Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, and subsequently known as the Scottish National Orchestra before being granted the title Royal at its centenary celebrations in 1991, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is one of Europe’s leading ensembles. Distinguished conductors who have contributed to the success of the orchestra include Sir John Barbirolli, Karl Rankl, Hans Swarowsky, Walter Susskind, Sir Alexander Gibson, Bryden Thomson, Neeme Järvi, now Conductor Laureate, and Walter Weller who is now Conductor Emeritus. Alexander Lazarev, who served as Principal Conductor from 1997 to 2005, was recently appointed Conductor Emeritus. Stéphane Denève was appointed Music Director in 2005. Denève’s first recording with the RSNO, Albert Roussel’s Symphony No. 3 and the complete ballet Bacchus et Ariane (Naxos 8.570245) was released in May 2007, and in November received the Diapason d’Or de l’Année for Symphonic Music.
The orchestra made an important contribution to the authoritative Naxos series of Bruckner Symphonies under the late Georg Tintner, and recorded a complete cycle of the orchestral works of Samuel Barber under former Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop.
The orchestra performs a busy schedule of concerts across Scotland with annual appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival and regular performances in the BBC Promenade Concerts in London.
Photo courtesy of Peter Devlin
