Scots composer takes St Petersburg post

The Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan has been named this season’s composer-in residence at the Academic symphony orchestra of the St Petersburg Philharmonia.

Alexander Titov will conduct Russian premieres of two of his works this weekend and MacMillan will conduct a concert of his own music in February. The project has been initiated by the Department of Culture and Education of the British Embassy in Moscow as part of its 2021-22 UK-Russia Creative Bridge programme.

MacMillan says: ‘There are strong Scottish traits in my works, but also an aggressive and forthright tendency with a strong rhythmic physicality, showing the influence of Stravinsky, Messiaen and some minimalist composers.’