Passengers invited to conduct Scotland’s national orchestra at Glasgow Airport
RSNO music director Peter Oundjian passes the baton to eager pre-flight travellers
ON Monday 3 August, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) will be resident at Glasgow Airport, performing well-known classical favourites, with an opportunity for outgoing travellers to take to the podium before taking their flight.
RSNO music director, Peter Oundjian, will lead Scotland’s national orchestra for two performances at Glasgow Airport’s check-in area, opening the facility’s Best of Scotland Festival.
The festival will give passengers the opportunity to celebrate and experience Scotland’s finest food, drink and culture, and will see the terminal and surrounding areas showcase some of the best tastes, sights and sounds the country has to offer.
As part of the Best of Scotland celebrations, the RSNO’s Peter Oundjian will invite willing participants from the passing travellers to take to the podium in front of sixty assembled orchestral musicians, providing the opportunity to lead a professional orchestra before catching their plane.
The apprentice maestri will be offered the choice to conduct either ‘Montagues and Capulets’ from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, more recently adopted as the theme to the BBC TV series, The Apprentice, or Rossini’s William Tell Overture, who many might recognise as the title music to The Lone Ranger.
To add to the pressure of conducting a professional orchestra for the first time, the participants will be marked on style and technique by members of Scotland’s national orchestra, and the winner will receive a gift certificate to spend in the retail outlets, kindly donated by Glasgow Airport.
RSNO music director, Peter Oundjian: “We’re always looking for new ways to present the live orchestral experience to audiences, and over the past four years we’ve developed a successful partnership with Glasgow Airport.
“Last year, we invited Scottish Commonwealth gold medal-winning judo champion Sarah Clark to conduct the orchestra in a rendition of Flower of Scotland, but this year I would like to welcome willing passengers to have a go at leading a professional symphonic ensemble.
“It is likely to be the most unusual and hopefully rewarding pre-flight experience they’ll ever have.”
Steven Marshall, marketing and customer insight manager at Glasgow Airport: “This summer has been one of our busiest on record, with the launch of some fantastic new routes and services and a series of major events taking place including the IPC swimming championships and the Scottish and British Opens at Gullane and St Andrews.
“For many, Glasgow Airport is their first and last impression of Scotland, and our Best of Scotland campaign is a great way to celebrate the quality of our country’s fare while also providing exciting and interesting entertainment for our passengers.
“The various events and live performances we have planned, including this eagerly anticipated one from RSNO, will no doubt make a real and lasting impression on the hundreds of thousands of people travelling through our doors. We urge all our passengers to get involved, and may the best conductor win!”
The RSNO is participating in several key events over the summer. The musicians, led by Peter Oundjian and joined by pianist Igor Levit, will be performing at the Albert Hall, London, as part of the BBC Proms on Wednesday 2 September.
It is also a key component in three events at the Edinburgh International Festival this year, as well as presenting a gala celebration, Brewin Dolphin presents Music at the Museum, at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September.
The RSNO’s 2015:16 Season opens with Mahler’s Resurrection, at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh on Friday 2 October and at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Saturday 3 October.
For more information, please visit www.rsno.org.uk.
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RSNO contact details…
Contact: Daniel Pollitt
Phone: 01412253571
Email: daniel.pollitt@rsno.org.uk
Website: http://www.rsno.org.uk
