26/27 Edinburgh Brochure

EDINBURGH 26/27

For the love of music

“Everybody deserves the highest quality music, at every stage of life.”

JANE BENTLEY

ReConnect Leader and community music specialist

“Revelatory programme, sublime musicianship.”

SCO AUDIENCE MEMBER

“ T he power of music truly does work!”

SHONA McINALLY

Mental Health Practitioner, Castlebrae Community Campus

Hatty Haynes Second Violin

Front cover: Gordon Bragg Sub-Principal Second Violin

Back cover: Marta Gómez Sub-Principal Flute

I’m thrilled to share our new Season, one that reflects the SCO’s versatility and its commitment to musical excellence and accessibility. I begin, however, with exciting news: Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev has extended his contract until 2031, ensuring many more years of inspiring music-making with the SCO. In 2026/27, I’m especially looking forward to his programmes celebrating Berlioz and Mendelssohn, as well as a summer tour of the Highlands.

Our close collaboration with Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze continues, including a special concert featuring a new work by Jay Capperauld, created and performed with young musicians from the SCO Academy – a true celebration of talent and mentorship.

We also mark the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death with performances throughout the year (see p6). As ever, the SCO balances tradition with innovation, placing core repertoire at the heart of what we do while inviting audiences to

discover new sounds and ideas through our evolving New Dimensions series. Alongside this, you can enjoy our popular matinees and experience a range of accessible and dementia-friendly performances designed to welcome everyone.

Finally, we welcome an outstanding roster of guest artists, including Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Pekka Kuusisto, Nicola Benedetti, the Brooklyn Rider quartet and a two-week residency with violinist Rachel Podger amongst many more.

This is a Season of creativity and collaboration. I look forward to sharing many unforgettable musical moments with you.

Gavin Reid LVO Chief Executive, SCO

Photos: Christopher Bowen

I’m so very pleased to continue my work with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra –it is a real privilege to continue to make music with such talented musicians and to share that music with our audiences.

The SCO is at an exciting point in its history, with so many artistic possibilities ahead. I’m looking forward to deepening our work together and exploring a wide range of repertoire in the seasons to come.

In the year ahead though, I’m especially looking forward to conducting Bach’s St Matthew Passion with the SCO and the exceptional SCO Chorus.

I’m also delighted to collaborate with outstanding artists such as Timothy Ridout, Stephen Hough, Carolyn Sampson and Nicola Benedetti throughout the year.

I’m so happy to continue my strong and rewarding relationship with the Orchestra and with you, our audience, and I look forward to many great concerts together.

Maxim Emelyanychev Principal Conductor,

SCO

To mark the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, Scotland’s orchestras and national opera company unite for an extraordinary Season-long tribute to the composer.

Beethoven 200

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra will present all nine symphonies across the year, offering audiences the opportunity to experience the full breadth of Beethoven’s symphonic genius.

Alongside this landmark symphony cycle, the wider classical seasons will feature Beethoven’s music for piano, violin and voice, showcasing the composer’s profound artistry beyond the symphonic form.

Look out for the Beethoven 200 logo throughout the 2026/27 Season and join us in celebrating the enduring influence of one of music’s greatest visionaries.

Concert Series

Experience world-class artistry as internationally acclaimed soloists join the SCO, bringing dazzling virtuosity, musical depth and unforgettable performances to the 2026/27 concert Season.

Enjoy full-scale SCO concerts in a convenient afternoon timeslot, pairing beautifully curated programmes with the Orchestra’s signature sound – ideal for discovering new favourites or revisiting cherished classics.

Discover bold, genre-defying programmes that challenge tradition and reimagine the concert experience, featuring visionary composers and immersive sound worlds in this innovative series.

Feel the thrill of massed voices as the SCO Chorus and Orchestra unite for some of the most monumental choral works –powerful, dramatic and deeply moving.

Your Multibuy

up to 25% and access a range of benefits with our Multibuy packages. Concerts 4-8 9-1314-18 19+

4+ Concerts

Take advantage of advance booking for the Season.

Benefit from our flexible ticket exchange policy.

Spread the cost with three monthly Direct Debit payments.

12+ Concerts

Enjoy all the benefits of a 4+ Multibuy plus:

Priority booking including our boutique booking service, a reserved seat for the following Season (where possible, the same seat) and a complimentary concert ticket.

19+ Concerts

Enjoy all the benefits of a 12+ Multibuy plus:

Become an SCO Gold Card holder and receive half price printed programmes throughout the Season.

For Terms and Conditions and the full details of Multibuy benefits, visit sco.org.uk/multibuy

How to book

Current Multibuy bookers

All previous Multibuy bookers will have been informed of their booking periods and, where applicable, their reserved seats.

New Multibuy bookers

Mon 8 – Fri 19 June 2026

New bookers can purchase Multibuy packages for the 2026/27 Season via the SCO website, over the phone or by sending us a completed booking form.

Online

Visit sco.org.uk/multibuy to book your multibuy package for the Season. Previous Multibuy bookers should log in to access priority booking online. New Multibuy bookers can book online from 8 June. Online Multibuy bookings will only be available until 26 June 2026 after which point all online ticket sales will be via venue box offices.

By phone

Call 0131 557 6800 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, and ask for our ticketing team.

By post

Send your completed booking form to us at SCO Tickets, 4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB.

Season Opener

Symphonie fantastique

BERLIOZ

Harold in Italy Symphonie fantastique

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor Timothy Ridout viola

Thu 24 Sep, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

We launch our 2026/27 Season with a dazzling homage to Berlioz, the ultimate musical trailblazer. At the helm is our electrifying Principal Conductor, Maxim Emelyanychev, whose flair and imagination promise an unforgettable evening of drama and musical colour.

Our journey begins with Harold in Italy, Berlioz’s poetic response to Byron’s wanderer. Here, the viola becomes the voice of a restless soul, and Timothy Ridout, one of today’s most compelling violists, guides us through landscapes steeped in Italian light and lyricism.

Then, brace yourself for the full force of Symphonie fantastique, Berlioz’s revolutionary masterpiece. From its tender dreams to its hallucinatory visions of passion and the macabre, this is music that changed everything – a fevered confession in sound, brought vividly to life by Maxim and the SCO.

Kindly supported by Donald and Louise MacDonald

Choral

St Matthew Passion

BACH Matthäus-Passion

Thu 1 Oct, 7pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor/chamber organ

Nick Pritchard Evangelist

Matthew Brook Jesus

Hilary Cronin soprano

Tim Mead counter tenor

Robert Murray tenor

Roderick Williams baritone

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer chorus director

Choristers of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral

Duncan Ferguson Master of the Music, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral

To mark 300 years since its first performance, we present Bach’s St Matthew Passion –a towering masterpiece of devotion and invention – at the heart of our 2026/27 Season.

Conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev, this epic work brings together the SCO and SCO Chorus in a profoundly moving retelling of the Passion story. With its intricate choral textures and expressive power, every nuance of Bach’s monumental score is illuminated by a wonderful cast of soloists, the SCO Chorus and choristers from St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral.

