SCO Highlands Tour, July 2005

22nd June 2005

Scottish Chamber Orchestra visits Strathpeffer, Thurso and Culloden

Following successful concerts in Findhorn, Fortrose and Kingussie in early June, the second leg of the SCO Highlands Tour 2005 takes place in July with three more concerts around the Highlands. Under the baton of Roland Böer, the Orchestra performs in Strathpeffer (Pavilion, Thursday 7th July, 8pm), Thurso (High School, Friday 8th July, 8pm) and Culloden (Academy Theatre, Saturday 9th July, 8pm).

Roland Böer, who attracted rave reviews for his recent debut conducting English National Opera in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito, conducts a programme of music by the three biggest names of the Classical period - Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The concert opens with Haydn's charming Symphony No 67, before newly-appointed SCO Leader Christopher George takes the solo in Mozart's Violin Concerto No 3. The concert is brought to a dramatic close with Beethoven's Symphony No 8.

Born in Bad Homburg in 1970, Roland Böer studied composition in Frankfurt and later conducting in Würzburg. He started his career at Frankfurt Opera in 1996, before joining the staff of Deutschen Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf in 1999. He returned to Frankfurt Opera in 2001 to conduct Trovatore and Henze's Das verratene Meer, which resulted in his appointment as Kapellmeister there from 2002.

Chris George, recently appointed as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's Leader, studied at the Royal Academy of Music and has been involved with a wide variety of music-making in the ten years since. Commenting on the forthcoming tour, Chris said: "I am very excited to be visiting the Highlands for the first time and looking forward to a few days of golf after the final concert!".