Maxim Emelyanychev & Principals of the SCO

Experience total immersion in Mozart, courtesy of soloists from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and its principal conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, who takes centre stage as solo pianist. The Scotsman describes Emelyanychev’s Mozart performances as ‘a near-miracle of balance and energy, sounds carefully layered […] to make Mozart’s harmonies glow vividly’.

The musicians begin with the ‘Kegelstatt’ Trio for its unusual mix of piano, viola and clarinet. To this day, the jury is still out as to whether Mozart wrote this piece while playing skittles, hence its nickname: the German kegelstatt is akin to a duckpin bowling alley. What is better known, however, is that the Trio is a testament to friendship; Mozart wrote this for his piano student and close family friend, Franziska von Jaquin.

Next, the impassioned Piano Quartet in G minor encompasses violin, viola and cello. Finally, the Piano Concerto in A appears in an intimate chamber guise, which accentuates its sparkle and charm.

Presented by Edinburgh International Festival