The Weis Center for the Performing Arts welcomes the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to the Weis Center on Friday 14 October at 7.30pm. The renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti is introduced.
The internationally acclaimed Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is one of Scotland’s National Performing Companies. Founded in 1974 and funded by the Scottish Government, SCO aims to give people as many opportunities to hear great music as possible by touring across Scotland and regularly appearing at major national and international festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms and through international touring as proud ambassadors of Scottish cultural excellence.
The Orchestra makes a significant contribution to Scottish life beyond the concert platform, working through its extensive creative learning program in schools, universities, colleges, hospitals, care homes, workplaces and community centres.
Performing at the Weis Center: Anna Clyne’s “Stride”; Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish”.
With the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Maxim Emelyanychev follows in the footsteps of only five previous principal conductors in the orchestra’s 48-year history; Roderick Brydon (1974-1983), Jukka-Pekka Saraste (1987-1991), Ivor Bolton (1994-1996), Joseph Swensen (1996-2005) and Robin Ticciati (2009-2018).
About Maxim Emelanychev
As an outstanding representative of the younger generation of Russian conductors, Maxim Emelyanychev was born in 1988 into a family of musicians. He received his musical education in his hometown of Nizhny Novgorod (conducting and piano) and in the conducting class of Gennady Rozhdestvensky at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Shortly after his debut as a conductor at the age of 12, Emelyanychev was invited to conduct several international baroque and symphony orchestras in Russia.
The SCO and Emelyanychev released their first collaborative album (Linn Records) in November 2019 to critical acclaim. The repertoire is the first concert that Emelyanychev performed with the orchestra in March 2018.
About Nicola Benedetti
Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Her ability to captivate audiences with her innate musicianship and spirited presence, coupled with her broad appeal as a high-profile champion of classical music, has positioned her as one of the most influential classical artists of our time.
Born in the Scottish town of Irvine to Italian descent, Nicola began taking violin lessons with Brenda Smith at the age of four. In 1997 she entered the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she studied with Natasha Boyarskaya. After that she continued her studies with Maciej Rakowski and then with Pavel Vernikov. In 2004 she won the “BBC Young Musician” and started her career as an international concert violinist.
In December 2020, Nicola founded the “Benedetti Baroque Orchestra” which brings together freelance instrumentalists who come together to create the highest level of collaborative and energetic music-making. Baroque was released by Decca Classics in July 2021 and features Nicola playing this ensemble. The album peaked at number one in the UK’s Official Classical Album Chart and received a 5-star rating from The Times.
Nicola is committed to commissioning new works, including most recently Mark Simpson’s critically acclaimed Violin Concerto, written for Nicola with the London Symphony Orchestra, and Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto, which won a 2020 GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo” was awarded.
A GRAMMY Award winner for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020, as well as Best Female Artist at the Classical BRIT Awards in 2012 and 2013, Nicola records exclusively for Decca (Universal Music). Their most recent recording of Elgar’s Violin Concerto hit number one on the UK’s Official Classical Albums Chart and received critical acclaim, including a 5-star review in The Times: “But beyond mere agility, Benedetti offers listeners something even more valuable: a dynamic staff Interpretation that is refreshing and compelling.” Other recent recordings include her GRAMMY-winning album, written especially for her by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, Violin Concerto in D and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin. Nicola’s recording catalog also includes works from Shostakovich and Glazunov’s Violin Concertos, Szymanowski Concertos (London Symphony Orchestra with Daniel Harding) to Homecoming; A Scottish fantasy that made Nicola the first British solo violinist since the 1990s to make the Top 20 in the UK Official Albums Chart. In 2021, BBC Music Magazine named her ‘Personality of the Year’ for her support of many young musicians online during the pandemic.
Nicola was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year Honors List, received the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2017, the youngest ever recipient, and was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2013 in recognition of her international music career and her work with music charities across the UK. In addition, Nicola has received nine honorary degrees to date.
The performance is sponsored in part by Sam and Nancy Craig and the Center Daily Times.
Bucknell’s face covering requirements follow CDC guidelines based on current Union County transmission rates of COVID-19. At high transmission rates, face coverings are required for everyone in all indoor public and academic areas on campus, including the Weis Center. Masks are not compulsory indoors at low and medium transmission rates. This policy applies to all visitors regardless of vaccination status. Guests should always have a mask ready when on campus. KN95 are recommended. To view Bucknell’s current status, visit bucknell.edu/COVID-19.