Which are the performances that will move you to tears, leave your spine tingling and your hairs on end or will bring some much needed warmth on a cold winter's night? Our musicians share their top picks from our 2022/23 Concert Season.

Stephanie Gonley

SCO Leader

Pick one concert that you think will thrill our audiences this Season:

I think that Pekka Kuusisto’s folk inspirations has to be one of the most thrilling concerts to look forward to. It’s a rare opportunity to hear a true original and a virtuoso violinist in one person, dazzling us with astonishing creativity and inventiveness. Highly recommended! Explore the concert.

Pick a personal highlight from our Season:

A personal highlight for me will be the Brahms Requiem with Maxim. It’s an unforgettably moving work and Maxim will undoubtedly bring his unique insight and inspirational approach to it. Explore the concert.

Which of our 22/23 guest artists are you looking forward to working with?

I’m very much looking forward to Berlioz Les nuits d'eté with Karen Cargill; a combination made in heaven! Explore the concert.

Philip Higham

Principal Cello

Pick one concert that you think will delight our audiences this Season:

It's hard to think of more delightful music than the programme we are playing in early March: Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony and the Midsummer Night's Dream incidental music. The sparkling, effervescent first movement of the symphony has to be one of his most joyous - and the unrelenting, tarantella finale no small feat for the orchestra - while the young composer's intense communion with Shakespeare led to some of his most evocative, magical and touching music. Explore the Concert.

Pick a personal highlight from our Season:

A personal highlight for me will be to revisit Brahms's formidable first symphony, and for the first time with our chief conductor Maxim. This is surely one of the composer's greatest and most courageous statements, some 20 years in the making as he grappled with taking up the symphonic mantle of Beethoven. Embedded within it lies one of the most powerful Romantic narratives: from angst and struggle of the c-minor opening, towards conquest and eventual triumph in the memorable Finale. I love the middle movements also, which evoke profound soul searching as well as nostalgic, even whimsical diversion, as part of this unforgettable, life-affirming journey. Explore the concert.

Which of our 22/23 guest artists are you looking forward to working with?

If you watched his online performance last season of Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, then you'll understand how excited I am to see Allan Clayton return in 2023 for Les Illuminations! For me, Clayton's artistry is impeccable, and he always penetrates deep into the heart of Britten's music. Explore the concert.

Marcus Barcham Stevens

SCO Principal Second Violin

Pick one concert that you think will move our audiences:

Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony is a hugely emotional experience, from the opening dark colours of the low strings and bassoons, to the grace and elegance of the 2nd movement (which, curiously, is a limping waltz in 5 time, not 3 - imagine dancing to it and what a muddle you would get into), to the rhythmic exuberance of the 3rd movement and the lonely despair of the finale. This piece will take you on an intense journey. Explore the concert.

Pick a personal highlight from our Season:

Haydn's Creation. All of Haydn's music is so life-affirming, and I come away especially uplifted from having played this piece. I defy anyone to go into the interval after the closing movement of Part 1, "The heavens are telling the glory of God“, feeling miserable. Explore the concert.

Which of our 22/23 guest artists are you looking forward to working with?

Maxim. We are so lucky to have him as our Principal conductor. He lives and breathes music, and concerts with him really are making music in the moment - you never really know what's going to happen next.

Su-a Lee

SCO Sub-Principal Cello

Pick one concert that you think will delight our audiences:

To be honest, I think that every single week will be a delight, but if I had to pick one it would be our Season opener. The combination of Nicky and Maxim is a thrill and the programme is full of fun, power and passion. Explore the concert.

Pick a personal highlight from our Season;

Again, hard to choose just one, but my personal highlight will be to see Peter Whelan back amongst his people! He brings with him a fascinating programme, a fabulous soloist and a some welcome traditional Scottish tunes. Explore the concert.

Which of our 22/23 guest artists are you looking forward to working with?

I am always delighted to work with Andrew Manze, and also excited to work with a fellow Korean (Yeol Eum Son)! Bacewicz’s music is lush and thrilling, making this whole programme one not to be missed! Explore the concert.

Aisling O'Dea

SCO First Violin

Pick one concert that you think will transform our audiences this Season;

As the nights draw in the wonderful violinist, Anthony Marwood, will be joining the SCO to direct an exciting ‘visual’ programme of music and theatre with an eclectic mix of works from Joseph Haydn to Kurt Weill. A musical journey from the calm stillness of Charles Ives’ “The Unanswered Question” to the vibrant electricity of Igor Stravinsky’s “A Soldier’s Tale” taking us From Darkness to Light. Explore the concert.