What famous names have taken to the stage over the years?
Gordon: An Tobar has presented concerts by Salsa Celtica, Blazin Fiddles, Aly and Phil, The Scottish Flute Trio, The Dunedin Consort, Martin Taylor, Martyn Bennett, Colin Vearncombe, Tommy Smith (solo and with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra), plus An Tobar commissions featuring Mr McFall’s Chamber, the Cauld Blast Orchestra, Corrina Hewat, and Michael Marra.
What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?
Gordon: To be around for the long term.
Does the venue have a ghost?
Gordon: No ghost but lots of past memories from when it was a school (especially the one about the headmaster being called out of his office just before belting a boy who was happy to receive six of the best on the headie’s return having rifled a tenner from the man’s wallet while he was out).
What was your worst disaster as director?
Gordon: I’ve learned to be philosophical about things going wrong – if I picked out something as the biggest disaster then, guaranteed, something worse would happen the next day.
And what was your biggest triumph?
Gordon: Possibly the Savourna Stevenson piece, as it was the first commission I’d organised, but in a different way there was also a young songwriter who composed a song as part of a project here, about a girl he’d left behind when his family had moved here from Australia. He sent her a copy of the recording and she bought a ticket to Scotland and they’re still together.
If you could have any artist in the world for a one-off special, who would it be, and why?
Gordon: It would have to be Joni Mitchell. I don’t have to be realistic for this question, do I?
Why should people look forward to visiting the An Tobar?
Gordon: Lot’s of people say they love the atmosphere here, and the home baking is something else!
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