Reviews January - September 2009

Masterworks, September 2009

"...this was premier league music education and top drawer performance in indivisible alliance..." ***** The Herald  Read review

"...a thrilling performance..." **** The Scotsman  Read review

"It was a splendid performance and a great start to what promises to be a fine season." Where's Runnicles? blog Read review

SCO and RSNO lead revolution in music education, The Herald, September 2009
Read Michael Tumelty's full feature here

SCO/Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Edinburgh International Festival, August 2009

"...a stirring performance from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra..." *** The Independent Read review

Haydn and Battistelli, Edinburgh International Festival, August 2009

"...it was delivered with panache and a sense of melodrama by the excellent Scottish Chamber Orchestra under Garry Walker." *** The Times  Read review

The Return of Ulysses, Edinburgh International Festival, August 2009

"A potent mix of taped songs and extracts from Purcell, played live and beautifully by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra."  *** Daily Telegraph  Read review 

Judas Maccabaeus, Edinburgh International Festival, August 2009  

"The orchestral playing, in particular was consummately stylish..." **** The Times    Read review

"... outstanding clarity and stylish sophistication from the SCO's soloists, small groups and full orchestra..."  **** The Herald  Read review 

BBC Proms, July 2009

"...the SCO played like Trojans for Nézet-Séguin..."
**** musicomh.com   Read review    

"...a first rate performance..." **** The Guardian  Read review  

Highlands I - Stirling Castle, June 2009

"...a delightful evening..."  **** The Scotsman   Read review  

The Seasons, May 2009

"...an outstanding performance..."  **** The Herald   Read review  

Bass Notes, May 2009

"...the SCO's concert...was an enthralling magical mystery tour of the world of sonority..."  **** The Herald  Read review

"...superbly balanced display of molten tranquility and dizzy excitement..."
**** The Scotsman  Read review

Symphonies in C, April 2009

"...the SCO...superbly captured the deranged nature of this mesmerising work [Les Illuminations]"  **** The Scotsman  Read review

"...sizzling performance..."  **** The Herald  Read review

The Fire and the Rose, April 2009

"The SCO and section soloists were both subtle and majestic."
*** The Times   Read review

Dramatic Beethoven, March 2009

"...the final reception [was] barely short of raucous..."
***** MusicalCriticism.com  Read review

"...the SCO played with devastating clarity and the emotional intensity of a band possesed..."  ***** The Herald  Read review

Elijah, January 2009

"...the SCO and its Chorus performed as though there were no tomorrow..."
***** The Herald   Read review

Mendelssohn's Reformation, January 2009

"...the SCO quite excelled itself..." **** Edinburgh Guide  Read review

"The Mendelssohn bi-centenary will be fortunate indeed if it contains more performances of this quality..."  ***** The Guardian  Read review

The Fair Melusine, January 2009

"...the SCO at its most responsive, homogeneous in ensemble, and pristine in its balance and articulation..."  **** The Herald  Read review

"..his [Manze's] dynamic authority over the players elicted playing of the very highest distinction..."  ***** The Scotsman  Read review