SCO 24/25 Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony

From chirruping birds and babbling brooks to a kaleidoscopic cosmic lightshow – the power of nature pulses through this electrifying concert directed by energetic British conductor Mark Wigglesworth.

Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony is a hymn of wonder and gratitude to the natural world, combining captivating nature portraits with sounds to move and inspire.

Hungarian-born Péter Eötvös surrounds the audience with music in his ravishing Aurora, dreamt up while contemplating the Northern Lights aboard a plane high above Alaska. The SCO’s own Principal Double Bass Nikita Naumov – a deeply charismatic player – is Aurora’s expressive soloist. Wigglesworth launches the celestial explorations with US composer Aaron Jay Kernis’s otherworldly evocation of the songs of angels.

KERNIS Musica Celestis
EÖTVÖS Aurora for double bass solo and string orchestra with accordion (UK Premiere)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No 6 ‘Pastoral’

Mark Wigglesworth: Conductor
Nikita Naumov: Double Bass

Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra and Tongyeong International Music Festival