Hamilton and Airdrie to host Scottish Chamber Orchestra concerts

The Lanarkshire towns will host performances as part of the musicians' summer tours.

Musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) will be hitting the high notes in Hamilton and Airdrie ans they visit on the ensemble’s annual summer tour.

The orchestra will perform at Hamilton Town House on in July, with the programme including a world premiere, and then at Sir John Wilson Town Hall in Airdrie the following month where a trio of “romantic” music treats are in store.

Online bookings for both events are available now, with tickets ranging in price from £20 for standard admission to free entry for under-18s.

SCO conductor Jonathan Bloxham will bring the orchestra to Hamilton Town House on July 17 as part of a three-date tour round Scotland with a programme showcasing their “versatility and artistry in full force”.

The concert will feature the world premiere of Rewired, a concerto for soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra featuring soloist Lewis Banks and which is one of two new works for this year written by SCO associate composer Jay Capperauld.

Also on the programme at the “summer classics” performance are Haydn’s Symphony No. 80 in D minor, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B-flat, often described as his “most joyful” work.

The Airdrie performance on August 27 will be led by conductor Jakob Lehmann and principal clarinettist Maximiliano Martín, with the audience enjoying “an evening of energy and elegance in a concert that sparkles with wit and youthful charm”.

It will open with Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville, described as “a whirlwind of bustling brilliance and comedic flair” – before Martin takes centre stage for Spohr’s clarinet concerto No. 2 in E-flat, followed by Schubert’s Symphony No. 2 in B-flat.

Both Lanarkshire concerts take place at 7.30pm on their respective dates and are part of a wider 20-date tour across Scotland aiming to “build relationships with local communities, put SCO musicians centre stage and bring world-class concerts to audiences who might otherwise not be able to experience them”.

Chief executive Gavin Reid said: “We look forward to hitting the road once again [this summer] and bringing music to communities across Scotland. With our world-class musicians and a dynamic programme that truly showcases the depth of our orchestra, this tour promises to offer something for everyone – we can’t wait to share the joy of live music.”

See www.sco.org.uk/summertour for tickets and more information.

* Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!