BambinO, the critically acclaimed ‘opera for babies,’from Scottish Opera (SO) will be touring to East Kilbride, Perth, Inverness, Banchory, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Motherwell and Renfrew between 13th August and 11th September 2022.
Written by the Company’s former Composer in Residence Liam Paterson, BambinO was originally directed by Phelim McDermott, and is revived by Lissa Lorenzo. The pioneering piece of music theatre is sung in English and is aimed at infants aged up to 12 months. It celebrates the possibilities of music and the power of the infant imagination by reinventing operatic language and traditions for children at an age when their minds are wide open to new sounds, images and experiences. Babies are free to explore during the performance, and to interact with the singers and each other.
Designed by Emma Belli and Giuseppe Belli, BambinO is set in a world of bright colours, fluffy clouds, and quirky characters, and tells the story of a young bird leaving its nest for the first time, with Charlotte Hoather and Samuel Pantcheff reviving the roles of Uccellina and Pulcino. They are accompanied by cellist Andrew Drummond Huggan and percussionist Darren Gallacher, with Music Direction from Chris Gray.
A co-production with Manchester International Festival and Improbable, BambinOpremiered in 2017 and has since toured all over Scotland including to Glasgow and Edinburgh Festival Fringe as well to the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, The Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman.
SO’s Director of Education and Outreach, Jane Davidson said “We are delighted to be back touring this wonderful production after a four year hiatus. This is a magical piece of music theatre specially created for our littlest audience members, who often do not get a look-in at opera, but who greatly benefit from the power of music. It is a perfect opportunity to experience opera, created in miniature, through the eyes, ears and imagination of your very own bambinos, as they explore a beautifully crafted world full of golden eggs, soft blue cushions, fluffy clouds and soaring notes.”
BambinO is supported by SO’s New Commissions Circle and SO’s Education Angels.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 