Royal Scottish National Orchestra

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The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-strong professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as abroad.

Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950 and was awarded royal patronage in 1991. Shortly after the award it briefly used the title Royal Scottish Orchestra before reverting to its present name.

Under its first Scottish-born conductor (and to date, longest serving by a considerable margin) Sir Alexander Gibson, the orchestra began to develop an international profile. In line with Gibson's own specialisms, the orchestra became known for its interpretations of Scandinavian composers, notably Sibelius and Carl Nielsen. This was consolidated in the tenure of Neeme Järvi who also led the orchestra through its first complete Mahler cycle. The second Scot to lead the orchestra, the late Bryden Thomson, maintained the Nordic link with a memorable cycle of Nielsen symphonies, with the recordings of the Fourth and Sixth symphonies generally regarded as amongst the finest available.^[1]

The RSNO's base is at Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow (which is also used as a recording venue). However the orchestra's performing home is the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

The orchestra had a long-standing recording contract with Chandos Records in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, it chiefly records for Naxos Records, most notably in a cycle of Bruckner symphonies with the late Georg Tintner, and several recordings of American works under the baton of Marin Alsop.

The orchestra is supported by the RSNO Chorus. Although it is amateur, it performs with the orchestra throughout the year, primarily at the RSNO's Season and Prom series in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. The current chorus director is Timothy Dean.

The RSNO's artistic team includes by Stéphane Denève (Music Director), Garry Walker (Principal Guest Conductor), and James Lowe (Associate Conductor). The Chief Executive is Simon Woods.

The RSNO is currently sponsored by stv, Scotland's most popular peak time TV channel.