 | Press ReleasesBBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra takes to the stars |
 Glasgow Season opens Thursday 20 September 2007, 7.30pm
Part two of concert, Holst's The Planets, broadcast live on BBC Two Scotland at 8.30pm The opening concert of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's Thursday Night Series at City Halls, Glasgow is inspired by heavenly bodies, centred on Gustav Holst's unforgettable portraits of The Planets, conducted by Ilan Volkov. Regularly voted one of the most popular classical works ever, the scores for both Star Wars and Gladiator are inspired by The Planet's relentless opening movement, Mars. Ravel complained that people only associated him with Bolero, Elgar never approved of Land Of Hope And Glory as an anthem of empire and Holst hated the world-wide popularity of The Planets, yet it is undoubtedly one of the great achievements of British music – a work of great imagination, originality, ambition and skill. Inspired by Holst's life-long interest in astrology, each movement depicts the character of each of the planets according to ancient astrological writings, rather than the way they appear in the night sky. The Planets, which forms the second half of the concert, will be televised live on BBC Two Scotland. The orchestra and its Chief Conductor, Ilan Volkov, pair The Planets with a recently composed companion piece Saariaho's 4179 Toutais. Named after a large orbiting asteroid, this work was originally commissioned by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic as one of four works inspired by asteroids to accompany The Planets in performance. Scottish pianist Steven Osborne, one of the most eloquent players in British music, returns to City Halls to perform Britten's heavenly Piano Concerto, following a triumphant performance of this often neglected work with the BBC SSO at the Proms. In a post-concert event, Steven will preview some of the repertoire of a forthcoming CD of Britten's piano music with the BBC SSO, which will include the Piano Concerto and Young Apollo. Notes to Editors Thursday 20 September BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Thursday Night Series City Halls, Glasgow, 7.30pm Kaija Saariaho's Asteroid 4179: Toutatis (UK premiere) Britten's Piano Concerto Holst's The Planets* * Live broadcast on BBC Two Scotland * Ladies of the RSNO Chorus Steven Osborne, piano Ilan Volkov, conductor Pre-Concert Prelude (6.45pm in the Grand Hall): Ilan Volkov and Gavin Reid, Director, BBC SSO, look ahead to the new season. Post-Concert Coda (approximately 10 minutes after main concert): Steven Osborne and the strings of the BBC SSO perform Britten's Young Apollo. | 
Printable version
