The Royal Scottish National Orchestra

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra – A Festival of Fučík (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:19:51 minutes | 1,44 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

Best known for his ubiquitous circus march, Entry of the Gladiators (also known as Thunder and Blazes), Julius Fucík, the “Bohemian Sousa,” was a prolific composer of band and orchestral music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While his marches, waltzes, and polkas are still popular in the Czech Republic, they have largely faded from the Western orchestral repertoire. Neeme Järvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra have released this hybrid SACD collection on Chandos to revive some tuneful bonbons that deserve a fresh reassessment and a place on programs of light music. In addition to Entry of the Gladiators, highlights of this album include the Florentiner March, Danube Legends, Little Ballerinas, and Under the Admiral’s Flag, which are examples of Fucík’s infectious melodies, rousing rhythms, and zestful orchestration. The multichannel recording offers a spacious ambience that fully accommodates the orchestra’s bold, brassy quality.

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The Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Legends & Light, Vol. 2: New Works for Orchestra (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:15:06 minutes | 1,32 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Navona

LEGENDS AND LIGHT VOL. 2 from Navona Records leaves no stone unturned. From the vast expansiveness of the open sea to the microscopic particles of our world’s chemical makeup, this follow-up to 2018’s LEGENDS AND LIGHT is an ambitious collection of new works for large ensemble performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Brno Philharmonic. In this album, seven composers offer their insights into the components of our world through music, with works highlighting cultures, locations, forces of nature, and human life. While many of the pieces are arranged for orchestral ensembles, listeners will also find Scottish Great Highland bagpipes and Irish Uilleann pipes featured on the album, offering a deeply rewarding listening experience.
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The Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos (Edinburgh International Festival) (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:05:09 minutes | 2,59 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records

Lothar Koenigs conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in a filmed concert performance of Richard Strauss’ comedy Ariadne auf Naxos.

It’s the party to end all parties. But two entertainments have been double-booked to mark the evening’s climax – a serious opera and a slapstick comedy. The star soprano is throwing a tantrum and the staff are hiding the chaos from the boss. There’s only one solution: perform both shows at the same time.

This is a brand new concert staging by brilliant young director Louisa Muller. Among the specially selected cast are revered German soprano Dorothea Röschmann as the opera’s wronged heroine, Thomas Quasthoff as the house’s major-domo and prize-winning Scottish singer Catriona Morison as the composer.
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The Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Anthony Iannaccone: Looking Back, Moving On (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:30:29 minutes | 1,61 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Navona

Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company became the Scottish National Orchestra in 1950, and was awarded Royal Patronage in 1977.

Throughout its history, the Orchestra has played an integral part in Scotland’s musical life, including performing at the opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament building in 2004. Many renowned conductors have contributed to its success, including George Szell, Sir John Barbirolli, Walter Susskind, Sir Alexander Gibson, Neeme Järvi, Walter Weller, Alexander Lazarev and Stéphane Denève.

The Orchestra’s artistic team is led by Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, who was appointed RSNO Music Director in 2018, having previously held the position of Principal Guest Conductor. Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan succeeds Søndergård as Principal Guest Conductor.

The RSNO performs across Scotland, including concerts in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness. The Orchestra appears regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms, and has made recent tours to the USA, China and Europe.

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