Concert series set for big 30th birthday celebration
Ayr Concert Series is celebrating its 30th birthday with top performances at Ayr Town Hall between October and March.
Six professional concerts will take place, with performers from around the world visiting the Auld Toun to play at the historic series.
And season tickets, covering all six concerts, are on sale now offering the best value for concertgoers with a saving of up to £ 12.
The concert series opens on Friday October 28 with a performance from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Carter with violin soloist Valerity Sokolov, with the programme including Ravel’sLe tombeau de Couperin, Barber’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony.
On Saturday, November 12, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Richard Egarr plays Beethoven’s Overture Promethius, Mehul’s First Symphony and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.
The ever- popular Christmas with the BBC SSO concert sees conductor Stephen Bell and singers Claire Teal and Jamie MacDougall visit Ayr for a pre- Christmas treat on Wednesday, December 21.
And the concert series brings in the New Year with a performance from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, presenting New Year in Vienna on Tuesday, January 3 with conductor Nicholas McGegan and soprano Elizabeth Watts bringing songs by Strauss and Lehar.
On Friday, February 24 the Orchestra of Scottish Opera under Stuart Stratford returns, with soloists Sue Baxendale on horn and tenor Ben Johnson, performing a programme including Elgar’s Serenade for Strings.
The 30th season concludes on Friday, March 31 when the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra return with conductor Sir James MacMillan and clarinet soloist Annelien Van Wauwe.
The programme on the night includes John Maxwell Geddes’ An Ayrshire Suite, co- commissioned by Ayr Arts Guild and the BBC to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Ayr Concert Series, as well as Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto and Beethoven’s Second Symphony.
Season tickets are on sale by post from Ayr Gaiety ( open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm) on 01292 288235. Single tickets go on sale from Thursday, September 1.