Scottish Chamber OrchestraHRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay Patron Robin Ticciati Principal Conductor

4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB Tel: 0131 557 6800 / Fax: 0131 557 6933 Email: info@sco.org.uk

www.sco.org.uk www.twitter.com/SCOmusic www.facebook.com/scottishchamberorchestraA charity registered in Scotland No SC015039 Company registration No SC75079

Royal Scottish National OrchestraHM The Queen Patron Peter Oundjian Music Director

73 Claremont Street, Glasgow G3 7JB Tel: 0141 226 3868 / Fax: 0141 221 4317 Email: info@rsno.org.uk

www.rsno.org.uk www.twitter.com/rsno www.facebook.com/royalscottishnationalorchestraA charity registered in Scotland No SC010702 Company registration No 27809

Saturday 17 October 2015 7.30pm

Robin Ticciati conducts Brahms Symphony No 1 SCO

Schumann Manfred Overture Schoenberg Piano Concerto Brahms Symphony No 1

Robin Ticciati Conductor Lars Vogt Piano

Thursday 22 October 2015 7.30pm

Pictures at an Exhibition RSNO

Dejan Lazić Overture from Piano Concerto in Istrian Style Chopin Piano Concerto No 2 Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition

Thomas Søndergård Conductor Dejan Lazić Piano

Thursday 17 December 2015 7.30pm

The RSNO Christmas Concert RSNO

Christmas Concert featuring Howard Blake The Snowman

Christopher Bell Conductor RSNO Chorus

Saturday 19 December 2015 7.30pm

Llŷr Williams Plays Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3 SCO

C P E Bach Symphony in E-flat, Wq 183/2 Mozart Violin Concerto No 1 in B-flat, K207 Mozart Rondo Concertante in B-flat, K269 Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3

Alexander Janiczek Director / Violin Llŷr Williams Piano

Saturday 23 January 2016 7.30pm

Antonio Méndez Conducts Beethoven Symphony No 7 SCO

Haydn Symphony No 99 in E-flat Mozart Basta, vincesti… Ah non lasciarmi, K 486a/295a Mozart Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! K418 Mozart Voi avete un cor fedele, K217 Beethoven Symphony No 7

Antonio Méndez Conductor Regula Mühlemann Soprano

Saturday 12 March 2016 7.30pm

Robin Ticciati conducts Brahms Symphony No 4 SCO

Widmann Ikarische Klage Scottish Premiere Schumann Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No 4

Robin Ticciati Conductor Alina Ibragimova Violin

Saturday 19 March 2016 7.30pm

Oundjian and Benedetti RSNO

Borodin Overture to ‘Prince Igor’ Szymanowski Violin Concerto No 2 Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Peter Oundjian Conductor Nicola Benedetti Violin

All details are correct at time of publication. The SCO and RSNO reserve the right to change performance details in exceptional circumstances without prior notification.

CONCERT DIARY

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www.aberdeenperformingarts.comTickets: 01224 641122

You can build your own series of concerts to suit your tastes – no set menus of music!

Sit where you want and keep your seats – your preferred seats are held from year to year.

Change of plans? A free ticket exchange service is available for Subscribers.

Keep up to date – an Aberdeen Concert Series newsletter will

be sent to you twice a year.

A special event – you’ll be invited to a subscriber only recital and

reception in the new year.

And, of course, you can save as much as 35%

on our standard seating prices

So what are you waiting for? Subscribe today using the

form on page 14.

Two great orchestras– One great season of music at the Aberdeen Music Hall

Peter Oundjian Music Director Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Robin Ticciati Principal Conductor Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Subscribing to the Aberdeen Concert Series is easy and offers great savings over standard ticket prices. Simply book in

advance for four or more concerts and start saving!

Welcome to the Aberdeen Concert Series 2015/16. Our orchestras love bringing the best music to the city of Aberdeen and have once again joined forces for another wonderful Series of concerts for you to enjoy throughout the forthcoming year.

As ever, we are joined by some old friends including Alexander Janiczek and Llŷr Williams who perform Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3. Nicola Benedetti joins the RSNO to perform Szymanowski’s shimmering Second Violin Concerto and Alina Ibragimova joins SCO Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati for Schumann’s majestic Violin Concerto. The RSNO Christmas Concert is back to delight concert-goers of all ages with its seasonal cheer.

