SCO Highlands Tour 2010

Zoë Westwood, Marketing Manager, blogs about her first tour with the SCO.

The SCO went on its first Highlands Tour of the summer on 17 June, performing in Stirling, Findhorn and Fraserburgh. Robin Ticciati, Principal Conductor, was joined by German violin virtuoso, Veronika Eberle. The programme opened with the Overture to Don Giovanni, a sneak peak of next Season’s opening concert, and continued with Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 5 ‘Turkish’ and Brahms Serenade No 1. The audience loved Veronika and her ‘pure’ playing, and thoroughly enjoyed the Serenade, with many purchasing our recording of the piece following the concert.

Stirling Castle served as a suitably majestic setting for the first concert of the tour. Everyone took time out to enjoy the brilliant weather and stunning panoramic views from the castle ramparts. Performing in the Great Hall, its thick stone walls deflecting the heat, the Orchestra’s rousing programme delighted an appreciative audience.

The weather was gorgeous and the Castle was a stunning setting for the
first performance.

Wind players Higinio Arrue, Alison Green (Bassoonists), Maxi Martín and Richard
Russell (Clarinettists) enjoy a break between performances.

Rosalind, PA to the Managing Director, enjoys the view before the concert.

SCO truck packed up and ready for Findhorn after a great evening at Stirling
Castle.

We headed to Findhorn for the next leg of the tour, which was when the excitement really started. A couple of the cellists had a flat tyre on the way up, the SCO truck got stuck in gravel, a certain Marketing Manager (me) missed the turning to Findhorn and went to Inverness – it was an adventure from start to finish.

Universal Hall welcomed Robin Ticciati back for a second year with another sell-out concert. The unique venue provided a very intimate setting with the audience surrounding the Orchestra on three sides.

Tractor freeing the SCO truck from the cloying gravel in Findhorn.

Findhorn Bay was the perfect place to stretch our legs after a long drive.

One of the lovelier aspects of touring, is the variety of venues we perform in.
This is the beautiful Universal Hall in Findhorn.

SCO plays to a sold out Universal Hall, Findhorn.

Fraserburgh was the setting of our final concert of the tour. The United Reformed Church was a lovely, intimate (and loud) venue and we were assisted by the equally lovely Chris Reid and her husband Ernie. They organised sandwiches, tables, seating, and Chris made a super opening speech which had the audience in stitches.

The amazing Chris Reid and her husband, Ernie.

Finally it was over. It was a great tour – everyone involved enjoyed it immensely, audience and players alike. Veronika helped write the final tweet of the tour, saying “it was a huge joy to bring music to life with such a most wonderful conductor & orchestra”.

Veronika Eberle, Michael Ferguson (SCO Librarian), Robin Ticciati, and Zoë enjoy
a celebratory hot chocolate at the end of the tour.

Photo credits © Eric Clark, Peter Vallance, Zoë Westwood