The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
In the decades since its founding, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra has earned a reputation as a distinguished ensemble with an extensive concert schedule, wide-ranging repertoire, and a significant representation on recordings. In 2021, the orchestra was heard on the album Xiaogang Ye: Winter, as well as a recording of Mozart Concertos, backing Francesca Dego.
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is the direct descendant of the Scottish Orchestra, founded in Glasgow in 1891. Throughout its first 40 years, the Scottish Orchestra had a series of principal conductors, beginning with George Henschel from 1893 until 1895. In 1933, while the orchestra -- along with the rest of the world -- was facing financial difficulties, subscribers and patrons kept the ensemble afloat. That year, John Barbirolli assumed the post of principal conductor; since that time, the orchestra has been helmed by many well-known conductors, including George Szell, Walter Süsskind, and Alexander Gibson (the first Scot to lead the ensemble and the longest-tenured), among others. Under Süsskind's leadership, with the establishment of the Scottish National Orchestra Society with monies from several Scottish cities, the Scottish Orchestra became a permanent ensemble, changing its name to the Scottish National Orchestra in 1950.
During its early years, the orchestra played its Glasgow concerts in the acoustically wonderful St. Andrew's Hall. From the time the hall was destroyed by fire in 1962, the Scottish National Orchestra played in a series of venues of varying suitability. In 1977, during Gibson's tenure, Queen Elizabeth II granted the orchestra royal patronage; Gibson also earned his knighthood that year during the Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours. The redesign of the Trinity Church on Claremont Street in 1979 gave the Scottish National Orchestra a new home: Henry Wood Hall. In 1991, the orchestra changed its name to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, affirming its royal patronage. It was briefly named the Royal Scottish Orchestra but reverted to its present name in 1992.
While the orchestra boasts a wide-ranging repertoire, it has been singled out for its recordings of Bruckner, Barber, and 20th century British composers like Bax, MacMillan, and Holst. It has also earned a particular reputation for recorded performances of film scores, including a Gramophone Award in 1997 for its recording of Bernard Herrmann's score to Vertigo. In 2015, the orchestra moved to its current home, the RSNO Centre at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Neeme Järvi (principal conductor from 1984 until 1988) is the orchestra's conductor laureate, and Alexander Lazarev (principal conductor from 1997 until 2005) is conductor emeritus. Following a six-year stint as principal guest conductor, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra appointed Thomas Søndergård its music director, effective in 2018. In 2021, the orchestra was heard on a collection of works by Xiaogang Ye on BIS and, under Roger Norrington, backed Francesca Dego on a Chandos recording of Mozart Concertos.
© TiVo Staff /TiVo
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Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije, Andante, Autumnal, Suite from the Stone Flower & Dreams
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Jan 1990
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Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Scythian Suite & Le Pas d'acier
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Linda Finnie
Cantatas (secular) - Released by Chandos on 1 Aug 2008
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Bax: Symphony No. 2 / November Woods
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 14 Apr 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
African American Voices
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Kellen Gray
Classical - Released by Linn Records on 28 Oct 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
BAX: Symphony No. 6 / Into the Twilight
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 3 Mar 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vaughan Williams: Early and Late Works, World Premiere Recordings
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Classical - Released by Dutton Epoch on 6 Aug 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 3 / The Happy Forest
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 7 Dec 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6 & Waltz Suite
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Jan 1985
Gramophone Award16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bacchus et Ariane (Intégrale)
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Stéphane Denève
Classical - Released by Naxos on 15 May 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4
Howard Shelley, Bryden Thomson, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Concertos - Released by Chandos on 1 Jun 1990
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Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1, Violin Concerto No. 2 & Violin Sonata No. 1
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Lydia Mordkovitch, Gerhard Oppitz
Concertos - Released by Chandos on 1 Aug 2009
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BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9, WAB 109
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Georg Tintner
Classical - Released by Naxos on 19 Aug 1999
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Samuel Barber : Concerto pour violon - Serenade for strings - Souvenirs...
James Buswell, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop
Classical - Released by Naxos on 2 Nov 2001
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On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 1 Mar 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cantus Arcticus / Piano Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 3
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Laura Mikkola, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by Naxos on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Delius: Piano Concerto, Paris, Spring Idyll & Brigg Fair
Sir Andrew Davis, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Howard Shelley
Concertos - Released by Chandos on 1 Oct 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
A Festival of Fucik
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Hubbard
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Sep 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 1 / In the Faery Hills / Garden of Fand
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonie n°2
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Stéphane Denève
Classical - Released by Naxos on 28 Apr 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: My Home, The Water Goblin, The Golden Spinning Wheel, The Noon Witch, The Wild Dove & The Hero's Song
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Nov 1989
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo