Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is one of Scotland's "Big Five" National Performing Arts Companies, along with the Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, National Theatre of Scotland, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra gives a regular series of concerts in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and other Scottish cities but does not claim any one location as its home. It also gives regular concerts throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands, as well as in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1974. It is made up of around 30 regular players, though its number can vary according to a given work's instrumental demands. The orchestra's first principal conductor was Roderick Brydon, who served from 1974 until 1983. Jukka-Pekka Saraste was the principal conductor from 1987 until 1991, and he was succeeded by Ivor Bolton from 1994 until 1996. Charles Mackerras held the position of principal guest conductor from 1992 to 1995, when he was named conductor laureate, a title he held until his death in 2010. Mackerras made a number of highly successful recordings with the orchestra, including the Brahms symphonies and five Mozart operas; many of the ensemble's greatest successes came under Mackerras' baton, at least in the recording venue. Mackerras' recording of Mozart's last four symphonies with the orchestra received numerous awards, including the BBC Music Magazine Disc of the Year in 2009.
Joseph Swensen succeeded Bolton in 1996 and led the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as principal conductor until 2005 when he was named conductor emeritus, a position he still held in the early 2020s. Robin Ticciati was named principal conductor in 2009 and served until 2018. That year, Maxim Emelyanychev made his debut with the orchestra when he stepped in as a last-minute substitute for Ticciati. Owing to his debut, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra announced Emelyanychev as its next principal conductor, assuming the post in 2019.
The repertory of the orchestra is quite varied, encompassing the works of Mozart and Haydn, as well as of Prokofiev and Peter Maxwell Davies. The orchestra has commissioned a number of works from the latter composer, including ten so-called Strathclyde Concertos. Other composers who have received commissions from the orchestra include Einjuhani Rautavaara, Judith Weir, Mark-Anthony Turnage, and many others. Among the orchestra's notable guest conductors are Andrew Litton, Nicholas McGegan, and Frans Brüggen. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra has recorded for Telarc, Delos, Linn, and other labels. The group frequently performs with its adjunct organization, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus, which was founded in 1991. In 2020, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra was heard on a pair of Linn albums: symphonic music by Bizet and Gounod and piano concertos by Mozart.
© Robert Cummings & Keith Finke /TiVo
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Discover the Classics: Power and Glory
London Symphony Orchestra, City Of London Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by ImpDigital on Jan 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tutto Mozart!
Bryn Terfel, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Scottish and Italian Symphonies
Classical - Released by Nimbus Records on Jul 28, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
Charles Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Telarc on Nov 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Violin Concertos of Mendelssohn & Bruch
Joseph Swensen, Robert McDuffie, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Telarc on Jan 1, 1999
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Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 & Variations on a Theme by Haydn in B-Flat Major, Op. 56a
Charles Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Telarc on Oct 1, 1997
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Great Vivaldi Wind Concertos
Classical - Released by ImpDigital on Jan 1, 1986
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Mozart: Favorite Arias
Charles Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Telarc on Nov 1, 1999
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Barber: Canzonetta - Britten: Les Illuminations & Young Apollo
London Symphony Orchestra, Julia Girdwood, Carole Farley, José Serebrier, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Phoenix USA on Jan 1, 1990
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Peter Maxwell Davies : Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Peter Maxwell Davies
Classical - Released by Naxos on Aug 27, 2012
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Famous Cello Conce
Tim Hugh, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Halstead
Classical - Released by Naxos on Jan 1, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Jaime Laredo, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by imp on Jan 1, 1985
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Classical Sampler, Vol.1
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, City Of London Sinfonia, London Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by imp on Jan 1, 1987
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Dvorak: Serenade in E Major - Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Jaime Laredo, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by imp on Jan 1, 1989
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Handel: Water Music
Alexander Gibson, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on May 1, 1985
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HALLGRIMSSON, H.: Cello Concerto / Herma (Mork, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Storgards)
Truls Mørk, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 1, 2009
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Handel: Highlights From 'Messiah'
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, George Malcolm, Felicity Lott, Glenn Winslade, Henry Herford
Classical - Released by ImpDigital on Jan 1, 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Classical - Released by catalyst on Jun 4, 2007
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Vivace! - Baroque Classics
Adrian Shepherd, Alexander Gibson, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Soloists of Australia, Cantilena, Ronald Thomas
Chamber Music - Released by Chandos on Jan 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weber: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Konzertstück (Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto 10)
Charles Mackerras, Nikolaï Demidenko, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Mar 1, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Everybody's Mozart: Highlights from The Magic Flute & Così fan tutte
Charles Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Telarc on Aug 12, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo