The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) is to take up temporary residence in Inverness for a week, connecting with the music-loving communities in the city and beyond.
The Big Residency, which runs from Monday, March 31, until Saturday, April 5, will feature a week of cross-community performances, workshops, interactive sessions, concluding with a full symphonic concert.
Since the launch of the RSNO’s umbrella programme, SNO Engage last year, the orchestra has broadened the scope of its Learning and Engagement remit and is committed to developing longer-term relationships with communities across Scotland.
Since last September, RSNO musicians have been working with young musicians from Inverness-shire, Wick, Thurso, Skye and Aberdeenshire, preparing them for forthcoming performances with Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, Highland Youth String Orchestra and Highland Schools Wind Band.
In addition, over the last eight months, RSNO players have been in residency in the Highlands offering open masterclasses for wind and string musicians aged 16 to 18.
In association with Eden Court Theatre, Highland Council and supported by The Press and Journal and Highlife Highland, The Big Residency will be showcasing the ongoing work in a series of composition workshops, tailor-made performances for young people, cross-genre performances and a full symphonic concert.
The start of the week features RSNO on the Road, when musicians including RSNO Principal Trombone, Davur Juul Magnussen, will visit schools across the area to lead a series of workshops from improvisation.
The critically-acclaimed Teddy Bears’ Picnic performances for three to five-year-old visits Inverness for the first time, on Wednesday, April 2, at Eden Court Theatre, and later that day, there’s a family show, Steve and His Seriously Tall Ladder, in the afternoon.
Boys United is a brand new initiative for the north of Scotland.
In 2006, director of the RSNO Junior Chorus, Christopher Bell, started a vocal ensemble for boys whose voices were changing. Changed Voices helps guide members – boys aged 13-18 – through that process of change.
A programme inspired by the success of Changed Voices, Inverness will play host to Boys United, for the benefit of young male singers seeking to develop their ability before their voices change.
With Christopher Bell visiting participating schools for preparatory sessions in the preceding weeks, the Empire Theatre at Eden Court will be filled with boys from P6 to S1 on Thursday, April 3, for a day of practical exercises and informal performances.
Over the past four months, RSNO musicians have been collaborating with performers from Eden Court Community Dance Company and from Cashback for Creativity, developing a new performance.
RSNO Remix will receive its premiere on Friday, April 4.
It incorporates remixed classical music – in this case Praeludium from Grieg’s Holberg Suite – digital animation and contemporary dance, creating a show that blends reworked music with two alternative but complementary art-forms, revealing ways in which traditional works can be placed in a modern context.
That date is also when the orchestra presents Vaughan Williams’ Fifth, a full symphonic concert at Eden Court, featuring Vaughan Williams’ serene Fifth Symphony alongside Berlioz’ Helios Overture and Stravinsky’s ballet music Pulcinella, with conductor Jean-Claude Picard.
Musicians and singers from the local area are invited to join the orchestra on Saturday, April 5, for a collaborative day of coaching and guidance, culminating in an informal performance at Eden Court.
Workshops are from 10am-5pm with the final performance at 6pm.
Repertoire for the day will be a mix of classical, traditional and popular songs and will include: Vivaldi’s Gloria, Scottish traditional songs: Johnnie Cope and Will Ye No Come Back Again, and Sing, by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Further afield, members of the RSNO Big Band will be performing in Kingussie, at the Badenoch Centre, on Saturday, April 5, from 1pm, providing suitable accompaniment for a tea dance.
Also on Saturday, back in Inverness, the RSNO Baroque Ensemble will perform Baroque Fireworks, at Inverness Town House, at 1pm.
For further details about the Big Highland Residency, visit www.rsno.org.uk or contact the RSNO Engage Team on 0141 225 3574.