Scottish Chamber Orchestra brings 'thrills' Feb. 11

Joseph Swensen leads the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Feb. 11 at Bailey Hall.

Conductor Joseph Swensen, violinist Robert McDuffie and the 33-member Scottish Chamber Orchestra will present a concert at Cornell's Bailey Hall on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m. The program includes a new work by the orchestra's affiliate composer, James MacMillan, Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto, opus 12, and Beethoven's "Eroica" symphony.

Joseph Swensen's debut as conductor of the orchestra in 1995 inspired this exuberant response from The Herald's Michael Tumelty: "An unexpected bomb exploded on the Scottish music scene. The incendiary device was Beethoven's 'Eroica' symphony, and the man with the finger on the trigger was a conductor called Joseph Swensen. No "Eroica" like it had been heard. At the hands of Swensen, who erupted acrobatically and volcanically into the music, the stupendous performance recalled directly the musical revolution that formed the background to the composition itself, nearly 200 years ago."

The orchestra, which was formed in 1974, is something of a cultural ambassador. It regularly tours its native land and has given concerts throughout the world, garnering international recognition. It is currently completing a 14-city tour of the United States. In addition it has made over 100 recordings.

The Scots are not bashful about their enthusiasm for the orchestra. A recent performance in Edinburgh received this praise from a music critic in The Herald: "If you want musical thrills, danger, bravado, risks, revelations and conducting and playing of mind-bending virtuosity, check out the Swensen/SCO team."

Guest violinist Robert McDuffie has established a close association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. They toured the Scottish Highlands together last summer, and their recording of the Mendelssohn and Bruch violin concertos will be released soon. McDuffie is well recognized for his performances of American music and is a commentator for National Public Radio's Performance Today.

Tickets for the concert are now on sale at $22 to $30, general public; $11.50 to $18, students. Telephone: 255-5144, Monday- Friday, 9:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.; box office, 105 Lincoln Hall: open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; VISA, MasterCard, Discover and Cornellcard are accepted. Tickets also can be ordered via the Cornell Concert Series web site at http://www.arts.cornell.edu/ccs.