The Emperor conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev

Stephanie Humphreys, a member of our Youth Advisory Council, attended our Autumn 2021 Season opener at the Usher Hall on 30th September and shares her experience of returning to live SCO concerts.

After almost two years of waiting, the world is starting to open up again. Shops are opening their doors, events previously cancelled are resuming, and the most exciting of all, live music is returning!

Last week’s Scottish Chamber Orchestra concert, ‘The Emperor’, felt very much like a celebration of the return of the Orchestra, and they certainly rose to the occasion. There was an excited buzz in the audience as people found their seats, and as the concert began, Gavin Reid (CEO) came onto the stage to welcome everyone back. He was answered with applause and cheering from an audience who were clearly delighted.

Then came the main event - the music. The Orchestra played the first joyous chord, lingering in the moment of instruments sounding together once more. Recorded concerts have certainly kept us going, but there’s no replacement for seeing all the instrumentalists sitting on the stage, and to hear the collective sound of their instruments there and then!