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Orchestra to play concert in Kelvinbridge after sell-out performance in Germany

The orchestra will be with conductor Chris George and the distinguished cellist Christian Elliott.

It was a highlight of its 10th anniversary year.

Now Scotland's Amicus Orchestra is sharing the inspiration it got from playing in Leipzig with a Glasgow audience.

The musicians delighted German concert-goers when they played to a sell-out crowd of 1,900 people in November.

 Poster: Saturday's concert at St Mary's Cathedral
Poster: Saturday's concert at St Mary's Cathedral

The orchestra performed a Scottish programme at the iconic Gewandhaus venue.

It was a huge experience for the players who come from across central Scotland.

Amicus is Scotland's leading 'amateur' orchestra - formed 11 years ago to bridge the gap between amateur and professional musicians.

One of the homes they regularly play in Scotland is St Mary's Cathedral on Great Western Road.

And that is where they return this Saturday (February 23) with a programme inspired by their German adventure.

 Home: Amicus was formed to bridge the gap between amateur and professional musicians
Home: Amicus was formed to bridge the gap between amateur and professional musicians

The orchestra will be with conductor Chris George and the distinguished cellist Christian Elliott, who has recently been appointed Principal Cellist of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

In her programme notes for the concert Amicus chairman Lindsay Pell looks back on an eventful anniversary year.

She writes: "A highlight was our first trip together as an orchestra to Leipzig, playing as guests of the Leipzig Academic Orchestra.

"This was no ordinary concert – we played to a full house of 1900 people in the famous Gewandhaus.

'Special experience'

"Every player who took part will have their own particular memories of this very special experience together – whether it was the first glimpse of the audience as we walked out on stage, making friends with, and playing alongside, German players from the Academic Orchestra, the minute’s silence we shared together as we were in rehearsal on Armistice Day, or the inspiration of conductor Catherine Larsen-Maguire and our soloist,

RSNO Leader Maya Iwabuchi.

"Leipzig itself made a huge impression on everyone – a veritable 'Mecca' for classical music.

"Every street is paved with musical memories of the Mendelssohn family, Clara Schumann’s family, Wagner, Grieg, and of course J. S. Bach, his family, and his legacy.

"Music is as much part of the fabric of this city as it was 300 years ago, and indeed all the way back to the 12th century.

"It is with Leipzig still in our hearts that we shaped tonight’s programme."

 Guest: Distinguished cellist Christian Elliott
Guest: Distinguished cellist Christian Elliott

The programme is as follows:

Stokowski/Bach: “Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn”, from Easter Cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden” BWV 4

Vivaldi: Cello concerto RV 405 in D minor

Stokowski/Bach: Chorale prelude “Wachet auf!” BWV 645

Vivaldi: Cello concerto RV 415 in G major

Stokowski/Bach: “Jesu bleibet meine Freude” from cantata “Herz und Mund“ BWV 147

Brahms: Symphony No 1 in C minor Op. 68

Elsewhere in her notes, Lindsay announces the appointment of Catherine Larsen-Maguire, as principal conductor.

Catherine, a highly-regarded Berlin-based British conductor, first worked with the orchestra in 2017 and conducted a concert last June at Glasgow University’s Bute Hall in June, in a collaboration with players from the NYOS Symphony Orchestra.

* Amicus Orchestra perform at St Mary's Cathedral, Great Western Road, Saturday February 23. Tickets for the concert can be found here.

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