SCO 26-27 Programme
Scottish Chamber Orchestra Programme Launch 2026-27
The headline news from the launch of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s new programme is that Maxim Emelyanychev has agreed to extend his contract to 2031 (at the earliest). SCO Chief Executive, Gavin Reid spoke warmly about the conductor’s inspirational work with the orchestra, saying the partnership was the envy of orchestras everywhere. Emelyanychev conducts or directs eight concerts in the new season, including two magnificent programme openers, both in the Usher Hall: Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, and Bach’s St Matthew Passion in a large-scale performance for the SCO Choir, choristers from St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, and six soloists including Roderick Williams and Matthew Brook. In two Queen’s Hall concerts in March he works with soprano Caroline Sampson in Poulenc’s ‘La Voix humaine’ and ‘Songs of Light and Longing’ (a Sunday chamber concert). The ‘Baroque Inspirations’ concert is in spring next year and he concludes the season with Brahms Double Concerto starring Nicola Benedetti and Philip Higham.
Other major news this year is that the SCO joins the RSNO and the BBC SSO in Beethoven 200. The SCO’s contributions to the bicentenary commemoration of Beethoven’s death are performances of the first four symphonies, his Violin Concerto played by Pekka Kuusisto – not to be missed - and the piano concertos 4 and 5 played by Sunwook Kim. Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze conducts a well-cast Missa Solemnis in April.
This is one of three concerts conducted by Andrew Manze this season, which include the debut of Sheku Kanneh-Mason in Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 1. Andrew Manze has made a valuable contribution to the orchestra in the last two years: he has been an excellent advocate for the music he has played. A number of instrumentalist make welcome returns to direct the orchestra, including Lorenzo Borrani and Rachel Podger, in two concerts each.
Two types of concert have been trialled over the last three years, and have become part of the permanent programme. The three Thursday matinees now take place in the winter months, and the three New Dimensions concerts this year feature te music of Max Richter, Brooklyn Rider and trumpeter Hakan Hardenberger in Beethoven Deconstructed.
Associate Composer Jay Capperauld’s ‘Great Grumpy Gaboon’ continues its journey to Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow, while in Edinburgh he has been working on a very different project called ‘Silent Teachers’ in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh to mark 300 years of medical education.
Full details of the 2026-27 season are available here Scottish Chamber Orchestra | Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Season tickets go on sale in June. This year young people under 18 go free to concerts and students tickets cost £6.
