A festive journey from Christmas wonder to New Year celebration with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Christopher Bowen - SCO Viennese New Year 2026 | The Scottish Chamber Orchestra

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) celebrates the festive season as it presents three sparkling programmes across Scotland from December 16 to January 5.

The SCO’s festive activities begin with Baroque Christmas, followed by Light Eternal, this year’s Christmas choral concert, and culminate with their annual Viennese New Year performances. Together, these concerts showcase the many facets of the festive season: Celebration, contemplation and renewal.

The SCO begins its festive programme with Baroque Christmas. Rachel Podger leads the orchestra as they bring Baroque masterpieces to St Andrews (December 16), Edinburgh (December 17) and Glasgow (December 18). The evening will showcase the grandeur of Handel, the intimate charm of Corelli and the brilliance of Bach in a glittering programme brimming with warmth and festive spirit. Experience moments of jubilation, serenity and virtuosity as the SCO counts down to Christmas.

Light Eternal offers a serene and uplifting musical experience in Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh (December 21 and 22), as the SCO Chorus invites audiences to pause and reflect amid the festive bustle. Bringing a welcome sense of peace to the darkest days of winter, the programme explores hope, remembrance and light in a concert led by Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer, with Su-a Lee adding her distinctive cello voice. From the stillness of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ O Emmanuel to the spacious grandeur of Rheinberger’s Mass in E-flat, the tender intimacy of Gruber’s Stille Nacht and the glowing hope of Cecilia McDowall’s O Oriens, each work draws audiences deeper into the mystery and promise of the festive season in one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric spaces.

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra invites audiences to begin 2027 in style with the much-loved Viennese New Year concert. Conducted by Nil Venditti and featuring soprano Jennifer France, the concert brings all the glamour, charm and exuberance of a Viennese ballroom to Edinburgh’s Usher Hall (January 1), Aberdeen Music Hall (January 4) and Ayr Town Hall (January 5). Fast becoming a New Year staple, the SCO’s annual celebration captures the spirit of Vienna’s golden age, featuring soaring melodies, irresistible waltzes and joyous polkas by the Strauss family and more.

At the Viennese New Year concerts, there will be a collection in aid of Alzheimer’s Scotland with whom the SCO works closely with for their Dementia-friendly concerts.

Tickets and more

Tickets for the SCO’s Festive Season are now on sale – see their website at www.sco.org.uk.

While some venues include a ticket levy, the regular SCO concessions apply to all the festive concerts:

· 18 and under go FREE.

· Under 26s / Students / Universal Credit £6.

· People with disabilities half price, essential companion goes FREE.

Details, venues and timings

Rachel Podger | The Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Baroque Christmas

HANDEL Concerto a due Cori No.2

LOCATELLI Concerto Grosso in F minor Op.1 No.8 ‘Christmas Concerto’

MUFFAT Sonata V from Armonico Tributo (Salzburg 1682)

CORELLI Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op.6 No.8 ‘fatto per la notte di Natale’

VIVALDI Violin Concerto in E major RV 270 ‘Il riposo per il Santissimo Natale’

JS BACH Orchestral Suite No.4

Rachel Podger director/violin

Celebrate the season in true Baroque splendour as Rachel Podger returns, this time for an evening of festive music. From the grandeur of Handel to the intimate charm of Corelli and the brilliance of Bach, this glittering programme is brimming with warmth and festive spirit. Expect moments of jubilation, serenity and virtuosity – perfect for a pre-Christmas treat.

Wed 16 Dec, 7pm, Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews

Thu 17 Dec, 7.30pm, The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 18 Dec, 7.30pm, City Halls, Glasgow

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Chorus Christmas Concert: Light Eternal

Programme to include:

CRYSTALLA SERGHIOU Illuminate

RHEINBERGER Mass in E-flat (Cantus Missae)

MAX REGER O Jesulein süß

OLA GJEILO Serenity

GRUBER Stille Nacht

CECILIA MCDOWALL O Oriens

BACH Chorales

ĒRIKS EŠENVALDS O Emmanuel

SCO Chorus

Gregory Batsleer director

Su-a Lee cello

Return to the serenity of Greyfriars Kirk for Light Eternal, an evening of reflection and warmth in one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric spaces. This year’s programme weaves together music of luminous beauty and quiet power. From the stillness of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ O Emmanuel to the spacious grandeur of Rheinberger’s Mass in E-flat, the tender intimacy of Gruber’s Stille Nacht and the glowing hope of Cecilia McDowall’s O Oriens, each work draws us deeper into the mystery and promise of the festive season. Performed by the SCO Chorus under Gregory Batsleer, with Su-a Lee adding her distinctive cello voice, Light Eternal brings warmth and atmosphere to the end of the year.

Mon 21 & Tue 22 Dec, 7.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Viennese New Year

Programme to include:

J STRAUSS II Overture, Die Fledermaus

J STRAUSS II Die Fledermaus: Mein Herr Marquis

J STRAUSS II Thunder and Lightning Polka

J STRAUSS II Roses from the South

J STRAUSS II Blue Danube Waltz

GOUNOD Roméo et Juliette: Je veux vivre

LUMBYE Kopenhagener Eisenbahn-Dampf Galopp

R STRAUSS Amor

Nil Venditti conductor

Jennifer France soprano

Step into the sparkling elegance of a Viennese ballroom to welcome the New Year in style. Their annual Viennese New Year concert is a true celebration, filled with music that dances with life and lifts the spirits. Expect sweeping melodies, effervescent rhythms and a sense of joyous abandon as the SCO conjures the golden age of Vienna. From the swirl of waltzes to the fizz of gallops and polkas, every note promises warmth and delight – the perfect antidote to winter’s chill. Raise a glass and let the celebrations begin!

Fri 1 Jan, 3pm, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Mon 4 Jan, 3pm Aberdeen Music Hall

Tues 5 Jan, 7.30pm, Ayr Town Hall