The Auld Alliance between Scotland and France is alive and kicking as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra announce their programme for season 2011-12.
This will see the orchestra connect with the best Scottish and French artists with a bipartisan repertoire.
The season includes a celebration of orchestral works by Debussy, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
This fusion of French flair and Scottish skill marks the last season of Stephane Deneve as musical director before he moves to Stuttgart.
In the last six years, Deneve has developed an affection and admiration for Scotland and wanted to mark his last season with the RSNO in a particular way.
“Every season during my time as musical director has felt special, but this final year feels very special,” he said.
“I wanted the Auld Alliance theme to celebrate musically our warm friendship and fruitful connection.”
Before the end of this season, another successful partnership comes to a close, the one between the orchestra and its chief executive Simon Woods, who leaves next month to take up a post in Seattle.
Woods also developed a close association with Deneve and is full of praise for the Frenchman.
“It is impossible to overestimate the impact Stephane has had on the RSNO these past six years,” said Woods.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank him publicly for the past few years.”
The season commences in Dundee on September 29, when Deneve will be joined by Nicola Benedetti for a performance of Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, with the programme also including Debussy’s La Mer.
The concert on November 10 features Mendelssohn’s violin concerto with Vadim Gluzman, the Hebrides Overture, and the Christmas concert again contains The Snowman with Christopher Bell.
A programme including Beethoven’s 8th and Chopin’s second piano concerto follows in March, then the season ends with a Naked Classic evening of Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony.
In Perth Concert Hall, during the Scottish Orchestras series, the RSNO will perform on January 12 with Sir Roger Norrington and on February 23, when Scottish soprano Lisa Milne will sing Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne.