Meadows Chamber Orchestra

Conductor:   Peter Evans

 Piano:          Raymond Yiu

PROGRAMME

MOZART:              Overture ‘ La Clemenza di Tito’ K 621

RACHMANINOV   Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18

BEETHOVEN        Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55, Eroica

For over 40 years the Meadows Chamber Orchestra, under its principal conductor, and musical adviser, Peter Evans, has performed regularly and with critical acclaim to audiences in Edinburgh and beyond. A tradition of imaginative programming and exciting performances has given the Orchestra a unique place in Scottish musical life. In recent years, the Meadows has twice broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

The Orchestra normally promotes three or four concerts a year in Edinburgh - typically in late October, early December, March and May. Although the orchestra's main focus of activity is on the concerts of its own Edinburgh series, it occasionally plays for concerts promoted by other organisations, typically music societies based within a reasonable travelling distance from Edinburgh. Here in Biggar we have been privileged to enjoy acclaimed performances from the Meadows in past seasons, as well as concerts with Peter Evans as soloist, accompanist, and as pianist in trios and quartets. 

Peter Evans, the Orchestra's Musical Advisor, conducts the majority of concerts in the season. In at least one other concert in the season the Orchestra is able to widen its musical and technical experience by working with guest conductors such as Garry Walker, William Conway, and David Watkin, amongst others.

Most soloists are either established local musicians or gifted young players from Scotland and further afield in the early stages of establishing a national or international reputation. The Orchestra has also had the opportunity to work with soloists of the calibre of Alexander Janiczek, Steven Isserlis, Stephen Kovacevic, Anthony Marwood, and Moray Welsh.

Peter Evans enjoys a varied career as pianist, chamber musician, conductor and teacher.  He studied at Edinburgh University and the Vienna Hochschule. Since returning to live in Scotland in the mid 1970s he has given concerts throughout Britain and Europe as well as the USA, the former USSR, Japan and Kenya. He has also given masterclasses at festivals in both Britain and the USA.

Peter has made over 80 broadcasts for BBC Radio, several appearances on BBC Television and commercial recordings for Hyperion, Unicorn-Kanchana, BMG Classics, Linn, NMC and ASV Records.  Other long associations include hundreds of concerts with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra since its formation in 1974, and fifteen years of touring, broadcasting and recording with the cellist Steven Isserlis.

Peter is married to violinist Uli Fenner and teaches piano, jazz and conducting at Aberdeen City Music School as well as in Edinburgh.