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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Great Comedy Overtures
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Lance Friedel
Opera - Released by Naxos on 7 Apr 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Katherine Bryan plays Flute Concertos by Christopher Rouse & Jacques Ibert
Katherine Bryan, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Jac van Steen
Classical - Released by Linn Records on 20 May 2013
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 5, WAB 105
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Georg Tintner
Classical - Released by Naxos on 15 Apr 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gershwin: An American in Paris, Piano Concerto in F Major, 3 Preludes & Lullaby
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Leopold Godowsky III, José Serebrier
Classical - Released by SOMM Recordings on 1 Jan 1993
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cliff Eidelman: Symphony No. 2
Cliff Eidelman, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Jessie Shulman, Michael McHale
Symphonic Music - Released by Tempest Music, Inc. on 19 Apr 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cantabile
Bion Tsang, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scott Yoo
Classical - Released by Universal Music Ltd. on 13 Apr 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Till Tomorrow
John Logan, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Dougie Maclean
Folk - Released by Linn Records on 16 Jun 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Suppé: Overtures and Marches
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Dec 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Anthony Iannaccone: Looking Back, Moving On
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Jiménez, George Manahan, Richard Stoltzman
Classical - Released by Navona on 13 Jan 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: Violin Concerto, Interlude from Crown of India & Polonia
Sir Andrew Davis, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Tasmin Little
Concertos - Released by Chandos on 29 Oct 2010
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonie n°1
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Stéphane Denève
Classical - Released by Naxos on 17 Nov 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BAX: Symphony No. 7 / Tintagel
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 18 Nov 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Samuel Barber : Œuvres orchestrales, volume 2
Wendy Warner, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop
Classical - Released by Naxos on 9 Feb 2001
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Marnie (Original Motion Picture Score)
Bernard Herrmann, Joel McNeely, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Film Soundtracks - Released by Varese Sarabande on 1 Jan 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
HOLST: Beni Mora / Somerset Rhapsody / Hammersmith
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Tim Hugh, David Lloyd-Jones
Classical - Released by Naxos on 10 Mar 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin Piano Concertos
Benjamin Grosvenor, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Elim Chan
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 21 Feb 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connesson: Cosmic Trilogy & The Shining One
Stéphane Denève, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Eric Le Sage
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 25 Dec 2009
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner Transcriptions, Vol. 5 - Two Symphonies, Huldigungsmarsch, Rienzi, Kaisermarsch
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Mar 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 & Ballet Suite No. 5
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphonies - Released by Chandos on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphony No. 7 (Arr. for Chamber Orchestra)
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Thomas Søndergård
Classical - Released by Linn Records on 18 Dec 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire (Original Score)
Joel McNeely, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Film Soundtracks - Released by Varese Sarabande on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo