Opera Scotland

Natalia Dercho as CioCioSan in the original production

Scottish Opera's New Season Announced

In addition to the new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni revealed earlier, a new production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale and a revival of Sir David McVicar's famous production of Madama Butterfly will be given. Our illustration is from the original performances and shows Natalia Dercho as Cio-Cio-San. Butterfly is a striking anniversary choice because it will echo the first ever performances by Scottish Opera.

Although there will be only three mainstage productions due to the closure of the...

Posted 21 May | Comments

Pirates of Penzance opens

The Pirates of Penzance has opened at Glasgow's Theatre Royal. Jointly produced by Scottish Opera and D'Oyly Carte, Gilbert and Sullivan's well-known work comes up as fresh as paint in thoroughly professional performances. With nods to Jack Sparrow and other contemporary twists, a wonderful cast, and Sullivan's entrancing music, Pirates still delights. Many followers of the Opera Scotland listings will have been introduced to opera originally through the Savoy operas, and should lose no...

Posted 17 May | Comments

Donizetti's Siege of Calais

English Touring Opera have won great reviews for their performances of Donizetti's rarely performed opera. The critic Rupert Christiansen in the Telegraph says "Thrilling, emotive singing from mezzo Helen Sherman in the trousers role of Aurelio, from Eddie Wade as his father Eustachio and from Paula Sides as Aurelio's wife. ETO has done The Siege of Calais proud."

Surely a treat is in store for audiences at the Perth Festival of the Arts. Rumour has it there are still a few tickets...

Posted 12 May | Comments

Rachael brimley, Richard Lewis and Ralph Strehle

Edinburgh Grand's La traviata

Edinburgh Grand Opera are giving a fresh look to La Traviata, and together we're making you an exclusive new offer!

First, here are more details. The key roles are 'double cast', with some well known young singers appearing. The first cast involves the young Mexican tenor Oscar de la Torre, Rachael Brimley (from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and Ivor Klayman; the second involves Susan McNaught, Ralph Strehle (from Germany) and the remarkable Welsh baritone Rhys Jenkins. Richard...

Posted 4 May | Comments

European Opera Days

European Opera Days is the title given every year to the weekend nearest to 9 May (Europe Day) and hence in the year 2013 falls on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May. There seems little sign of it being overtly celebrated in UK opera houses, but there is free streaming of Imago the Opera ("a...

Opera Gems

Strathaven Choral Society and Glasgow Symphony are together going to present an impressive programme of favourite opera choruses, overtures and interludes by Verdi, Puccini, Wagner and Borodin.

The concert, part of the West End Festival, is to be given on Sunday 15 June in the spectacular venue...

New Giovanni from Scottish Opera

The announcement of Scottish Opera's 2013/14 programme is planned for 21 May. However it has emerged that a new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni is scheduled for this autumn.

To be undertaken by the tried-and-tested team of director Sir Thomas Allen and designer Simon Higlett (responsible for...

New to the website in April

We've recently added a biography of Courtice Pounds.

Read the notes on the following operas and first performances:- Claude Duval (Solomon), Geisha (Jones), Grand Duke (Sullivan), Haddon Hall (Sullivan), Lakmé (Delibes),