THIS Friday evening, under the baton of American conductor Christopher Russell, renowned for his conducting and innovative programming, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra will perform two Scotland-themed pieces by Felix Mendelssohn and Max Bruch, as well as the second symphony by American composer Charles Ives. The soloists for the evening will be Chinese-born violinist Xue Suli and Japanese harpist Kazuko Shinozaki. The program will begin with Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides, Op. 26,” also known as “Fingal’s Cave.” Few musical compositions capture their inspiration as vividly as this concert overture, which Mendelssohn wrote during his visit to the Hebrides — a group of small islands off the west coast of Scotland, in 1829. The composer was so overwhelmed by the scenery that he included in a letter to his sister Fanny the first 21 bars of the overture, with its famous descending melody. The piece was first performed in 1830 and, revised many times by its composer, premiered in London in May 1832. Today this tempestuous one-movement work in sonata form is one of Mendelssohn’s most popular orchestral works, skillfully depicting a natural wonder. Next, the audience will experience Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46,” influenced by Scottish folk music. With a solemn introduction and four movements imbued in traditional Scottish melodies, the piece premiered in 1881 with Bruch conducting and Joseph Joachim on solo violin. It also features a prominent harp part, echoing the central role of the Celtic harp in authentic Scottish folk music. Xue, who will perform the solo violin part, is an alumnus of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the USC Thornton School of Music, where he studied under Alice Schoenfeld. A member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, he is frequently invited to teach and perform at international music festivals in the U.S. and Europe. Shinozaki is a recipient of multiple international music awards including the Sixth USA International Harp Competition in 2004 and the Idemitsu Music Award in 2009. The audience will also be treated to Ives’ “Symphony No. 2,” which showcases his penchant for borrowing from well-known hymns, marches, popular songs, and referencing his earlier works for the organ. Alongside American tunes from his childhood, Ives also pays homage to European music, notably Dvo?ák’s “New World Symphony.” Russell is an associate professor and chair of the School of Music at Azusa Pacific University in the U.S. Time: 8 p.m., July 12 Tickets: 50-880 yuan Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音樂廳) Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宮站), Exit D (Li Dan) | 