There are faces new to the Concert Series too: RSNO Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Søndergård makes his Aberdeen debut conducting Pictures at an Exhibition, pianists Lars Vogt and Dejan Lazić perform concertos by Schoenberg and Chopin respectively and soprano Regula Mühlemann joins the SCO to sing a selection of Mozart’s concert arias in a programme featuring Beethoven’s energetic Seventh Symphony.

We hope that you will join us for another magnificent Season of music at the Aberdeen Music Hall with the RSNO and SCO.

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Saturday 17 October 2015 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Robin Ticciati conducts Brahms Symphony No 1

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Nowhere is there a hall which has perfect acoustics such as this… This is a beautiful place… a place built in which to make music” Sir John Barbirolli

Aberdeen’s category ‘A’ listed Aberdeen Music Hall is a national treasure, one of Scotland’s oldest and most historic concert halls. It’s been at the heart of cultural, civic and community life in the city for nearly two centuries.

It’s about to undergo a £7m transformation to ensure that it will continue to enthrall and inspire audiences, artists, communities and visitors for many more years to come.

Following an architectural competition, architects Building Design Partnership (BDP) have been appointed to:-

• Transform public access

• Restore and upgrade the concert hall auditorium

• Create a new, flexible performance space for more intimate concerts

• Create dedicated education and community space

• Undertake a programme of essential upgrades and equipment replacement

• Introduce a new dynamic lighting scheme throughout

The project will be on site in April 2016 and the Music Hall will re-open at the end of 2017. During closure APA will be taking the Music Hall programme out and about in the city.

Aberdeen Music Hall

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to donate to the project please contact redevelopment@aberdeenperformingarts.com

Schumann Manfred Overture Schoenberg Piano Concerto Brahms Symphony No 1

Robin Ticciati Conductor Lars Vogt Piano

When Johannes Brahms was working on his second symphony, he wrote contentedly to a friend, “The melodies flow so freely that one must be careful not to tread on them.” Opening the concert is the supreme and energetic Manfred Overture by Brahms’ friend Schumann.

Arnold Schoenberg was a great admirer of Brahms, but his music is often not given the chance to shine. Lars Vogt and Robin Ticciati will passionately argue the Piano Concerto as a work of tremendous rhythmic and textural variety.

Pre-concert Talk 6.45pm

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Proudly Sponsored by

Dejan Lazić Overture from Piano Concerto in Istrian Style Chopin Piano Concerto No 2 Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition

Thomas Søndergård Conductor Dejan Lazić Piano

It’s all about colour. Mussorgsky painted musical pictures of witches, gnomes and chickens dancing in their shells: Ravel drenched them in sparkling colours to create one of the best-loved of all orchestral showpieces. Under RSNO Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Søndergård, Pictures at an Exhibition will leave your ears tingling – and “powerhouse performer” Dejan Lazić will get your feet tapping with his own folk-inspired opener before lavishing heart and soul on the moonlit romance of Chopin’s teenage Concerto.

Pre-concert Talk 6.45pm William Chandler (RSNO Associate Leader) in conversation with Dejan Lazić

Thursday 17 December 2015 7.30pm Royal Scottish National Orchestra

The RSNO Christmas ConcertThursday 22 October 2015 7.30pm

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Pictures at an Exhibition

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Christmas Concert featuring Howard Blake The Snowman

Christopher Bell Conductor RSNO Chorus

We’re walking in the air… it isn’t Christmas until The Snowman has taken you on his magical journey through the winter sky. Enjoy this special showing of the festive classic on the large screen, accompanied by the RSNO and narrated by a special guest star. Hosted by the irrepressible Christopher Bell, this Christmas party for the whole family is filled with seasonal favourites, carols old and new – and of course, a chance for everyone to sing along!

