Keith Bruce

Latest articles from Keith Bruce

Nicola Benedetti: Culture is vital - Scotland can't turn its back on that

Violinist Nicola Benedetti has announced a programme that features a number of headline-making boasts, including the largest presence of opera for some years, what is claimed to be the most generous ticket concession plan in the event’s history, and birthday celebrations for veteran orchestral conductors with long histories of participation in the Festival.

Bearsden Choir is constantly growing with stalwarts joined by impressive recruits

IT is telling of the development of Bearsden Choir that chorus director Andrew Nunn is relaxed about repeating repertoire, like the two works in this programme, Vivaldi’s Gloria and the Faure Requiem. Just as significantly, the one new work it has commissioned, Love Lives Beyond the Tomb, by choir alumnus George Swann, will have an all-important second performance at the next concert in May.

REVIEW Keith Bruce: This programme was never at any point a conventional orchestral concert

virtuosic violinist Pekka Kuusisto Music SCO/Emelyanychev City Halls, Glasgow Keith Bruce five stars The Scottish Chamber Orchestra has an established and fruitful relationship with virtuosic violinist Pekka Kuusisto, but this season’s sequence of three concerts featuring the charismatic Finn looks designed to introduce him afresh to new audience members. With evenings he directs built around Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and then focused on his interest in folk fiddle still to come, here he was in the traditional role of orchestral soloist, playing the First Violin Concerto by his countryman Magnus Lindberg.