Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Peter Whelan, Conductor
André Cebrián, Flute

HAYDN Symphony No. 82 in C Major ‘The Bear’ (27’)

CPE BACH Flute Concerto in D minor, Wq. 22 (H.425) (25’)

Interval (20’)

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (25’)

Formerly Principal Bassoonist with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Peter Whelan is also one of Europe’s most stylish, charismatic conductors, and Artistic Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. He makes a welcome return to his SCO friends for an evening of musical exuberance and elegance, verve and vivacity.

The SCO’s passionate Principal Flautist André Cebrián is the soloist in the stormy virtuosity of the D minor Flute Concerto by pioneering composer CPE Bach, one of JS’s most gifted sons. Much revered by Mozart and Beethoven, CPE Bach unveils deep dramas in his compelling Concerto, which also shines and bright spotlight on Cebrián’s remarkable musical prowess.

Whelan opens his larger-than-life concert with the first of Haydn’s ‘Paris’ symphonies, a lavish, brilliant piece designed to delight discerning Parisian audiences. The witty bagpipe evocations in its dazzling finale sounded to early listeners like music to accompany dancing bears – hence the Symphony’s nickname.

The concert concludes with Beethoven’s shortest, sunniest and most irrepressibly comic Symphony.