Robin Ticciati & SCO - Schumann: The Symphonies - Herald Scotland

Michael Tumelty's review of the year

SELECTING highlights is a very personal business.

Sometimes it's the programme that strikes you, sometimes the conductor, the orchestra, a soloist or a context. 2013, for me, exploded into life at the beginning of February with the Scottish premiere of James MacMillan's Oboe Concerto, of which the abiding memory was the unforgettable presence and playing of soloist Francois Leleux with the SCO. Many details of the event have receded in the memory, but I have never heard such a tour de force of superhuman playing as that produced by that sensational Frenchman, by which, almost a year on, my mind remains scorched.

...

Most recently, Robin Ticciati and his Scottish Chamber Orchestra stepped up to the plate with a pretty revelatory survey of Schumann's four symphonies, which constituted yet another nail in the coffin of the prejudice that still clings (a little desperately now) to criticism of Robert Schumann's abilities as a symphonist, an orchestrator, a texturer, and the creator of some of the most ravishing slow movements in musical history. Remember, these great works were not only performed, they were also recorded by Linn Records as the concert series unfolded.

We won't have too long to wait for the results of this missionary work: they'll be released in 2014.