From the Evangelist’s vivid narration to exquisite arias and majestic choruses, Bach’s music unfolds with emotional intensity and spiritual depth, creating one of the greatest works ever written – one that speaks as powerfully today as it did three centuries ago.

Please note: early start time of 7pm.

Beethoven Piano Concertos

CAROLINE SHAW

Punctum†

BEETHOVEN

Piano Concerto No.4*

BEETHOVEN

Piano Concerto No.5 ‘Emperor’*

Sunwook Kim piano/director*

Stephanie Gonley violin/director †

Thu 8 Oct, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

This exhilarating programme opens with Caroline Shaw’s Punctum, a piece of luminous clarity and subtle beauty that sets the stage for two of Beethoven’s most celebrated piano concertos. The poetic intimacy of the Fourth and the heroic grandeur of the Fifth – the mighty ‘Emperor’ – reveal Beethoven at the height of his creative powers, redefining what a concerto could be.

At the keyboard is Sunwook Kim, whose commanding technique and profound musical insight have earned acclaim worldwide. Directing from the piano, he brings a rare combination of elegance and authority, illuminating the lyricism of the Fourth and the majesty of the Fifth with fresh vitality.

SCO Leader Stephanie Gonley directs Shaw’s evocative opener, adding a distinctive touch to this compelling journey through sound.

New Dimensions

Now in its third year, our New Dimensions series brings together visionary composers and genre-defying works that challenge tradition and reimagine the concert experience. From hypnotic minimalism to radical reinventions of the classics, each programme offers fresh perspectives and immersive sound worlds.

Max Richter+ Thu 22 Oct, 7.30pm

SCO x Brooklyn Rider Thu 28 Jan, 7.30pm

Beethoven Deconstructed Thu 4 Mar, 7.30pm

Max Richter+

MAX RICHTER

Opus 2020

PHILIP GLASS

Company

JOHN ADAMS

The Chairman Dances

MAX RICHTER

Recomposed: Vivaldi –The Four Seasons*

David Brophy conductor

Mari Samuelsen violin/director*

Chris Ekers sound

Thu 22 Oct, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Few composers have reshaped the landscape of contemporary classical music like Max Richter. His work bridges worlds – minimalism, electronica and cinematic soundscapes – creating music that feels both intimate and epic. We’re excited to feature his music in the first of our 2026/27 New Dimensions concerts.

Conducted by David Brophy, the programme opens with Richter’s Opus 2020, a haunting meditation on time and memory that nods to Beethoven’s radical spirit. From there, the music moves into the hypnotic clarity of Philip Glass’ Company, its transparent textures and pulsing rhythms creating an atmosphere of meditative intensity, before bursting into the rhythmic swagger of John Adams’ The Chairman Dances –a vibrant, jazz-inflected foxtrot brimming with wit and movement.

The evening culminates with Richter’s celebrated Recomposed: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, where the ornamentation of the original is stripped away and rebuilt with shimmering sonorities and driving momentum. At the heart of this reinvention is violinist Mari Samuelsen, play-directing with virtuosic command, and bringing Richter’s vision to life.

Barber's Adagio & Violin Concerto

SCHULHOFF Suite for Chamber Orchestra

BARBER

Violin Concerto

BARBER

Adagio

WEILL Symphony No.2

Ryan Bancroft conductor

Clara-Jumi Kang violin

Thu 29 Oct, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Ryan Bancroft brings his trademark energy to an evening centred on two of Barber’s most powerful works. First Clara Jumi Kang performs the Violin Concerto, bringing her compelling insight and dazzling virtuosity to this beautiful work. Then the Orchestra performs Barber’s instantly recognisable Adagio, made popular thanks to its use in powerful film moments, such as Platoon and The Elephant Man.

Framing these works, the concert opens with Schulhoff’s jazz tinged Suite for Chamber Orchestra, and closes with Kurt Weill’s darkly brilliant Second Symphony, a striking contrast to the intimate intensity of Barber’s music.

Tchaikovsky Serenade

LARSSON

Lyric Fantasy

ANDERS HILLBORG

Cello Concerto

TCHAIKOVSKY

Rococo Variations

TCHAIKOVSKY

Serenade

Andrew Manze conductor

Amalie Stalheim cello

Thu 5 Nov, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze leads the SCO in an eloquent programme that spans centuries and styles, from Nordic refinement to Russian Romanticism.

We begin with Lars-Erik Larsson’s Lyric Fantasy, a graceful and atmospheric work that complements Anders Hillborg’s bold and imaginative Cello Concerto. The soloist is the brilliant Amalie Stalheim, whose virtuosity brings out the work’s striking contrasts as well as moments of delicate intimacy and dazzling flair.

Stalheim then returns for Tchaikovsky’s elegant Rococo Variations, a sparkling tribute to 18th-century style and to close, Andrew Manze conducts Tchaikovsky’s beloved Serenade, a masterpiece of soaring melodies and lyrical depth.

SCO Academy

SCO Academy brings together young string players of all abilities to create, rehearse and perform alongside the SCO in a full-scale concert. From collaborative composition sessions to coaching and sectional rehearsals, participants gain mentorship from Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze, Associate Composer Jay Capperauld, conductor/ violinist Gordon Bragg and SCO musicians, experiencing the thrill of sharing the stage with a world-class orchestra.

Find out more at sco.org.uk/join-in The SCO Academy is kindly supported by the Scops

Trust and the Cockaigne Fund

Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Haydn

JAY CAPPERAULD

Sinfonietta, for SCO & SCO Academy (World Premiere)*

HAYDN

Cello Concerto No.1

BEETHOVEN

Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’

Andrew Manze conductor

Sheku Kanneh-Mason cello SCO Academy

Thu 12 Nov, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Expect bold ideas, youthful energy and unforgettable talent in a concert that bridges generations and celebrates the power of orchestral music.

International cello sensation Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his SCO debut to perform Haydn’s much-loved First Cello Concerto, a work that showcases his expressive brilliance.

Conducted by the SCO's charismatic Principal Guest Conductor, Andrew Manze, this thrilling programme opens with a world premiere by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld, written especially with and for the inspirational young musicians of SCO Academy.

The concert culminates in Beethoven’s monumental ‘Eroica’ Symphony, a revolutionary masterpiece that changed the course of classical music.

*Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Kindly supported by Anne, Tom and Natalie Usher

GRACE-EVANGELINE MASON

The Water Garden

FRANÇAIX

Sept Danses from Les Malheurs de Sophie

IBERT

Trois pièces brèves

GIPPS

Seascape

FRANÇAIX

Neuf Pièces caractéristiques

SCO Wind Soloists

RCS Winds

Sun 22 Nov, 3pm

Chamber

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £22

Celebrate the vibrant colours and character of wind music as SCO Wind Soloists join forces with outstanding players from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in this special side by side performance.

The programme opens with Grace Evangeline Mason’s The Water Garden, its shimmering textures evoking quiet beauty and reflection. French wit and elegance shine in Françaix’s Sept Danses from Les Malheurs de Sophie, before Ruth Gipps’ Seascape captures the shifting moods of the natural world.

The concert concludes with two sparkling showcases: Ibert’s Trois pièces brèves, full of vitality and humour and Françaix’s Neuf Pièces caractéristiques, a kaleidoscope of characterful miniatures.

Please note: this concert is a matinee performance, starting at 3pm.

The Magic of with Sir Stephen Hough

Mendelssohn

MENDELSSOHN

Piano Concerto No.1

Symphony No.2 ̒Lobgesang’

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor

Sir Stephen Hough piano

Carolyn Sampson soprano

Emma Morwood soprano

Thomas Walker tenor

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer chorus director

Thu 26 Nov, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Prepare for an evening of unadulterated Romanticism as the SCO celebrates the genius of Felix Mendelssohn.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Sir Stephen Hough brings his trademark elegance and finesse to the composer’s sparkling Piano Concerto No.1, a work bursting with youthful energy and lyrical charm.

The journey continues with Mendelssohn’s majestic Symphony No.2, ‘Lobgesang’, a glorious fusion of orchestra, chorus and solo voices. Rich in spiritual depth and melodic beauty, this symphony rises from a noble orchestral opening into a life-affirming choral finale. Under the inspired direction of Maxim Emelyanychev, the SCO joins forces with the SCO Chorus, directed by Gregory Batsleer, and a trio of outstanding vocal soloists to bring this immense work to life.

Choral

Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste

SCHNITTKE

Concerto for Piano and Strings

BARTÓK

Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste

DVOŘÁK

Serenade for Winds

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor/piano

Thu 3 Dec, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Join us for a programme that revels in the brilliance of strings and winds, led by Maxim Emelyanychev in the dual role of conductor and pianist for this captivating evening.

The concert begins with Schnittke’s Concerto for Piano and Strings, a work of striking contrasts: both playful and profoundly dramatic, it offers an unmissable showcase for Maxim’s artistry at the keyboard.

At the heart of the programme lies Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste, a 20th-century classic celebrated for its rhythmic vitality and haunting beauty. Bold textures and hypnotic interplay conjure an atmosphere that is both electrifying and mysterious.

The evening concludes with Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds, a Romantic gem teeming with elegance and warmth.

Classical Revolution

Matinee

JC BACH

Overture, Amadis de Gaule

HAYDN

Symphony No.99 in E-flat

BEETHOVEN

Symphony No.1

Rachel Podger director/violin

Discover the elegance and energy of the Classical era in this illuminating programme tracing the evolution of the symphony. Rachel Podger directs from the violin, opening with JC Bach’s Overture from Amadis de Gaule, music that charmed audiences and influenced a young Mozart. From there, we journey to Haydn’s Symphony No.99, a work of wit and sophistication that showcases the composer’s mastery of orchestral colour. The programme culminates in Beethoven’s Symphony No.1, a bold debut that hints at the revolutionary spirit to come.

Thu 10 Dec, 2pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Please note: this concert is a matinee performance, starting at 2pm.

A Baroque Christmas

HANDEL

Concerto a due Cori No.2

LOCATELLI

Concerto Grosso in F minor Op.1 No.8 ‘Christmas Concerto’

MUFFAT

Sonata V from Armonico Tributo (Salzburg 1682)

CORELLI

Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op.6 No.8 ‘fatto per la note di Natale’

VIVALDI

Violin Concerto in E ‘Il riposo per il Santissimo Natale’

JS BACH

Orchestral Suite No.4

Rachel Podger director/violin

Thu 17 Dec, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Celebrate the season in true Baroque splendour as Rachel Podger returns, this time leading an evening of festive music. From the grandeur of Handel to the intimate charm of Corelli and the brilliance of Bach, this glittering programme is brimming with warmth and festive spirit. Expect moments of jubilation, serenity and virtuosity –a perfect pre-Christmas treat.

Chorus Christmas Concert Choral

Light Eternal

Programme to include:

ĒRIKS EŠENVALDS

O Emmanuel

RHEINBERGER

Mass in E-flat (Cantus Missae)

GRUBER

Stille Nacht

CECILIA McDOWALL

O Oriens

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer director

Su-a Lee cello

Mon 21 & Tue 22 Dec, 7.30pm

Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh

Tickets £25

Return to the serenity of Greyfriars Kirk for Light Eternal, an evening of reflection and warmth in one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric spaces.

This year’s programme weaves together music of luminous beauty and quiet power. From the stillness of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ O Emmanuel to the spacious grandeur of Rheinberger’s Mass in E-flat, the tender intimacy of Gruber’s Stille Nacht and the glowing hope of Cecilia McDowall’s O Oriens, each work draws us deeper into the mystery and promise of the festive season.

Performed by the SCO Chorus under Gregory Batsleer, with Su-a Lee adding her distinctive cello voice, Light Eternal brings warmth and atmosphere to the end of the year.

Please note: this concert is not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.

Viennese New Year

Programme to include:

J STRAUSS II

Overture, Die Fledermaus

Die Fledermaus: Mein Herr

Marquis

Thunder and Lightening Polka

Roses from the South Blue Danube Waltz

GOUNOD

Roméo et Juliette: Je veux vivre

LUMBYE

Kopenhagener Eisenbahn-Dampf Galopp

R STRAUSS

Amor

Nil Venditti conductor

Jennifer France soprano

Fri 1 Jan 2027, 3pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £47

Step into the sparkling elegance of a Viennese ballroom as we welcome the New Year in style.

Our annual Viennese New Year concert is a true celebration, filled with music that dances with life and lifts the spirits. Expect sweeping melodies, effervescent rhythms and a sense of joyous abandon as the SCO conjures the golden age of Vienna.

From the swirl of waltzes to the fizz of gallops and polkas, every note promises warmth and delight –the perfect antidote to winter’s chill. Raise a glass and let the celebrations begin!

Please note: this concert is a matinee performance, starting at 3pm.

Beethoven Symphonies

with Lorenza Borrani

BEETHOVEN

Musik zu einem Ritterballett WoO1

Symphony No.2

Symphony No.4

Lorenza Borrani director/violin

Thu 14 Jan, 2pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Experience Beethoven’s genius in a programme led by the incomparable Lorenza Borrani.

The concert opens with the rarely heard Musik zu einem Ritterballett, a playful, spirited work that reveals Beethoven’s youthful charm and theatrical flair. From there, the journey moves to the exuberant Second Symphony, bursting with wit, rhythmic drive and unexpected twists. Our all-Beethoven adventure culminates in the radiant Fourth Symphony, often described as the composer’s “hidden treasure” combining Classical grace with flashes of daring invention.

Under the dynamic direction of Borrani, these works will come alive in an afternoon of energy and intimacy.

Please note: this concert is a matinee performance, starting at 2pm.

New

Dimensions

SCO x Brooklyn Rider

BERG

Lyric Suite

NICO MUHLY

Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra (World Premiere)*

JONNY GREENWOOD

Water

LIGETI

Melodien

MISSY MAZZOLI

Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)

Geoffrey Paterson conductor

Brooklyn Rider

Jonny Gandelsman violin

Colin Jacobsen violin

Nicholas Cords viola

Michael Nicolas cello

Thu 28 Jan, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Photo: Marco Giannavola

Conducted by Geoffrey Paterson, the second instalment of our New Dimensions series is a bold collaboration between the SCO and genre-defying string quartet Brooklyn Rider, bringing together music of intensity, innovation and edge.

