Greenville Symphony concertmaster Jacqueline Tso performs ‘Scottish Fantasy’ concerto

When asked to perform a concerto with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, violinist Jacqueline Tso knew exactly what she’d choose: Max Bruch’s vibrant “Scottish Fantasy.”

The piece by Bruch, a German Romantic-era composer, has been a favorite of Tso’s since her early teen years.

“I first played it when I was 13 or 14 years old, and I knew right then it was to be my favorite piece,” said Tso, the Greenville Symphony’s concertmaster since 2023.

Tso, 28, takes on the solo part of Bruch’s four-movement concerto in the orchestra’s April 5-6 concerts. Also on the program is American composer Amy Beach’s “Gaelic Symphony.”

The concerts mark the first time Tso has performed a full solo concerto with the orchestra.

Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy,” composed in 1880, is a lively and evocative work, capturing the spirit of Scotland through its rich melodies and vibrant rhythms. Bruch was inspired by the culture and folklore of Scotland, and he sought to infuse his work with the flavor of the Scottish Highlands.

“The first and third movements are tug-at-your-heart tunes,” Tso said. “The second movement is a fun dance, and (the) finale is an exciting conclusion.”

Singing melodies

Tso especially appreciates the work’s singing melodies.

“Bruch said the violin is the instrument that is able to sing melodies the best, and melodies are the soul of music,” Tso said. “That’s apparent in this piece. It expresses the deepest part of human emotion.”

For all its lyrical beauty, the concerto also requires a virtuoso’s technique.

“It’s quite a workout,” Tso said.

Tso performed the full concerto for the first time last summer with the Masterworks Festival Orchestra at Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

Tso was appointed concertmaster in 2023 after a nationwide search and an intensive audition process. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Tso came to Greenville from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Only 15 percent of concertmasters are women, and Tso is among the youngest in the country to hold such a prestigious leadership position, said Jessica Satava, the orchestra’s executive director.