Sunday 13 March 2016 The latest Scottish Ensemble’s trademark imaginative programming brings us South Atlantic Crossings, exploring what happens when music and traditions of two continents collide. The influences of Bach and Mozart on South Americans Villa-Lobos and Piazzolla are surprising, and adding the exciting Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero… Read more »