RSNO unveils new season

CLASSICS by Mahler and Prokofiev, as well as new music from Lotta Wennäkoski, Ken Johnston, Gary Carpenter, Wynton Marsalis and Paul Chihara feature in the new season by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO)

The season is the first with Thomas Søndergård, RSNO principal guest conductor since 2012, assuming his role as the 36th person to occupy the chief post of the RSNO from October 2018.

He succeeds Peter Oundjian as music director.

The season sees the beginning of Mahler and Prokofiev symphonic cycles over four seasons, and performances of works by Adès, Beethoven, Bruckner, Britten, Elgar, Gershwin, Grieg, Mozart, Poulenc,

Rachmaninov, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Saint-saëns, Sibelius, and Walton.

Søndergård said: “I have intimated previously that, as cliché as it may sound, I had the feeling from the beginning of our relationship that we shared a special sense of purpose.

“I’m delighted that we have not succumbed to the ‘sevenyear itch’, and that the orchestra has chosen me as its music director for the next chapter in its journey.”

The 2017 Cardiff Singer of the World winner, Scottish mezzo-soprano Catriona Morison will work with the RSNO for the second week of the 2018:19 Season, for performances of Ravel’s songcycle Shéhérazade.

There are also two world premieres, including Gary Carpenter’s Ghost Songs, written to mark the 40th anniversary of the RSNO

Junior Chorus.

In February, Søndergård and Nicola Benedetti will perform together for the Scottish premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto, composed especially for the Scottish violinist in 2015.

Søndergård’s first RSNO Season as Music Director concludes when the orchestra is joined by the RSNO Chorus for Belshazzar’s Feast by Walton.

[Inside] Out is a programme of “exploratory” sessions, featuring Robert Schumann in February and in May, Mozart. www.rsno.org.uk