Thomas Søndergård leads the Royal Scottish National Orchestra through Beethoven, Walton and Lutosławski at the Usher Hall.
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra are at Usher Hall on Friday 19 February, with Thomas Søndergård conducting. The night brings together Beethoven, Walton and Lutosławski, and Søndergård describes the energy of the programme as rock 'n' roll.
It's a broad spread of styles to fit into one evening. Beethoven provides the familiar anchor, Walton adds a distinct British voice, and Lutosławski brings in the later, more angular sound of the Polish modernist. Hearing them back-to-back lets you trace a line from the classical tradition through to the twentieth century, and the 'rock 'n' roll' label Søndergård attaches to it suggests a night that leans into the louder, more driving side of the orchestral repertoire rather than the quiet end.
The RSNO are regulars at Usher Hall, which sits on Lothian Road in the West End. It's the city's main venue for visiting national and international orchestras and has served as the primary home of the Edinburgh International Festival since 1947. The hall dates back to 1896, when Andrew Usher gave £100,000 to the City of Edinburgh to found a concert hall; it opened in 1914 as a Beaux Arts building and remains one of the city's architectural gems, with acoustics that make it one of the best concert halls in Europe.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Edinburgh and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
So, the RSNO take the stage at Usher Hall on Friday 19 February, with Thomas Søndergård leading the night. It's a Beethoven, Walton and Lutosławski programme, and the whole thing is billed as having rock 'n' roll energy.
