As Scotland’s cultural capital, Edinburgh is rich with magnificent concert halls. In one of its most popular, the Queen’s Hall, the nationally renowned Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) holds its rehearsals. With a history spanning many years, it is a constant presence at Edinburgh’s annual music festivals. The orchestra is celebrated for its high-calibre performances and its collaborations with world-class conductors and composers. You can learn more about the history and activities of the SCO in this article from edinburgh-trend.
Founding History and Orchestra Leaders
Pictured: Roderick Brydon.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is an Edinburgh-based British chamber orchestra. It is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies. The SCO was formed by Roderick Brydon in 1974. He was its first Artistic Director and laid the foundations for the ensemble, enjoying a wonderful collaboration with them for a decade. Brydon also served the SCO as its Principal Conductor. The high standard he set from the orchestra’s inception was continued by subsequent conductors such as Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Ivor Bolton, Joseph Swensen, and Robin Ticciati.
Roderick Brydon was passionate about bringing classical music to all of Scotland. To this end, he even inaugurated a special vehicle in 1975. With its help, the SCO, along with its inspiring leader, toured the entire country, including the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Brydon worked tirelessly as Artistic Director until 1983.
The SCO’s founding leader, or Music Director, was John Tunnell. It was he who was instrumental in establishing the orchestra’s own concert programme, rather than it simply being an accompaniment for Scottish Opera. In 1977, he was joined by Carolyn Sparey as Principal Viola and Haflidi HallgrÃmsson as Principal Cello. The partnership of Tunnell and Brydon greatly enhanced the orchestra’s reputation, and their performance schedule was booked up for months in advance.
Concert and Community Activities
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra began touring actively and almost continuously from 1978. The ensemble embarked on an extensive tour through countries such as Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, and spent its first summer holidays at the festival in Aix-en-Provence. In 1979, the SCO undertook a first-of-its-kind tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, which brought them great success. This musical marathon was the first to be held on the islands of Scotland’s west coast and was highly praised by Queen Elizabeth II. In July of the same year, she arrived in Edinburgh to officially open the new Queen’s Hall, which has served as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s primary rehearsal space ever since.
An interesting and productive chapter in the SCO’s creative life began with its collaboration with the young Russian conductor Maxim Emelyanychev. It started in 2018 when Maxim was asked to step in at short notice for the principal conductor, Robin Ticciati. Their performance of Schubert’s Ninth Symphony took on special significance for both the conductor and the orchestra, as this was the piece that marked their first encounter. The concert was such a stunning success that Maxim Emelyanychev was offered the position of Principal Conductor. A contract was signed with Emelyanychev in 2019, running until 2025. This collaboration has led to the recording of albums with the renowned record company Linn Records. The SCO also actively collaborates with the world’s leading composers, resulting in a multifaceted repertoire that includes works from various eras. In recent years, the musical collective has toured extensively and with great success throughout Europe and the USA.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra takes an active part in the community life of Edinburgh and all of Scotland. It supports various social projects with its performances and regularly gives concerts in schools, hospitals, and even care homes. Every musician in the orchestra knows that music makes people happier. That is surely why the ensemble is always a welcome guest, anywhere in the world.
