RSNO announce 2014:15 programme

The RSNO today announced a programme which will start off with an Opera Gala in Inverness in September, bring Sheherezade to the Usher Hall in October, combine the talents of music director Peter Oundjian with Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti in November, introduce a touch of Hollywood to Edinburgh in December and a Viennese Gala in January 2015 along with many other musical treats from Scotland’s national orchestra.

The RSNO is preparing to move into its new home – currently under construction adjacent to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – and will take this opportunity to reinforce its objective as being Scotland’s greatest resource for discovering, learning, engaging and enjoying orchestral music.

The Edinburgh Reporter met up with Peter Oundjian to talk briefly to him about the upcoming season.

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The new Season starts in September and presents over sixty performances across ten Scottish venues. In the opening months of the Season, the RSNO will be celebrating Scotland’s Year of Homecoming, with appearances from its own talented soloists and the very best of Scotland’s international guest artists, a major new Scottish commission to commemorate the start of the First World War, and programming with Scottish influences, complementing English, Scandinavian, Russian, European and American repertoire.

Before the new Season commences the RSNO will be participating in the cultural events linked to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, details of which will be announced shortly.

The RSNO also looks forward to announcing its programme of events to formally open its new residence, expected to be made following the conclusion of the current orchestral Season.

RSNO Music Director Peter Oundjian: “It is an honour for me to be a part of an organisation which, through the delivery of our new rehearsal and recording facility, will have so many opportunities to fulfil its aspirations of connecting with a growing audience.

“For us and our supporters this year will be remembered as the starting point of a new, successful chapter in the history of Scotland’s national orchestra, and I can think of no better way of marking this watershed moment than by performing some of most powerful music in the orchestral repertoire.”

RSNO Chief Executive Michael Elliott: “It was during the first Year of Homecoming in 2009 that we made the initial steps towards planning our move to new premises, and now, in the second Year of Homecoming, we are on the cusp of realising that ambition.

“The move into our new home will herald the point where Scotland’s national orchestra is poised to build upon its remarkable achievements in recent years, to make another step-change in its contribution to Scotland and its cultural life.

“The forthcoming Season holds musical delights for all our different audiences and, combined with our learning and engagement programmes across Scotland; it builds upon our commitment to excellence and extending reach.”