New Year with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Welcome in 2024 with these uplifting Viennese concerts

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is tuning up for a thoroughly thrilling start to 2024 with its Viennese New Year Concerts.

Conductor Jiří Rožeň. Picture – IlonaSochorova

The orchestra is to present a concert of musical adventures with the vibrant young Prague-born conductor Jiří Rožeň.

The SCO has been embracing the classics, championing exciting new music, and creating beautiful memories for audiences for 50 years.

Four concerts to herald the New Year

Viennese New Year. Picture – supplied

The first week of the New Year will be no exception as four concerts across four venues will herald the start of 2024 in musical style.

The SCO will kick things off with the first Viennese New Year concert at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on New Year’s Day at 3pm.

There will be further performances, all at 7.30pm, on Wednesday, January 3 at the Music Hall, Aberdeen; January 4, Concert Hall, Perth; and January 5, at the Town Hall, Ayr.

Conductor Jiří Rožeň is rapidly growing his international presence and reputation. Born in Prague in 1991, Rožeň studied conducting at conservatoires and universities in Prague, Salzburg, Hamburg, Zürich and Glasgow.

The Viennese New Year Concert offers a tempting selection of music to enthral and delight – including rich musical flavours of Rožeň’s homeland which includes Dvořák’s dance-hall Prague Waltzes.

The Viennese New Year Concert programme

British soprano Jennifer France brings her vocal sparkle to showpieces by Lehár and Zeller, as well as Richard Strauss’ touching love song Amor.

The concerts will conclude in the opulence of the Strauss family’s Vienna amid the timeless beauty of The Blue Danube.

DVOŘÁK: Prague Waltzes (selection)

J STRAUSS II: Voices Of Spring

ZELLER: Der Vogelhändler: Entr'acte

ZELLER: Der Vogelhändler: Schenkt man sich Rosen in Tirol

SCHUBERT: Rosamunde: Entr'acte No 3

E STRAUSS: Grüss an Prag, Polka Française

SUPPÉ: Overture, Light Cavalry

R STRAUSS: Amor

DVOŘÁK: Slavonic Dance Op. 46 No 1

LEHÁR: The Merry Widow: Vilja

SIECZYNSKI: Vienna, City of My Dreams

J STRAUSS II: The Blue Danube

How to buy tickets for the SCO’s New Year concerts

Ticket prices and discounts at the concerts will vary. Collections at the performances will be in aid of Alzheimer Scotland.

The concert will last about 85 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.

For more information and to book tickets visit the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s website