We got home last night from Newcastle—the second leg of our UK tour—feeling a bit like a band that's been too long on the road, but full of good memories of a wonderful St Magnus Festival. We're already missing our nights at the Golden Slipper but it will be good to return there in August at the Other Festival.
It's also important to put on record the reactions from Alan Barnes and the band. Jazz musicians, as you probably know, are a pretty case-hardened bunch, but they were totally overwhelmed by everything—the appreciative audiences, the warmth and hospitality and the technical backup from the sound guys—the best ever, they said, unanimously—and this is an area where they are especially hard to please. So please thank everybody for this.
It also occurs to us it will be good to come to next year's Festival and not do anything, apart from sitting in audiences and enjoying the music… |
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We have arrived back home after a truly wonderful week in Orkney. It's a trip I personally was looking forward to since I joined the orchestra last year and it really was tremendous. Thank you so much for inviting the SSO again—it's easy to say, but they really have enjoyed themselves very much.
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BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA |
There is so much to remember and cherish—the amazing atmosphere at the end of Mahler 4, late night Bach in the Cathedral, the children from Eday Primary School performing alongside our string players on Tuesday evening and of course the extraordinary sounds of Play It Again! —thank you for taking the plunge with it, the response was great.
It's quite an extraordinary achievement to have brought the festival to such a wonderful place over the last 30 years—it's a very special event—and I do hope there will be a place for the SSO in the coming years.
GAVIN REID
Director, BBC SSO |
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We all wanted to send a big thank you for last week. It was a wonderful experience, and so special to be somewhere where a festival still has real community impact and significance. I thought the concerts went really well, and especially enjoyed the late night Bach in the Cathedral - sublime!
MATTHEW BARLEY
Cellist, Between the Notes |
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We loved the festival and Orkney and hope it was a great success for all concerned.
KATE MACKENZIE AND CHRIS LYNAM
Oiseau Rouge performers
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