Join us for the World premiere of Nico Muhly’s new Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra, written especially with Brooklyn Rider in mind. Known for their fearless approach and boundary-pushing, Brooklyn Rider bring a distinctive sound and dynamic presence, creating a thrilling dialogue between quartet and orchestra that promises fresh textures and striking interplay.

This exciting programme also features Berg’s Lyric Suite, Ligeti’s Melodien and Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres), each exploring sound, structure and emotion in exhilarating new ways.

Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood blurs boundaries between rock and classical with Water, a hypnotic work of shimmering beauty and meditative depth. Its quiet intensity draws you into a sound world where genres dissolve and creativity reigns, leaving a lasting impression of what contemporary music can be.

*Commissioned by Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Santa Fe Pro Musica, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and La Toscanini.

A Celebration of

with Raphaël Pichon & the SCO Chorus Schubert

SCHUBERT

Symphony No.8 in B minor 'Unfinished‘ Mass in E-flat

Raphaël Pichon conductor

Lucy Crowe soprano

Jennifer Johnston mezzo soprano

Kieran Carrel tenor

Robin Tritschler tenor

Samuel Hasselhorn baritone

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer chorus director

Thu 11 Feb, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Renowned for his imaginative programming, conductor Raphaël Pichon makes his SCO debut, bringing a distinctive vision to this celebration of Franz Schubert’s enduring legacy.

The concert opens with Schubert’s enigmatic Symphony No.8 in B minor, the famous “Unfinished”. Though he only completed two movements, this work is a masterpiece of lyrical intensity and haunting contrasts – music that speaks directly to the soul.

The evening culminates in the grandeur of Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, one of his most ambitious sacred works. Rich in harmonic colour and drama, the Mass combines soaring choral passages with moments of intimate devotion, revealing Schubert’s genius at its most spiritual and expansive. With the massed voices of the SCO Chorus and a world-class cast of soloists, a deeply moving experience is in store.

Kindly supported by Claire

and Mark Urquhart

“ One of the greatest musical experiences ever.”

AUDIENCE MEMBER

“Please give us more evenings like this!”

AUDIENCE MEMBER

“ The shared enjoyment of the audience and the Orchestra was palpable.”

AUDIENCE MEMBER

“ Sublime from the first note until the last.”

AUDIENCE MEMBER

Matinee

Prokofiev & Bartók

with Alena Baeva

DVOŘÁK Romance

PROKOFIEV

Violin Concerto No.2

PROKOFIEV

Overture on Hebrew Themes

Op.34 bis BARTÓK Divertimento

Alena Baeva violin/director

Alena Baeva returns to Scotland to direct a matinee performance full of energy, elegance and drama.

At the heart of this programme is Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, a work of striking beauty and bold invention. Baeva brings her trademark intensity to one of the 20th century’s most captivating concertos, from the haunting opening to its fiery finale.

The programme opens with Dvořák’s lyrical Romance, followed by Prokofiev’s colourful Overture on Hebrew Themes. Bartók’s Divertimento rounds off the afternoon with rhythmic vitality and folk-inspired charm.

Thu 25 Feb, 2pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Please note: this concert is a matinee performance, starting at 2pm.

New Dimensions Beethoven Deconstructed

HUMMEL

Trumpet Concerto

BEETHOVEN arr BRETT DEAN

Adagio molto e mesto

BRETT DEAN

Testament

BEETHOVEN

The Creatures of Prometheus (excerpts) interspersed with HK GRUBER Three Mob Pieces and Manhattan Broadcasts

Håkan Hardenberger director/trumpet

Thu 4 Mar, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Marco Borggreve

For the final instalment of our 2026/27 New Dimensions series, we journey deep into Beethoven’s creative universe, exploring the influences, ideals and innovations that shaped his world, and how they resonate today.

We are delighted to welcome back the legendary trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger. He directs and performs Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, a glittering showpiece by Beethoven’s contemporary and friend.

From there, the sound world shifts to Brett Dean, whose Adagio molto e mesto and Testament offer poignant meditations on Beethoven’s struggles and triumphs, reframing his spirit through a 21st century lens.

The finale is a bold collage: excerpts from Beethoven’s ballet The Creatures of Prometheus, interwoven with HK Gruber’s irreverent Three Mob Pieces and Manhattan Broadcasts.

Expect sparks to fly as classical ideals collide with contemporary invention – a vibrant dialogue between past and present.

Beethoven Violin Concerto

with Pekka Kuusisto

HAYDN

Symphony No.103 in E-flat ‘Drum Roll’

BEETHOVEN

Violin Concerto

Thu 11 Mar, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Pekka Kuusisto director/violin

We join forces again with longstanding collaborator Pekka Kuusisto, who performs and directs a programme rich in invention and charm.

The evening opens with Haydn’s enduringly popular ‘Drum Roll‘ Symphony. From its dramatic opening timpani flourish to its playful finale, this symphony is a masterclass in surprise and sophistication, with Haydn at his most imaginative.

Beethoven’s Violin Concerto then takes centre stage – one of the greatest works ever written for the instrument. Expansive and poetic in equal measure, it sings with humanity and grace, offering a profound dialogue between soloist and orchestra. In Kuusisto’s hands, expect a performance full of colour, spontaneity and emotional depth.

La Voix humaine

RAVEL

Suite, Mother Goose

STRAVINSKY

Suite, The Soldier’s Tale

POULENC

La Voix humaine

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor

Carolyn Sampson soprano

Thu 18 Mar, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Poulenc’s La Voix humaine is a one-act opera of raw intensity and searing beauty. Through a single, devastating telephone call, Poulenc captures heartbreak and vulnerability with music that is both intimate and overwhelming. Acclaimed soprano Carolyn Sampson brings this emotional tour de force to vivid life, making it an unforgettable focal point for this evening of musical storytelling.

The concert opens with Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, a delicate evocation of childhood wonder, shimmering with colour and tender melodies. From Sleeping Beauty’s slumber to enchanted gardens, Ravel’s music casts a spell of pure magic. Next comes Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale Suite, a sharp, witty work born of wartime austerity, infused with jazz rhythms and biting character, and offering a striking contrast to Ravel’s dreamlike world.

Chamber

Songs of Light & Longing

POULENC

La Courte Paille

Violin Sonata

Cello Sonata

CHAUSSON

Chanson perpétuelle

FAURÉ

La Bonne Chanson

Carolyn Sampson soprano

Maxim Emelyanychev piano

SCO String Quintet

Sun 21 Mar, 3pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £22

This elegant chamber programme weaves together some of the most poetic and intimate works of French song and chamber music, brought vividly to life by soprano Carolyn Sampson, pianist Maxim Emelyanychev and a quintet of SCO players.

