Page 193 - FINAL_The Sixteen Coverage Book 40th Anniversary Year

19 August 2019

World premiere of James MacMillan’s Fifth

Symphony at the Edinburgh International

Festival

*****

By David Smythe, 19 August 2019

Music programmers are alive to anniversaries and key dates, the Edinburgh International
Festival marking Sir James MacMillan's 60th birthday year with a healthy representation of his music. This
world premiere of his Symphony no. 5, “Le Grand Inconnu” was an unmissable highlight.

Harry Christophers conducts The Sixteen and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

© Ryan Buchanan

MacMillan has had a long and fruitful association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra who premiered
his Second Symphony twenty years ago. As the composer took to the podium, it was fascinating to look
back and hear this quietly searching, restless piece in the context of his more recent works. MacMillan
made it sound fresh as spring as his fluttering fingers directed the woodwind in birdlike chatter over the
soft opening bell, the upper strings adding a pitter-patter of raindrops. I was struck by the sad soft
modern jazz harmonies in the brass chorale that heralded the more lyrical strings pushing through the
melancholy. A second movement added more energy, bass drum and lower strings setting up a rumble
like the background of a busy street as ideas were floated without immediate resolution.

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