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Press Releases
Beethoven in Scotland
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The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra launches its new concert
season at Glasgow City Halls with Beethoven's Choral Symphony
in a live broadcast on BBC Two Scotland on Thursday 25 September.
Launching his final season at the helm of the BBC Scottish
Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO), Chief Conductor Ilan Volkov directs a
programme that
culminates in the summit of Beethoven's achievement, the Choral
Symphony No.9, with its universal human message in the Ode To
Joy.
This performance will feature a chorus specially assembled by
Scottish Opera and a stellar group of international soloists in
soprano Susan Gritton, mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, tenor Timothy
Robinson and bass Neal Davies.
Beethoven also features in the concert aria Ah! Perfido. Soprano
Susan Gritton will bring to life the violently conflicting
emotions of a woman whose lover has betrayed her, a scenario that
offers Beethoven every opportunity to explore psychological drama
through music.
The concert opens with Janácek's powerful and passionate
"rhapsody" Taras Bulba. Inspired by Gogol's historical novel,
Janácek's music captures the book's barbaric magnificence in a
climax dominated by brass, organ, and the chiming of bells.
In the Pre-Concert Prelude Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3
and Director of the BBC Proms, discusses the BBC SSO's forthcoming
season.
In the Post-Concert Coda, 10 minutes after the main
concert, bass soloist Neal Davies sings excerpts from Schubert's
Schwanengesang.
As well as the second half being broadcast on BBC Two Scotland,
the entire concert will be recorded for future broadcast on BBC
Radio 3.
The BBC Two broadcast is presented by Mary Ann Kennedy,
and features contributions from one the world's leading Beethoven
authorities, Professor Barry Cooper, of Manchester University.
The orchestra's appearances on BBC TV will be available to view
via the BBC iPlayer for seven days after broadcast.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven in Scotland, live on BBC Two Scotland,
Thursday 25 September 2008, 8.30-9.50pm, presented by Mary Ann Kennedy
SD3
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