Poulenc’s La Courte Paille opens with its playful charm and tender reflections, before his Violin Sonata reveals a fiery, incisive voice shaped by wartime urgency. Chausson’s Chanson perpétuelle deepens the mood, its yearning lines suspended in rich instrumental colour. Poulenc’s Cello Sonata brings wit, warmth and expressive clarity, showcasing the composer at his most personal.

Fauré’s radiant La Bonne Chanson closes the programme, glowing with lyrical delicacy and the unmistakable shimmer of French late Romantic song.

Please note: this concert is a matinee performance, starting at 3pm.

The Seasons: Schumann & the Mendelssohns

FANNY MENDELSSOHN

orch DETLEV GLANERT

Das Jahr (October, November, December)*

FELIX MENDELSSOHN

String Symphony No.10 in B minor

FANNY MENDELSSOHN

orch DETLEV GLANERT

Das Jahr (January, February, March)* SCHUMANN

Symphony No.1 ‘Spring’

Lorenza Borrani director/violin

Thu 25 Mar, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh Tickets £15 – £43

*Commissioned by the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg (financed by the Friends of the Mozarteum Orchestra Association), the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra.

A celebration of spring and renewal, this programme brings together the music of Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn alongside Schumann’s radiant ‘Spring’ Symphony.

At its heart is Fanny Mendelssohn’s Das Jahr, presented in a vivid orchestration by Detlev Glanert. Framed around the turning of the seasons, October to December give way to January, February and March, music rich in colour, imagination and quiet emotional power. Rarely heard in the concert hall, Das Jahr reveals Fanny Mendelssohn as a composer of striking individuality and poetic depth.

Felix Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No.10 offers youthful intensity and classical clarity, while Schumann’s ‘Spring’ Symphony brings the programme to a joyful close, bursting with optimism, energy and warmth.

‘Turkish’ Concerto Mozart's

KODÁLY

Dances of Galánta MOZART

Violin Concerto No.5 ‘Turkish’

DVOŘÁK

Symphony No.5

Václav Luks conductor

Alena Baeva violin

Thu 22 Apr, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

A concert full of colour and character awaits as Václav Luks leads the SCO in a programme that dances between Hungarian fire and Viennese grace.

We begin with Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, a dazzling homage to the composer’s childhood memories, full of folk rhythms and gypsy flair.

At the heart of the programme is Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5, the beloved ‘Turkish’. Playful and refined, this concerto surprises with its exotic, percussive finale, a bold flourish that has captivated audiences for centuries. In her second appearance in the 2026/27 Season, internationally acclaimed violinist Alena Baeva brings her radiant tone and expressive style to this jewel of the violin repertoire.

We conclude with Dvořák’s Symphony No.5, a much-loved work with rustic charm, infused with the composer’s love of nature and Bohemian spirit.

Photo: Petra Hajsk

Beethoven's Missa Solemnis

BEETHOVEN

Missa Solemnis

Thu 29 Apr, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Andrew Manze conductor

Carolyn Sampson soprano

Jennifer Johnston mezzo soprano

Andrew Staples tenor

Roderick Williams baritone

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer chorus director

Beethoven considered his Missa Solemnis one of his greatest achievements – a work of profound spiritual and musical ambition.

Conducted by Andrew Manze, this performance brings together the SCO Chorus, a cast of acclaimed soloists and the full Orchestra for a rare opportunity to hear the composer’s monumental setting of the Mass.

Written during the same period as the Ninth Symphony, the Missa Solemnis blends dramatic intensity with moments of deep introspection, pushing the boundaries of choral and orchestral writing.

A landmark work that continues to challenge and inspire.

Baroque Inspirations

REBEL

Les Elémens: Le Chaos RAVEL

Le Tombeau de Couperin

THOMAS ADÈS

Three Studies from Couperin

TELEMANN

Concerto for Flute and Recorder, TWV 52: e1

Concerto for 3 Oboes and 3 Violins, TWV 44:43

Concerto in A major for Flute, Violin and Cello TWV 53: A2

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor

Thu 6 May, 7.30pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

Welcome to Maxim Emelyanychev’s Baroque Inspirations programme – an evening of contrasts and connections, where timeless style sparks fresh creativity.

The concert opens with the elemental drama of Rebel’s Les Élémens: Le Chaos, a bold early 18th century soundscape that vividly depicts the creation of the world. From there, we move to Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, a refined modern homage to Baroque grace, rich in translucent textures and understated emotion. This conversation across centuries continues with Thomas Adès’ Three Studies from Couperin, which reimagines the French master’s music through a striking contemporary lens.

The spotlight then turns to Telemann, whose inventive concertos reveal the colour, wit and variety of the Baroque era. From the conversational charm of the Concerto for flute and recorder, to the exuberant interplay of three oboes and three violins, and the radiant blend of flute, violin and cello in the Concerto in A major, these works celebrate Telemann’s inexhaustible imagination and flair for instrumental storytelling.

Brahms with Nicola Benedetti & Philip Higham Double Concerto

WEBER

Overture, Oberon

BRAHMS

Double Concerto

SCHUMANN

Symphony No.3 ‘Rhenish’

Maxim Emelyanychev conductor

Nicola Benedetti violin

Philip Higham cello

Thu 13 May, 7.30pm

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £15 – £43

To close the Season we invite you to an extraordinary evening centred on one of the jewels of the Romantic repertoire: Brahms’ magnificent Double Concerto, a work of sweeping grandeur and intimate dialogue between violin and cello. Nicola Benedetti, a long-time SCO collaborator, joins forces with the SCO’s own Principal Cello, Philip Higham in a thrilling partnership that promises musical drama and elegance.

Under the vibrant direction of Maxim Emelyanychev, the programme begins with Weber’s enchanting Oberon Overture and concludes with Schumann’s radiant Symphony No.3, a work that’s brimming with warmth and vitality.

Summer Season 2026

Every summer, the SCO brings world-class music to communities right across Scotland showcasing the brilliance of the Orchestra and connecting with audiences of all ages throughout the country.

Sat 23 May, 7.30pm Rhythms of Fire The Bridge, Dumfries

Wed 10 June, 7.30pm Cello Classics The Webster Memorial Theatre, Arbroath

Thu 11 June, 7pm Cello Classics Greyhope School and Community Hub, Torry

Fri 12 June, 7.30pm Cello Classics United Reformed Church, Fraserburgh

Sat 13 June, 8pm Cello Classics Community & Arts Centre, Nairn

Fri 19 June, 7.30pm Duruflé Requiem Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh

Sat 20 June, 7.30pm Duruflé Requiem Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews

Wed 24 June, 7.30pm Summer Classics Corran Halls, Oban

Thu 25 June, 7.30pm Summer Classics Callander Kirk

Fri 26 June, 7.30pm Summer Classics Badenoch Centre, Kingussie

Sat 27 June, 7.30pm Summer Classics Deeside Community Theatre, Aboyne

Wed 1 July, 7.30pm Highland Classics Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

Thu 2 July, 7.30pm Highland Classics Universal Hall, Findhorn

Fri 3 July, 7.30pm Highland Classics Blair Castle, Blair Atholl

Sun 5 July, 4pm East Neuk Festival The Bowhouse, St Monans

Wed 29 July, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Barony Campus Theatre, Cumnock

