Felix Broede
©Photo: Felix Broede

Pekka Kuusisto makes UK conducting debut

30/9/2019

This week Pekka Kuusisto makes his UK conducting debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.  Appearing in a triple role as violinist-director-conductor, Kuusisto conducts Sibelius Symphony No.5 and, take to the violin to give the Scottish premiere of Hillborg’s Bach Materia in Ayr, Edinburgh and Glasgow. 

Kuusisto is the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s 2019/20 ​‘Featured Artist’ and will appear with the Orchestra throughout the season.

Thumbnail
Pekka Kussisto | SCO Featured Artist © Scottish Chamber Orchestra

He play/​directs the Double Violin Concerto Prince of Clouds by SCO Associate Composer Anna Clyne with Benjamin Marquise Gilmore and the world premiere of Clyne’s Sound and Fury (co-commissioned by SCO and Orchestre National de Lyon) in Edinburgh and Glasgow in November. The programme also includes the Beethoven’s Overture to Prometheus, Mozart’s Divertimento in D by Mozart and Haydn’s Symphony No.60 in C major. 

In April 2020 Kuusisto joins the orchestra as soloist-director for the UK Premiere of Nico Muhly’s Violin Concerto Shrink (co-commissioned by Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Recital Centre, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra with the kind support of the MCO Foundation and Scottish Chamber Orchestra). The programme, also featuring Stravinsky’s Concerto in E‑flat, Bryce Dessner’s Ornament and Crime, Barber’s Adagio for strings and Copland’s Appalachian Spring, will be presented in St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow.