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All Music Guide:
The youngest son of sarod player Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Amjad Ali Khan has continued to expand on his father's legacy. Performing as a soloist and in collaboration with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Charlie Byrd, Igor Frolav, Glenda Simpson, and Barry Mason, Khan has brought a global view to the sarod, a 25-stringed, violin-like, Indian instrument. While The Gulf Weekly claimed, "(Khan) is in a class by himself, born with rhythm in his soul and fingers," The Lincoln Journal Star wrote, "(Khan is) famous for his elegant style and technique. After a lifetime of work on the instrument, he has breathed a new life to an ancient form." In a review of a concert by Khan, The New York Times proclaimed, "(Khan) casts a kind of charm on audiences, sending out ripples of excitement." Tracing his family's roots to Mian Tansen, a 16th-century musician in the court of the Emperor Khan, Khan began playing the sarod at the age of ten. With his father as his guru, under the strict discipline of Guru Shisya Parampara, he advanced quickly. Performing his first concert at the age of 12, he was a nationally known celebrity in India within three years. Khan's wife, Subhalakshmi, a well-known Indian classical dancer, retired from performing following their marriage. In addition to recording many award-winning albums, including Raga Bhairav, which ranked among the Top 50 classical albums of 1995 by BBC Magazine, Khan has been featured in several documentary videos including the Canadian-produced Amjat Ali Khan in 1971, and Live Concert In Tokyo in 1989.
Wikipedia:
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears regularly at the Edinburgh, East Neuk, St Magnus and Aldeburgh Festivals and The Proms. The SCO's international touring receives support from the Scottish Government. The Orchestra rehearses mainly at Edinburgh's Queens Hall.
History
The orchestra was formed in 1974, with Roderick Brydon as its first Principal Conductor, from 1974 to 1983. Other principal conductors have included Jukka-Pekka Saraste (1987-1991) and Ivor Bolton (1994-1996). The American violinist and conductor Joseph Swensen served as Principal Conductor from 1996 to 2005, and is now the SCO's Conductor Emeritus. Sir Charles Mackerras held the position of Conductor Laureate until his death in 2010. The Estonian conductor Olari Elts served as the SCO's Principal Guest Conductor from October 2007 to September 2010. In October 2008, the SCO announced the appointment of Robin Ticciati as the orchestra's next principal conductor, effective as of the 2009-2010 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. In October 2010, the SCO announced the extension of Ticciati's contract as principal conductor for an additional 3 years, through the 2014-2015 season.
Contemporary music
The SCO's work in contemporary music has included collaborations with Gordon Crosse, John McLeod, and with Peter Maxwell Davies notably the series of Strathclyde Concertos. Einojuhani Rautavaara's Autumn Gardens received its world premiere with the SCO in 1999. The SCO premiered Sally Beamish's Concerto for Orchestra (Sangsters) in November 2002. The SCO has commissioned more than a hundred new works, from composers including Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (the SCO's Composer Laureate), Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir, Sally Beamish, Karin Rehnqvist, Lyell Cresswell, James MacMillan, Hafliði Hallgrímsson, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Stuart MacRae and Edward Harper.
