This February, Scottish Opera sets off on a nationwide tour of a new vaudeville-inspiredOpera Highlights that will visit 18 local venues, going as far as theOuter Hebrides.
Starting on 8th February at Websters Theatre in Glasgow’s West End, the tour will visit venues in Birnam, Midmar, Fochabers, Tain, Wick, Harris, North Uist, Isle of Barra, Ardfern, Lochranza, Cove, Newton Stewart, Melrose, Lockerbie, Troon, and Killin finishing at Cumbernauld Theatre on 19th March.
John Savournin directs a cast that includes Scottish soprano Monica McGhee, former Scottish Opera Emerging Artists Mezzo-soprano Margo Arsane and Tenor Shengzhi Ren, who were both in Così fan tutte earlier this year, and were originally scheduled to take part in the tour last year, before it was cancelled because of the pandemic. They will be joined by Baritone Dan Shelvey who performed in The Gondoliers 2021 and Mark Sandon will be there as pianist and Music Director.
Savournin said “There is a such a rich variety of repertoire in this season’sOpera Highlights – Puccini to Operetta, to a newly-commissioned piece by up-and-coming Scottish composer, Lucie Treacher – and I’m so excited to create a fun, visual world full of performance magic.”
The Edwardian-inspired production, designed by Janis Hart, is an opportunity to hear a whole range of music in just one evening. Curated by Scottish Opera’s Head of Music Derek Clark, audiences can enjoy much-loved classics includingHansel & Gretel, DieFledermausand La bohème, as well as lesser known gems. The production also features the world premiere of a new piece by Scottish composer, Lucie Treacher. The quartet, entitled ‘To the Lighthouse’, weaves together scenes from the 1927 novel by Virginia Woolf.
Scottish Opera General Director, Alex Reedijk, said “I am thrilled that such a fine company of young performers is able to tour all across Scotland in the Spring. I hope that this delightfully entertaining and vaudevillian-themed Opera Highlights will help to encourage our audiences to make a welcome and safe return to live performances, for the first time in two years in many cases.”
Tickets available now at www.scottishopera.org.uk along with dates and venues.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 