Nixon in China

Hye-Youn Lee (Madame Mao), Julia Sporsén (Pat Nixon) and The Chorus of Nixon in China. Scottish Opera 2020. Credit James Glossop.

This is a mesmerising, gorgeous looking and amazing sounding production that represents a stunning Trump era re-take on what was a classic and innovative original production in 1987. The dazzling, seamless, silent set shifts and amazing back projection and set design combine with a brilliant sound system. There is an added element with the sets…

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The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute by Scottish Opera. Photo: James Glossop.

Mozart’s classic ‘Singspiel’ The Magic Flute is a ravishing, glittering success. If you are new to Opera, this is probably one of the best ways to get an introduction, and this production will delight and surprise even the most seasoned opera fan. It’s in the form of what was known as a ‘Singspiel’ – telling…

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Kátya Kabanová

Laura Wilde (Kátya Kabanová) and Ric Furman (Boris Grigoyevich) in Kátya Kabanová. Scottish Opera 2019. Photo: James Glossop

Scottish Opera seems to have caught the zeitgeist with this production, which is one of three Kátya Kabanovás running in the UK at the beginning of this year, with Opera North and Covent Garden also joining in the Katyamania. But, even without seeing the others, I can be confident in saying that this looks very…

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Rigoletto

Aris Argiris as Rigoletto and Lina Johnson as Gilda. Scottish Opera 2018. Photo: Julie Howden

Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda is an innocent who is first deceptively seduced, then kidnapped, and raped – behind this are powerful men acting with complete impunity and treating a woman as nothing more than a disposable object for their pleasure. Written in 1850, Rigoletto was perhaps the first opera to deal openly with the issue of…

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Eugene Onegin

Eugene Onegin - Scottish Opera

Eugene Onegin towers over the Russian literature of the 19th century, and Tchaikovsky’s decision to create an opera based on a text which is still widely read (and regularly re-read) by Russians today was highly audacious. It is a sign of Tchaikovsky’s brilliance that the Opera, rather than the novel in verse it was based…

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Ariadne auf Naxos

Eleanor Bron and Sir Thomas Allen in Ariadne auf Naxos. Scottish Opera 2018. Photo: Richard Campbell.

In the mansion of the richest man in Glasgow (no capital sensibilities are pandered to here) preparations are underway for an evening’s entertainment supervised by a formidable party planner. But there’s a slight problem – a new opera has been commissioned, however, there is also a burlesque troupe performing – and the highbrow Opera troupe as just as outraged as Zerbinetta’s burlesque troupe…

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Scottish Opera’s Bambino returns to Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Timothy Connor as Pulcino in BambinO. Scottish Opera, MIF and Improbable 2017. Photo Credit: James Glossop.

Scottish Opera’s Bambino returns To Edinburgh Festival Fringe and tours to Paris and around Scotland Following sell-out runs in Edinburgh and Glasgow in 2017, the five star ‘opera for babies’ BambinO is touring to Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, as well as Paris and five venues around Scotland. Written by Scottish Opera’s former Composer in Residence Lliam Paterson and…

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La traviata – Scottish Opera

La Traviata

From the rambunctious drinking songs to the pathos of its tragic arias, the staging, costumes and pure flair of the performers in Verdi’s classic La traviata are a treat for the eyes and ears. This is a stunning, vibrant and gloriously staged performance that had Edinburgh’s opening night audience at the Festival Theatre in rapture…

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