Under the directorship of Jonathan Morton, Scottish Ensemble adds the Tchaikovsky Serenade, regarded by the composer as one of his finest works, to its impressive Linn discography. Imbued with the classical spirit of Mozart, but with Tchaikovsky’s style to the fore, the Serenade contains some strikingly effective scoring and an exhilarating Finale which the ensemble relishes. SE brings the same level of precision and finish you would expect from a string quartet. This is particularly evident in the elegiac third movement, one of Tchaikovsky's most inspired musical moments.

This recording also marks the premiere of Jonathan Morton’s 2013 transcription of Shostakovich’s Quartet No.2. Drawn to the work’s large, epic scale and the richness of its sound-world, Morton was keen for the ensemble to tackle this masterpiece from the chamber repertoire. With his arrangement, Morton adds to SE’s enviable reputation for Shostakovich transcriptions established by the late Rudolph Barshai.

Re-defining the string orchestra, Scottish Ensemble inspires audiences with vibrant and powerful performances. Scottish Ensemble is the UK’s only professional string orchestra, built around a core of twelve outstanding string players. The ensemble is known both in the UK and internationally for its versatility and ambitious programming. Performing standing up, the individual layers bring an energetic and passionate dynamic to every performance.

"... a scintillation of ace soloists who combine bracing energy, flexibility and precision, breathing and moving as one" - The Observer

"... playing of impressive unanimity of purpose, as one might expect from a small ensemble of highly-skilled musicians" - Gramophone

"Morton found exciting new possibilities...the ensemble responded to beguiling effect." - The Scotsman