Scottish Ensemble - Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich - Herald Scotland

HERE'S an imperative for CD collectors and fans of the Scottish Ensemble.

Released tomorrow is the orchestra's first recording on Linn Records in a decade. It is a stonker, with a characteristically big-boned, confident and (under the consummately authoritative leadership of Jonathan Morton) compelling performance of Tchaikovsky's Serenade For Strings, the greatest of all classics for string orchestra. It's a piece where ensembles often engage in some wallowing, which can be lovely. That's not what you get here, where Morton's basic tempo is swift and forward-moving, bringing a tremendous drive to the piece. There is a fabulous lilt to the Waltz, great intensity and beauty in the Elegy, an exhilaration in the whirlwind Finale, and a splendid mix of detail and sweep in the natural resonance of the recording venue, the Caird Hall. There is also a powerhouse performance of Morton's 'bigged-up' version of Shostakovich's Second String Quartet, which deserves a wee essay elsewhere. Good timing for their City Hall concert on February 24.