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Saturday 23 January 2016, 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Saturday 19 December 2015, 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Antonio Méndez Conducts Beethoven Symphony No 7

Llŷr Williams Plays Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3

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C P E Bach Symphony in E-flat, Wq 183/2 Mozart Violin Concerto No 1 in B-flat, K207 Mozart Rondo Concertante in B-flat, K269 Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3

Alexander Janiczek Director / Violin Llŷr Williams Piano

Directing the Orchestra from the violin, SCO Associate Artist Alexander Janiczek continues his survey of concertos by Mozart and Beethoven. Mozart’s youthful First Violin Concerto is full of joyous high spirits, and his brief Rondo Concertante gives the violin soloist plenty of memorable melodies.

Llŷr Williams joins Janiczek and the Orchestra for the startling drama of Beethoven’s turbulent Third Piano Concerto, and the concert opens with CPE Bach’s equally stormy, exhilarating E-flat Symphony.

Haydn Symphony No 99 in E-flat Mozart Basta, vincesti… Ah non lasciarmi, K486a/295a Mozart Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! K418 Mozart Voi avete un cor fedele, K217 Beethoven Symphony No 7

Antonio Méndez Conductor Regula Mühlemann Soprano

Young Spanish conductor Antonio Méndez is one of the classical world’s fastest-rising stars, in demand across Europe and the US by some of the world’s leading orchestras. He makes his SCO Season debut with two powerful symphonies: Haydn’s delightful and entertaining 99th and Beethoven’s bracingly energetic Seventh, described by Wagner as “the apotheosis of the dance”.

Highly regarded Swiss-born opera soprano Regula Mühlemann joins the Orchestra for a collection of vivid concert arias by Mozart.

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Kindly Supported by

Saturday 19 March 2016 7.30pm Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Oundjian and Benedetti

Robin Ticciati conducts BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO 4 Saturday 12 March 2016 7.30pm Scottish Chamber Orchestra

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Borodin Overture to ‘Prince Igor’ Szymanowski Violin Concerto No 2 Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Peter Oundjian Conductor Nicola Benedetti Violin

There’s a reason why Nicola Benedetti is the nation’s favourite violinist. She brings an unmatched charisma to everything she touches – and any chance to hear her immerse herself in the sensuous, shimmering sound-world of Karol Szymanowski is certain to be a treat. There’s only one way to follow that – so Peter Oundjian and the RSNO go for broke, in Berlioz’s fabulous, opium-fuelled blockbuster of a symphony. Witchcraft? Heartbreak? Guillotines? Hearing is believing: it’s simply… well, fantastic!

Pre-concert Talk 6.45pm with William Chandler (RSNO Associate Leader)

Sponsored by

Widmann Ikarische Klage Scottish Premiere Schumann Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No 4

Robin Ticciati Conductor Alina Ibragimova Violin

Brahms was an utterly romantic, secretive, self-critical and revolutionary composer, who inspired many including Schoenberg and Stravinsky. He was, however, fundamentally conservative, drawing inspiration from Bach and Beethoven. Symphony No 4 closes with a passacaglia modelled directly on Bach.

The back-story of criticism and suppression of Schumann’s majestic Violin Concerto is at last fading in the face of genuine fascination. Russian-born Alina Ibragimova is a persuasive advocate of the work.

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Proudly Sponsored by

If you book for 4 or more of the concerts listed in this brochure you can take advantage of great discounts over our standard ticket prices. The more concerts you book the more you can save – up to 35% for all 7 concerts.

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• Tell us how you would like to pay and enclose your cheque or payment details

• Return the booking form (no stamp required) to: Aberdeen Concert Series Subscription FREEPOST RRJE-RXAK-RGUB Aberdeen Box Office Union Street Aberdeen AB10 1QSTo Book by Post

• Tick the concerts you wish to attend on the booking form

• Count the number of concerts and tell us how many people will be attending

• Check the seating plans and tell us in which price band (I – IV) you would like to sit

• Using the pricing table calculate the cost of your subscription and enter the total onto the booking form

To Book by Phone

• Simply call the Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 641122 (open from 9.30am – 6.00pm) and let them know which concerts you would like to attend. Have your credit or debit card ready to make your payment.