Thu 30 July, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Cochrane Hall, Kirkcudbright

Fri 31 July, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Academy Theatre, Annan

Sat 1 Aug, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Tait Hall, Kelso

Thu 6 Aug, 8pm Mozart's ‘Turkish’ Concerto Stirling Castle

Fri 7 Aug, 7.30pm Mozart's ‘Turkish’ Concerto Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock

Sat 8 Aug, 7.30pm Mozart's ‘Turkish’ Concerto Reid Hall, Forfar

Sun 16 Aug, 6.30pm EIF Mozart’s Don Giovanni Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 21 Aug, 11am EIF Maxim & Friends The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Sat 12 Sep, 7.30pm Autumn Classics St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow

Sun 13 Sep, 7.30pm Lammermuir Festival St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington

Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit sco.org.uk/summer-tour

Kindly supported by Eriadne & George Mackintosh and Claire & Anthony Tait

Music for Life

“M usic has formed and shaped my life, and who I am as a person.”

SARAH DUNCAN

Expressive Arts Curriculum Leader, Castlebrae Community Campus

“ T here's little miracles that happen in every s ession.”

JANE BENTLEY

ReConnect

Leader and community music specialist

“ S ince I was young, music has meant e verything to me.”

KENNY MOFFATT

Scottish Dementia Working Group

“M usic is another way to tell people who you are.”

ZAC NEDUMPULLY Student, Castlebrae Community Campus

“ W riting music expresses the parts of me which can't be expressed through words.”

DAN ABRAHAMS

Composer

Healing Arts Scotland Week

Healing Arts Scotland (HAS) is a nationwide event celebrating and advocating for improved physical, mental and social health through the arts, led by the Healing Arts Scotland Legacy Team, the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, Creative Scotland and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The SCO is proud to be part of this week of events, showcasing how live music can enhance and support health and wellbeing at all ages and stages of life.

For more information on Healing Arts Scotland Week visit www.healingartsscotland.org

This Dementia-friendly concert is kindly supported by the Dementia Trust and Northwood Charitable Trust.

BIG EARS, LITTLE EARS

Wed 17 June 2026, 11.30am

V&A Dundee

Tickets £6, under 18s go FREE

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY CONCERT

Thu 18 June 2026, 2pm

Rothes Hall, Glenrothes

Tickets £6, companion goes FREE Limited capacity – early booking advised

Please note: Relaxed start from 1pm with tea, coffee and biscuits served at tables. Concert starts at 2pm.

MAKE MUSIC DAY

Sun 21 June, 1 – 3pm

Craigmillar Castle

FREE Limited capacity – entry on first come, first served basis.

Hosted by Castlebrae Community Campus

Please note: these concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.

Photo: Stuart Armitt

Music for Life

Concerts on Prescription

We’re proud to be partnering with the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and Community Link Workers across Scotland to offer SCO concert tickets for people who may benefit from the restorative power of live music.

Following a successful pilot during the 2025/26 Season, we’re excited to continue welcoming individuals into musical experiences that can help ease loneliness, boost wellbeing and support positive health outcomes. By opening doors to live orchestral music, we hope to complement traditional healthcare services while bringing moments of joy, connection and inspiration to those who may need them.

Photo: Christopher Bowen

Music & Dementia

Music has a profound impact on dementia care. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s ReConnect programme, running since 2013, continues to make a real difference for people living with a dementia, their families and those that care for them.

Workshops

ReConnect is our creative music programme enriching the wellbeing and quality of life of people living with a dementia. Delivered by SCO musicians, it brings weekly, co-creative music sessions into hospital wards, care homes and day centres, sparking joy, creativity and meaningful human connection for participants, families and caregivers alike, reminding us that music is not just entertainment, it’s a lifeline and a therapeutic force.

Dementia-friendly Concerts

Our dementia-friendly concert series offers relaxed afternoon performances for people living with a dementia. Featuring classical favourites and familiar tunes, concerts are introduced and performed by SCO musicians in a warm, welcoming setting.

In association with

Co-created with people living with dementia through a partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Dementia Working Group, these concerts are designed to provide meaningful shared experiences for individuals living with a dementia and their loved ones, turning music into a powerful source of comfort, connection and community.

Please note: these concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.

Thu 18 June 2026, 2pm

Rothes Hall, Glenrothes

(part of Healing Arts Scotland 2026)

Wed 14 April 2027, 2pm

Albert Halls, Stirling

Thu 15 April 2027, 2pm

Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries

Please note: relaxed start from 1pm with tea, coffee and biscuits served at tables. Concert starts at 2pm.

The ReConnect programme is kindly supported by the Dementia Trust, Mrs Elizabeth Lornie’s Charitable Trust, Northwood Charitable Trust, Plum Trust, Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust and the Walter Scott Giving Group.

Music for Life

Tickets: £6, companion goes FREE Limited capacity – early booking advised For bookings, including wheelchair users and companion tickets, please visit sco.org.uk or contact the SCO directly on 0131 557 6800 or by email ticketing@sco.org.uk.

Dementia-friendly concerts in Edinburgh are kindly supported by the Queensberry House Trust.

Big Ears, Little Ears

Our Big Ears, Little Ears concerts are specially designed for children under five and their grown-ups.

These relaxed, interactive performances are playful, multi-sensory adventures that bring music to life. Watch as a quartet of SCO musicians creates an up-close experience full of wonder, rhythm, and joy.

It’s a BIG musical journey for LITTLE music fans, perfect for sparking a lifelong love of music.

Tickets

Adults £6

Under 18s go FREE

Wed 17 Jun 2026, 11.30am

V&A Dundee

(part of Healing Arts Scotland 2026)

Tue 13 Apr 2027, 10am & 11.30am

Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews

Sat 17 Apr 2027, 10am & 11.30am

Perth Theatre, Joan Knight Studio

Please note: these concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.

The Great Grumpy Gaboon

JAY CAPPERAULD

The Great Grumpy Gaboon*

CORRINA CAMPBELL

Story and illustrations

Gordon Bragg conductor

Fri 5 Feb 2027, 1.15pm

Caird Hall, Dundee

(Schools Performance)

Sat 6 Feb 2027, 2pm

Aberdeen Music Hall

Sun 7 Feb 2027, 2pm

City Halls, Glasgow

Tickets

Adults £16

Under 18s

£8

Family tickets £40

Photo: Stuart Armitt

Step into a world of wonder where music and imagination come together!

After three sold-out seasons, the Great Grumpy Gaboon is back and ready to take you on a spellbinding adventure. Join Woolly Wello, Long-legged Lin, Fluey Lu and Hoppity Boppit as they journey through enchanted lands to uncover the secret behind the Gaboon’s mysterious grumps. Along the way, you’ll meet the mischievous Screature, maker of musical mayhem as well as the wise and kindly All Knowing Umpet, who just might hold the key to the group’s happiness.

Packed with playful characters, toe-tapping tunes and a story full of friendship and forgiveness, this is a musical quest like no other, perfect for families and children age 6+ with curious minds and big imaginations.

