Scottish Chamber Orchestra Pays Tribute to Conductor Laureate Sir Charles MacKerras

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Following the death of Sir Charles Mackerras, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will dedicate the Opening Concerts of its 2010/11 Season – concert performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni – to the memory of the Orchestra’s beloved and venerable Conductor Laureate.

The performances – at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Thursday 7 October and Glasgow’s City Halls on Friday 8 October – will be conducted by the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati, and feature a world-class line-up of soloists including Florian Boesch, Maximilian Schmitt and Kate Royal. Sir Charles and the SCO were internationally renowned for their performances and recordings of Mozart’s music, including CD releases of seven Mozart operas and the recent multi-award winning disc of the composer’s last four symphonies. Don Giovanni was of particular significance to Sir Charles: in 1991 he conducted a new production of the opera at the re-opening of the Estates Theatre in Prague, scene of the work’s premiere, to mark the bi-centenary of Mozart’s death.

Roy McEwan, Managing Director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, said: “This will be the SCO’s first season without Sir Charles, and the opening concerts are a perfect opportunity for us to pay tribute to his life and career. We are particularly delighted that the Orchestra and Chorus along with our Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati will celebrate the many years of music–making we shared with Sir Charles through these performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which – following its performance at the 1995 Edinburgh International Festival – was one of the finest opera recordings we made together.”

Handel’s Messiah (25 & 26 November 2010)
Season Closing Concert – Mozart’s Requiem (13 & 14 May 2011)

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