THE MUSIC director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is to stand in for composer Krzysztof Penderecki for two concerts next week.

Thomas Søndergård replaces Krzysztof Penderecki for two Anne-Sophie Mutter dates, who has been called "the undisputed queen of violin-playing".

Penderecki has had to withdraw from his scheduled performance with the RSNO due to "personal reasons."

The programme for Anne-Sophie Mutter in Concert, on 30 November at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh and Saturday 1 December at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, remains unchanged, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Violin Concerto No2 Metamorphosen, a work dedicated to and championed by the soloist, followed by Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No5, performed in the month of its 130th anniversary.

Søndergård said: "It is regrettable that maestro Penderecki is now unable to join the orchestra for these concerts.

"However, I am delighted that I have been able to make myself available for this. I adore Anne-Sophie Mutter’s playing and am hugely looking forward to her performances with the RSNO.”

Ms Mutter said: “Krzysztof Penderecki‘s Violin Concerto No2, Metamorphosen is a towering project, and has been my companion since the premiere in 1995.

"It is a work close to my heart to play this unique piece in Scotland.

"In Edinburgh I already offered in 2015, at the summer festival the Nonet for Two String Quartets and Double Bass by Sir Andre Previn and thereby met a knowledgeable and simultaneously appreciative public. I hope to deepen my relationship with the Scottish concert audiences with Penderecki’s Metamorphosen.”

www.rsno.org.uk

A fashion brand, Loewe, has formed a new collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art (GSA.

Two recent graduates from the Master of Fashion and Textiles Design programme will have the chance to undertake a paid six-month internship with the brand in Paris.

Loewe will also be the sponsor of GSAt Fashion Promenades which will take place on the evening of 11 December at Galvanisers Yard, SWG3.

The event will be a showcase for collections by the 2018 Masters of Fashion and Textile Design graduands and two students who deferred - all of whom were unable to have their Promenades in September due to the June fire in the Mackintosh Building.

Also on show will be work by four 3rd year Fashion Design students and ten 4th year Fashion Design students.

Jimmy Stpehen-Cran, head of fashion at the GSA, said: "Having the chance to work with such a high profile international brand as Loewe in their Paris studios is an amazing opportunity for our graduates.

"It will enable them to develop as designers and launch their careers."

Jonathan Anderson, creative director and designer at Loewe said: "Charles Rennie Mackintosh is a maverick and I have found tremendous inspiration in his work.

"In the case of the Glasgow School of Art it´s not only one of his greatest architectural and design achievements, but it´s also housed some of the greatest artistic talent over the last century.

"And due to the current situation with the devastating fires, in the way we´ve gained huge inspiration from Charles Rennie Mackintosh, we wanted to help support and nurture the school´s future generations.”

www.gsa.ac.uk

AN opera about the Jacobite risings is to be performed by thousands of P5, 5 and 7 school pupils in 2019.

Entitled 1719!, the opera has been composed by David Munro, revised and re-orchestrated by Alan Penman with words by Allan Dunn and is being organised by Scottish Opera's education and outreach department.

Scottish Opera’s Primary Schools Tour begins on 14 January in Mosshead Primary, Bearsden and will visit 50 schools around Scotland including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross and the Highlands, until March.

It continues on 16 April, touring to schools in areas including Aberdeen, the Borders, the Western Isles, Shetland and Dumfries and Galloway.

Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education, Jane Davidson said: "An amazing way to learn about one of the most dramatic and exciting periods in Scottish history, 1719! features more battles than Braveheart and is a thrilling adventure that pits the Jacobite troops and their Spanish allies against the forces of King George’s government in the mountains surrounding Glen Shiel.

"Although not the most famous of engagement in the Jacobite Wars, it had far reaching significance for Britain’s role in Europe and 300 years later, is still recalled in the name Sgurr nan Spainteach (The Peak of the Spaniards) in recognition of the Spanish troops who fought there."

www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/opera-for-schools/