Please note: these concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.

*Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

SCO & Young People

Our work with young people, both in and out of school, offers inspiring opportunities that spark creativity and ignite a lifelong passion for music and music-making.

Immerse 2026

Immerse is a unique experience for upper secondary music and art pupils that enables students to experience the excitement of a live orchestra in concert and explore the relationship between music and art.

Immerse 2026 features The Origin of Colour by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld. Jay will introduce the programme himself and is joined by visual artist and musician Kirsty Matheson, who will present her own paintings inspired by The Origin of Colour and Beethoven's Sixth symphony.

Together, they will also discuss the phenomenon of synesthesia and how this has shaped both their work.

Tue 15 Sep, 1pm

Galashiels Academy

Wed 16 Sep, 1pm

Dunfermline Learning Campus

Thu 17 Sep, 1pm

Wallyford Learning Campus, Musselburgh

Running time: approx 1 hour 15 minutes. Please note: Immerse concerts are offered free to schools and seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

To book your school or class onto Immerse 2025 email ticketing@sco.org.uk For information on travel bursaries email jasmine.munns@sco.org.uk or call 0131 557 6800.

School Teachers and Music Tutors: Free concert tickets for school groups and open rehearsals are available on selected dates. For details on availability and how to book, visit sco.org.uk/schools or email ticketing@sco.org.uk

SCO Academy

Delivered in partnership with several Instrumental Music Services in Scotland, SCO Academy gives young people aged 11–18 the chance to develop ensemble music-making skills, build confidence and grow as performers alongside peers and SCO musicians and conductors.

Through sectionals, coaching and rehearsals, SCO Academy participants prepare for a special season concert, culminating in an inspiring side-by-side performance with the full Orchestra.

This season, young musicians from SCO Academy will perform a brand-new commission, co-created by Academy members and our Associate Composer Jay Capperauld as part of the Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Haydn programme on 12 and 13 November 2026 (see page 20 & 21).

VIBE

VIBE is an inspiring programme for young people aged 11–18 to explore music-making beyond the classroom.

Currently delivered across the Scottish Borders, VIBE courses, led by SCO musicians, invite participants to dive into sound, rhythm and performance in a supportive, creative environment.

With year-round musical activities to keep ideas flowing and a special showcase at the annual Borders Music Festival in September 2026, VIBE provides a chance for young people across the Scottish Borders to make music, meet new friends and share their voice, with no experience required – just energy and imagination.

Find out more or register at sco.org.uk/vibe

In partnership with

Silent Teachers

In 2026, we partner with the University of Edinburgh to mark 300 years of medical education at Edinburgh Medical School. At the heart of this collaboration is Silent Teachers, an ambitious, multistrand artistic project that brings together new music, performance, film and learning. Inspired by the individuals who donate their bodies to medical teaching and research – known within anatomy as ‘silent teachers’ –the project explores how music can offer space for reflection, gratitude and remembrance, while opening new conversations between art and science.

Silent Teachers Commission

Commissioned by the University of Edinburgh as part of its anniversary programme, Silent Teachers is a new work by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld, written for clarinet and string quartet. The music is shaped by the dignity and generosity of those who become ‘silent teachers’ to generations of medical students, and by the care, pastoral support and rituals of remembrance that surround the anatomical bequest programme.

In partnership with

Silent Teachers Performance

Silent Teachers will be premiered on 17 November 2026 in the Edinburgh Futures Institute, the University’s new interdisciplinary space for learning and innovation, to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the founding of Edinburgh Medical School. The performance will be presented alongside a public lecture, placing the music within a wider conversation about medicine, ethics, teaching and remembrance. An excerpt of the Silent Teachers work will live on beyond its premiere, becoming part of the School’s annual memorial service, a rare example of a contemporary commission designed to have an enduring ceremonial life.

Tue 17 Nov, 6.30pm Edinburgh Futures Institute

Silent Teachers Film

To extend the reach and impact of the project, Jay’s new work will form part of a short film on the Silent Teachers project, to include an online performance of Silent Teachers and interviews with Jay and Edinburgh Medical School staff. The film will be shared across SCO, University of Edinburgh and Scotsman platforms, creating a lasting artistic record accessible to audiences in Scotland and internationally.

Broadcast date: Wed 18 Nov, 7.30pm FREE to view

Co-presented by

Soundbox: Mentoring the next generation

Running alongside the commission, Silent Teachers also seeds future creativity through Soundbox, the SCO’s mentoring programme for early career composers. Working closely with Jay Capperauld and SCO musicians, composition students from the University of Edinburgh will develop new solo works through workshops, feedback sessions and collaborative rehearsals. The programme culminates in a sharing event in June 2026, where the new pieces will be performed by SCO musicians, giving young composers the rare opportunity to hear their work brought to life at the highest professional level.

Image: Df.1.52* Prima Musculorum Tabula, De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, Vesalius, Andreas (b.1514, d.1564). Heritage Collections, University of Edinburgh.

New Music Fund

The SCO has a proud history of commissioning bold, boundary-pushing works that offer fresh perspectives on classical music. The Orchestra works closely with emerging and established composers and has commissioned more than 200 new works, including pieces by the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sir James MacMillan, Errollyn Wallen, Sally Beamish, Anna Clyne, Martin Suckling, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Karin Rehnqvist, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Nico Muhly and the Orchestra’s current Associate Composer, Jay Capperauld.

Play your part in shaping the sound of the future. By supporting our New Music Fund, you’ll help bring innovative compositions to life, champion emerging talent and push the boundaries of what classical music can be.

To learn more, please contact Hannah Wilkinson, Fundraising and Events Officer, at hannah.wilkinson@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8364.

Support us

Each year, the SCO must fundraise around £1.3 million to bring extraordinary musical performances to the stage and support groundbreaking education and community initiatives beyond it.

If you share our passion for transforming lives through the power of music and want to be part of our ongoing success, we invite you to join our community of regular donors. Your support, no matter the size, has a profound impact on our work – and as a donor, you’ll enjoy an even closer connection to the Orchestra.

To learn more and support the SCO from as little as £5 per month, please contact Hannah Wilkinson, Fundraising and Events Officer, at hannah.wilkinson@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8364

The Sir Charles Mackerras Circle

The SCO is indebted to the pioneering group of donors who have chosen to remember the Orchestra in their will.

As a charity, we rely on the kindness of our community of supporters to allow us to continue our work. Legacy gifts help support all areas of the Orchestra’s work; from touring, to performing, to educating, to exploring – legacy gifts are crucial in ensuring the SCO can continue to provide exceptional musical experiences for all.

To recognise the outstanding group of donors who have pledged a legacy gift in their lifetime, we established the Sir Charles Mackerras Circle during our 50th anniversary season. Sir Charles Mackerras was formerly the Orchestra’s

Conductor Laureate and a treasured member of the SCO family, who left a transformative gift to the Orchestra in his will.

Members of the Circle enjoy exclusive benefits that bring them closer to the Orchestra than ever, including an annual behind-the-scenes event.

