The SCO’s superb Principal Horn, Alec Frank-Gemmill, is in the spotlight for Sir James MacMillan’s new arrangement of his thrillingly theatrical Horn Quintet.
MacMillan grew up playing in brass ensembles and he cherishes the horn of fanfares and hunting calls as much as the soft-voiced instrument of matchless lyrical beauty. Either side of the premiere we have youthful tours-de-force by two of the great ‘Bs’ of history. Conductor Andrew Manze is rightly acclaimed as an outstanding interpreter of both Britten and Beethoven.
