Following sell out performances in recent years, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra makes a welcome return to Fraserburgh’s United Reformed Church and the Universal Hall in Findhorn between 6 – 7 June.

Former SCO leader Alexander Janiczek returns to play and direct a programme of Mozart and Mendelssohn in the tour - the first visit to the Highlands by the SCO this summer. This is the 30th consecutive year that the SCO has taken its music-making to the Highlands. Virtuoso Janiczek will direct Mozart’s Divertimento in D, K251 and the composer ’s March, K237 and Serenade in D, K203. Speaking about the tour, Janiczek commented:

“I am delighted to be performing more of the Mozart Serenades with the SCO in the Highlands this year – especially being from Salzburg, where the tradition of performing these pieces is still very much alive. Since this is usually outdoor music, it will be inspiring to perform them in early summer, in such special venues.”

Alexander will be joined by SCO soloists Maximiliano Martín on clarinet and Ruth Ellis on basset horn, for Mendelssohn’s delightful Konzertstück in F minor, Op113. Written for the people of Salzburg in the 1770s, Mozart’s Serenade and March were collectively referred to as ‘Finalmusik’, both having been written in the month of August. The ‘Finalmusik’ refers to ‘finals music’ – written for students graduating from Salzburg University. Mendelssohn’s Konzertstück was written in 1832 and was inspired by the brilliant playing of father and son duo Henrich and Carl Baermann. The three movement work mixes virtuosity with the simple, vocal melodies for which the composer was renowned. The performance of work by Mendelssohn comes ahead of the SCO’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth in the 08/09 Season.

Following the tour, the musicians will head into the studio to record the Mozart works for release on Linn Records in 2009. This follows the success of the SCO/Linn Mozart’s Serenades CD, released to critical acclaim in 2007.

SCO Managing Director Roy McEwan said, "We are delighted to be returning to the splendid surroundings of the Universal Hall in Findhorn, where we enjoyed great success last year. We are also pleased to be performing in Fraserburgh, following a warm reception in 2006. The great music of Mozart and Mendelssohn unite former SCO Leader Alexander Janiczek with the orchestra’s two outstanding clarinettists. The concerts will be followed by recording sessions in Edinburgh when a new disc of Mozart’s music from the tour will be made for Linn Records."