Leaving a gift to the SCO will write you into our history; letting the music play on for generations to come.

To arrange a confidential chat about legacy giving, please contact Ailsa Dent, Senior Philanthropy Manager, at ailsa.dent@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8369.

Photo: Christopher Bowen

Principal Conductor’s Circle

Members of the Principal Conductor’s Circle share our passion for excellence and our mission to create musical experiences which transform and enhance lives across Scotland and beyond.

Woven into the very fabric of the SCO, Circle members are truly part of the orchestra family. Members play a vital role in supporting the areas that matter most to them – whether it’s sponsoring a musician’s chair, funding tours and visiting artists or contributing to our essential education and community work.

In gratitude for this crucial support, members are invited to enjoy unparalleled access to the everyday life of the Orchestra – meeting SCO musicians and visiting artists, attending private recitals and behind-the-scenes access throughout the season. It’s the Orchestra as you’ve never seen it before.

Principal Conductor’s Circle Membership starts at £5,000 per year.

To learn more, please contact Martin Lawlor, Development Director, at martin.lawlor@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8344

Tickets and how to book

Booking Multibuy tickets

For information on Multibuy bookings turn to pages 8 & 9.

Booking individual tickets

If you wish to book fewer than four concerts, tickets will be available from the venue box offices from Monday 29 June.

Ticket prices and booking fees vary from venue to venue –visit sco.org.uk/FAQ for further details.

Edinburgh Venue Box Offices

The Queen’s Hall thequeenshall.net 0131 668 2019

Usher Hall cultureedinburgh.com 0131 228 1155

Greyfriars Kirk via sco.org.uk 0131 557 6800

For other venue box office contact details and access information visit sco.org.uk/FAQ

Discounts

18 and under*

Anyone under the age of 18 can attend most SCO concerts for free. Under 16s must, however, be accompanied by a paying adult. Free Under 18 tickets are not available for The Great Grumpy Gaboon and Dementia-friendly concerts.

19-26 year-olds*

Full-time students and people in receipt of Universal Credit.

£6 for all concerts except The Great Grumpy Gaboon and Dementia-friendly concerts.

Disabled

50% off full price tickets for people registered disabled. Please get in touch if you require a complimentary essential companion ticket.

Group booking discounts

Groups of six or more booking together save 20% off full price tickets. Groups of 20 can also claim one complimentary ticket for the group organiser. Available from Monday 29 June, from the venue box offices.

School Group bookings

We have a limited number of free tickets available for certain concerts throughout the Season for school groups – please visit www.sco.org.uk/schools for further information. To make a Schools booking please email ticketing@sco.org.uk with numbers required and any access requirements for group members. Group and school bookings must be confirmed no later than four weeks before the concert date.

Booking fees and refund policy

A booking fee of £2 is applicable to all Multibuy Package bookings made via the SCO. Booking fees vary via venues. All discounts are subject to availability. We regret that tickets are non-refundable.

*Proof of eligibility may be required.

Concert Schedule

2026

Thu 24 Sep, 7.30pm

Thu 1 Oct, 7pm

Thu 8 Oct, 7.30pm

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Usher Hall

Bach St Matthew Passion Usher Hall

Beethoven Piano Concertos The Queen’s Hall

Thu 22 Oct, 7.30pm Max Richter+ Usher Hall

Thu 29 Oct, 7.30pm

Thu 5 Nov, 7.30pm

Thu 12 Nov, 7.30pm

Sun 22 Nov, 3pm

Thu 26 Nov, 7.30pm

Thu 3 Dec, 7.30pm

Thu 10 Dec, 2pm

Thu 17 Dec, 7.30pm

Mon 21 & Tue 22 Dec, 7.30pm

2027

Fri 1 Jan, 3pm

Thu 14 Jan, 2pm

Barber's Adagio & Violin Concerto The Queen’s Hall

Tchaikovsky Serenade The Queen’s Hall

Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Haydn Usher Hall

SCO/RCS Winds: Side by Side The Queen’s Hall

The Magic of Mendelssohn Usher Hall

Bartók's Music for Strings The Queen’s Hall

Classical Revolution The Queen’s Hall

A Baroque Christmas The Queen’s Hall

SCO Chorus Christmas Concert Greyfriars Kirk

Viennese New Year Usher Hall

Beethoven Symphonies The Queen’s Hall

Thu 28 Jan, 7.30pm SCO x Brooklyn Rider The Queen’s Hall

Thu 11 Feb, 7.30pm A Celebration of Schubert Usher Hall

Thu 25 Feb, 2pm Prokofiev & Bartók The Queen’s Hall

Thu 4 Mar, 7.30pm

Thu 11 Mar, 7.30pm

Beethoven Deconstructed The Queen’s Hall

Beethoven Violin Concerto Usher Hall

Thu 18 Mar, 7.30pm La Voix humaine The Queen’s Hall

Sun 21 Mar, 3pm Songs of Light and Longing The Queen’s Hall

Thu 25 Mar, 7.30pm

The Seasons The Queen’s Hall

Thu 22 Apr, 7.30pm Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 The Queen’s Hall

Thu 29 Apr, 7.30pm Beethoven's Missa Solemnis Usher Hall

Thu 6 May, 7.30pm

Baroque Inspirations The Queen’s Hall

Thu 13 May, 7.30pm Nicola Benedetti Usher Hall

Edinburgh Venues

Usher Hall Concerts

The Queen's Hall Concerts (except 22 Nov 2026 and 21 Mar 2027)

HM The King Patron

Donald MacDonald CBE

Life President

Joanna Baker CBE Chair

Gavin Reid LVO

Chief Executive

Maxim Emelyanychev

Principal Conductor

Andrew Manze

Principal Guest Conductor

Joseph Swensen

Conductor Emeritus

Gregory Batsleer

Chorus Director

Jay Capperauld

Associate Composer

Principal Conductor’s Circle

Geoff and Mary Ball

Ken Barker and Martha Vail Barker

Ronald and Stella Bowie

Sir Ewan and Lady Brown

Silvia and Andrew Brown

Colin and Sue Buchan

Bill and Celia Carman

James and Patricia Cook

Jo and Alison Elliot

Gavin and Kate Gemmell

Caroline Hahn and Richard Neville-Towle

Judith and David Halkerston

Erik Lars Hansen and Vanessa C L Chang

J Douglas Home

Christine Lessels

Professor Sue Lightman

Donald and Louise MacDonald

Eriadne and George Mackintosh

Jasmine Macquaker Charitable Fund

Anne McFarlane

Harry and Carol Nimmo

Stuart and Alison Paul

Anne and Matthew Richards

George Rubienski

Claire and Anthony Tait

The Thomas Family

Sabine and Brian Thomson

Claire and Mark Urquhart

Anne, Tom and Natalie Usher

Ulrike and Mark Wilson

Hedley Gordon Wright Charitable Trust

4 Royal Terrace

Edinburgh EH7 5AB

+44 (0)131 557 6800 sco.org.uk

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC015039. Company registration No. SC075079

Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at the time of going to print. The SCO reserves the right to change dates, artists or programmes if necessary.