Subscription PricesPrice Area

No of Concerts I II III IV Discount

4 £69.00 £60.00 £46.50 £34.50 25%

5 £86.25 £75.00 £58.13 £43.13 25%

6 £96.60 £84.00 £65.10 £48.30 30%

7 £104.65 £91.00 £70.53 £52.33 35%

Aberdeen Box Office, Union Street, Aberdeen AB10 1QS Telephone: 01224 641122 Web: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

How to Subscribe

Aberdeen Box Office

Access

Full access for wheelchair users.

Guide dogs are welcome.

An infra-red sound enhancement system is fitted for people with hearing difficulties.

Please notify the Box Office when booking if you have any specific access requirements that we can assist you with.

On Sale Dates

Subscription renewals are available from 23 March 2015. Bookings for new Subscriptions open on 13 April 2015. Single-tickets are on sale from 11 May 2015.

Opening Times

9.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Saturday. On performance evenings, the Box Office is also open one hour before the concert. Mastercard, Visa and debit cards are accepted.

Ticket Discounts

Free Tickets for Under 16s Under 16s go free to the Aberdeen Concert Series. Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult with a maximum of two free child tickets per adult ticket. Additional children are charged at £6 each. Excludes the RSNO Christmas Concert – under 16s 50% off standard price tickets.

Under 26s, Students and the Unemployed £6 tickets are available in the stalls area of the Music Hall for patrons aged under 26, mature students and patrons in receipt of unemployment benefit. Excludes the RSNO Christmas Concert – 50% off standard price tickets.

People with a Disability Patrons with disabilities and their carer are entitled to 50% off standard price tickets.

Group Discounts Groups of 6 or more save 20% off standard price tickets. Groups of 11+ save 30% off standard price tickets.

School Groups School and youth groups are most welcome at the Aberdeen Concert Series. Tickets for schools and school-age youth groups are £6 (excluding the RSNO Christmas Concert) and accompanying adults go free.

Please note: All discounts are subject to availability. We regret that tickets are non-refundable.

Ticket Prices

Prices are inclusive of all booking fees but a postage charge of £1.00 per transaction will be incurred where applicable.

Price Area

I II III IV

£23.00 £20.00 £15.50 £11.50

Balcony

Band I Band III

Band II Band IV

Stalls

I

II

IIII

IV

IV IVIII

II

The RSNO gratefully acknowledges support from:

Principal Sponsors & Corporate Donors Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. Brewin Dolphin La Bonne Auberge Cameron House on Loch Lomond Capital Document Solutions Glasgow Airport Miller Homes Prestonfield Total E&P UK Limited The Weir Group Valvona & Crolla

Transport Partners Douglas Park BMW Park’s Motor Group

Principal Media Partner Classic FM

Broadcast Partner BBC Radio 3

Corporate Partners First Rule Investment Consultancy Ltd Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Institute of Directors Scots Magazine Scottish Council for Development & Industry Smart Graphics

Corporate Chair Sponsors Cadenhead’s Mitchell’s Glengyle Springbank Distillers Ltd

The SCO gratefully acknowledges support from:

Principal Sponsor Virgin Money

Benefactor Dunard Fund

Corporate Sponsors Baillie Gifford First State Investments Quilter Cheviot Turcan Connell

Corporate Friends Aberdeen Asset Management Key Player

Corporate Supporters Balmoral Hotel Capital Solutions The Co-operative Membership Corney & Barrow David Macdonald Limited John Lewis Partnership Kinloch Anderson Linn Records The Miller Group Pulsant Radio Forth Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh Stac Polly Restaurants Thom Micro Systems Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian

The RSNO and SCO are supported by:

Subscription Booking Form

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2. Please tick the boxes below to indicate your choice of concerts:

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Saturday 17 October 2015 Robin Ticciati conducts Brahms Symphony No 1

Thursday 22 October 2015 Pictures at an Exhibition

Thursday 17 December 2015 The RSNO Christmas Concert

Saturday 19 December 2015 Llŷr Williams Plays Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3

Saturday 23 January 2016 Antonio Méndez Conducts Beethoven Symphony No 7

Saturday 12 March 2016 Robin Ticciati conducts Brahms Symphony No 4

Saturday 19 March 2016 Oundjian and Benedetti

Important – please complete:

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