Scottish Opera will present a new production of Puccini’s “Turandot,” directed by Sir David McVicar. The production, which opens on Oct. 22 at Theatre Royal Glasgow before touring to Festival Theatre Edinburgh from Nov. 11 to 22, is presented in a co-production with Irish National Opera. This will also mark the UK-staged premiere of Franco Alfano’s original completion of the {…}
The Scottish Opera’s 2026-27 season. Missy Mazzoli, Royce Vavrek, and Tom Morris will present “The Galloping Cure.” The cast includes Daniela Mack, Gabrielle Turgeon, Justin Austin, Susan Bullock, Catriona Hewitson, Edward Jowle, Luvo Maranti, Rosie Lavery, Lea Shaw, Donna Bateman, James Smith, Francis Church, and Ross Cumming. Stuart Stratford conducts. Performance Dates: August 9-12, 2026 Benjamin Britten’s “Les Illuminations” will {…}
(Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic) The most anticipated performance of Scottish Opera’s 2025-26 season has to be the world premiere of the Japanese composer Dai Fujikura’s new opera “The Great Wave,” with a libretto by Harry Ross. In the months leading up to the opening night, the British media carried numerous articles about the work, including an interesting interview with the composer {…}
A new organization representing the UK’s opera sector, the UK Opera Association (UKOA), has officially launched, uniting 20 founding companies to advocate for opera’s future and strengthen its presence across the country. UKOA, which was founded by Birmingham Opera Company, British Youth Opera, Buxton International Festival, English National Opera, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne, Longborough Festival {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with a double bill of Ravel’s “L’heure espagnole” and Walton’s “The Bear.” Alexandra Cravero conducts the production by Jacopo Spirei. Lea Shaw, Jamie MacDougall, Daniel Barrett, Edward Jowle, and Luvo Maranti star in Ravel’s production, and Chloe Harris, Daniel Barrett, and Edward Jowle star in Walton’s opera. Performance Dates: {…}
Conductor James Lockhart passed away on Feb. 26, 2025 at the age of 94. Lockhart was born on Oct. 16, 1930, in Edinburgh. He studied at the Royal College of Music and gave his UK premiere at All Souls Church, Langham Place. He took the position of Music Director at Welsh National Opera in 1968, where he stayed until 1972. {…}
(Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic) It is rare these days for a director and their team to allow an opera to emerge solely from its score and text without the need to impose their own reading, offer a new twist, introduce wonderful stage effects, or succumb to the temptation of placing it in a new setting. In fact, to do otherwise is {…}
At the end of its celebratory 75th birthday year, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama announced Dame Shirley Bassey CH DBE FRWCMD as its new President. For the next three years she will hold the title. The President of the College is an honorary role which supports the College’s position as the national conservatoire of Wales and inspires {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced the names of its 2024-25 Emerging Artists. The roster includes soprano Kira Kaplan, mezzo Chloe Harris, baritone Ross Cumming, bass-baritone Edward Jowle, repetiteurs José Javier Ucendo Malo and Meghan Rhoades, and costume trainee Beatrix Booth. The artists are supported by the Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Benefactors and Elizabeth Salvesen. Per the official website, the artists {…}
(Photo credit: Vikram Kushwar) Guildhall School of Music & Drama has announced that Dr. Toby Young has been selected to receive a Future Leaders Fellowship, awarded by UKRI (UK Research & Innovation). The fellowship provides a grant of £1.4 million, the largest research-related funding award Guildhall School has received to date. This funding goes directly towards Dr. Young’s research project {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. Opera The season opens with Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” with Stuart Stratford conducting and Roxana Haines directing. The cast will include Shengzhi Ren, Kitty Whately, Roland Wood, Callum Thorpe, Seumas Begg, and Emyr Wyn Jones. Performance Dates: August 12-19, 2024 Britten’s “Albert Herring” will be conducted by William Cole and directed by Daisy {…}
