The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra has been the sound of Scotland for over seven decades and is a potent symbol of Scotland's thriving cultural life. Now bound to the fabric of its permanent new home at Glasgow City Halls, the BBC SSO is an integral part of BBC Scotland's output and is renowned across the world for its distinctive style and adventurous programming. Read More...
Formed in December 1935, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is recognised as one of the UK's leading orchestras. The winner of several awards, including a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in 2001 (the only Scottish orchestra to do so) and two Gramophone Awards, its wide repertory and flexible approach to format means it can perform a complex contemporary piece as a specialist ensemble alongside a major symphonic work.
The orchestra has a busy broadcasting schedule on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Television, and also records commercially. It takes live music to towns and cities across Scotland every season, is in demand at major UK festivals, and plays every summer at the BBC Proms. Abroad, the orchestra has appeared in the great musical centres of Europe, and has toured the USA, South America and China.
In Scotland, as well as being the leading supporter of living composers and new music, the BBC SSO is extremely active in the community, with an innovative learning programme dedicated to bringing the inspiration of great music to people of all ages and backgrounds.
At the beginning of 2006 the orchestra moved from Broadcasting House at Queen Margaret Drive – its base for nearly 70 years – to City Halls which is now the orchestra's permanent home, administrative, performance and recording base.
Visit the official website of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The Symphonic Collection
Starting with perhaps the greatest symphony of all, Beethoven’s ‘Choral’, here’s a chance to hear six of the unforgettable greats of symphonic music in the rich, intimate acoustic of City Halls.
Thursday Night Series: The Symphonic Collection : Beethoven 9
Thu 25th Sep '08, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Symphonic Collection : Tchaikovsky 4
Thu 23rd Oct '08, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Symphonic Collection : Sibelius 5
Thu 5th Feb '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Symphonic Collection : Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique
Thu 19th Feb '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Symphonic Collection : Bruckner 9
Thu 5th Mar '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Symphonic Collection : Beethoven 5
Thu 23rd Apr '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
The Story Tellers
The timeless themes of mythology, fairy tales and classic literature have inspired many composers, and here are five delightful programmes that feature highly evocative, story-telling music.
Thursday Night Series: The Story Tellers : Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
Thu 9th Oct '08, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Story Tellers : Sibelius, Lemminkainen
Thu 22nd Jan '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Story Tellers : Prokofiev, Romeo & Juliet
Thu 19th Mar '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Story Tellers : Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition
Thu 7th May '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: The Story Tellers : Ravel, Mother Goose
Thu 21st May '09, 7.30pm
City Halls
The Winter Series
Our winter mini-series focuses on two great composers of the 20th century - Rachmaninov and Stravinsky - both of whom share a common Russian heritage, but are so very different.
Thursday Night Series: Russian Winter: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto 2
Thu 13th Nov '08, 7.00pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: Russian Winter: Rachmaninov: Paganini Rhapsody
Thu 27th Nov '08, 7.00pm
City Halls
Discovering Music
Tue 2nd Dec '08, 2.00pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: Russian Winter: The Soldier's Tale
Thu 4th Dec '08, 7.00pm
City Halls
Thursday Night Series: Russian Winter: The Rite of Spring
Thu 11th Dec '08, 7.00pm
City Halls
Subscriptions
Flexible subscription tickets allow you to pick and choose the concerts you wish to attend from any BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performances at City Halls listed within this brochure at a generous discount.
If you are unsure what to select, why not use one of our 2008/09 themed series: The Symphonic Collection (6 concerts), The Storytellers (5 concerts) and Russian Winter (4 concerts). For the Russian Winter series you only need to select one more concert from the season's programme to start enjoying a substantial discount.
- Save 20%/25%* on tickets/5 or more concerts
- Save 25%/30%* on tickets/8 or more concerts
- Save 30%/35%* on tickets/11 or more concerts
- Save 35%/40%* on tickets/15 concerts
*Applies to concessions only. Concession subscriptions available to Senior Citizens, SSO Club Members, Full-time Students, Registered Unemployed (proof of status may be required). Disabled patrons' discount not applicable to subscription prices.
