91Èȱ¬

The 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra and its world renowned chief conductor Donald Runnicles embark on a six-concert tour of Austria and Germany from Saturday 23 October.

One of Scotland's most respected musical ambassadors, this is Donald Runnicles first tour with the 91Èȱ¬ SSO since he took over as chief conductor of the orchestra in 2009.

Commencing in the Bavarian city of Regensburg, the orchestra will then perform concerts in Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden, Innsbruck and Munich culminating with a performance in one of Europe's' greatest concert venues, the Vienna Konzerthaus.

As well as being chief conductor of the 91Èȱ¬ SSO, Donald Runnicles is also General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and is well known to audiences across central Europe through his many appearances with esteemed ensembles including the Berlin Philharmonic, the North German Radio Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic.

As one of the world's leading opera conductors, he performs regularly in the opera houses of Berlin, Amsterdam, Cologne, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Milan, Munich, Paris and Zurich.

Donald Runnicles will lead the 91Èȱ¬ SSO through works by German composers Beethoven and Brahms, as well as music by Sibelius and Elgar, and they will be joined by three renowned violin soloists: Canadian James Ehnes, German Arabella Steinbacher and Norwegian Vilde Frang.

Concerts on the tour will be recorded for broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3 and Radio networks in Austria and Germany.

Donald Runnicles said: "This tour to Europe with Vilda, Arabella and James as our soloists is the jewel for us in our season. I will be enormously proud to be at the helm of the 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra in my old stomping grounds."

Ken MacQuarrie, Director of 91Èȱ¬ Scotland, said: "As an internationally regarded group of musicians, the 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra holds a unique place within the cultural life of Scotland.

"Coupled with Donald Runnicles highly respected position within the European musical establishment, this tour represents a marvellous opportunity to showcase the cream of 91Èȱ¬ Scotland's cultural output across Europe."

This tour represents the second visit to Germany by the 91Èȱ¬ SSO, and its first visit to Austria. The 91Èȱ¬ SSO previously visited Germany in 1999 with its then Chief Conductor, Osmo Vänskä.

Notes to Editors

91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra Austro-German Tour 2010
Donald Runnicles, conductor

Saturday 23 October
Regensburg, Audimax, 8.00pm
Beethoven, Overture: Prometheus
Brahms, Violin Concerto
Beethoven, Symphony No.3 Eroica
Arabella Steinbacher violin

Sunday 24 October
Baden-Baden, Festspielhaus, 6.00pm
Berlioz, Overture: Béatrice et Bénédict
Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Elgar, Symphony No.1
Vilde Frang, violin

Monday 25 October
Wiesbaden, Kursaal, 8.00pm
Beethoven, Overture: Prometheus
Brahms, Violin Concerto
Elgar, Symphony No.1
Arabella Steinbacher, violin

Tuesday 26 October
Innsbruck, Congress und Messe, 8.00pm
Beethoven, Overture: Prometheus
Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Elgar, Symphony No.1
Vilde Frang, violin

Wednesday 27 October
Munich, Gasteig Philharmonie, 8.00pm
Berlioz, Overture: Béatrice et Bénédict
Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Beethoven, Symphony No.3 Eroica
Vilde Frang, violin

Thursday 28 October
Vienna, Konzerthaus, 7.30pm
Britten, Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
Brahms, Violin Concerto
Elgar, Symphony No. 1
James Ehnes, violin

SD3