The Scottish Opera plans to create an “exceptional development” in Glasgow. The new plans will bring three of its premises under one roof. Known as the New Rotterdam Wharf project, the plan involves redeveloping land beside the company’s purpose built Edington Street production studios. The Scottish Opera currently operates out of a rented headquarters in an “aging” Victorian building in {…}
(Photo: James Glossop) Any forward-looking opera company surely must play its part in keeping the artform alive. While there must be a place for the staple repertoire, an over-reliance on the likes of Puccini, Verdi, and Mozart not only contains an element of the parasitic but also displays a mentality of unadventurous programming that will ultimately sap the energy from {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced the six Emerging Artists joining the 2023-24 season. The artists for the season are baritone Ross Cumming, soprano Inna Husieva, tenor Monwabisi Lindi, costume trainee Lovisa Litsgard, returning mezzo-soprano Lea Shaw (as Associate Artist), and repetiteur José Javier Ucendo. The company’s Emerging Artists program was launched in 2009 and offers young talent a period of full-time {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. Opera Samuel Dale Johnson, Simone McIntosh, Anthony Gregory, David Stout, and Dingle Yandell star in Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.” Stuart Stratford conducts the production by Sir Thomas Allen. Performance Dates: Oct. 17-Nov. 25, 2023 Jonathan Dive’s “Marx in London” will be conducted by David Parry and directed by Stephen Barlow. The {…}
Isabel Rodger, the wife of the late Ian Rodger, who was one of the founders of Scottish Opera, died on Feb. 4, 2023. As an early supporter of the Scottish Opera, Rodger was heavily involved and contributed to the growth of the company. She saw nearly every performance at the Theatre Royal, with her last being ‘Ainadamar’ by Golijov in {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring new productions, pop operas, and opera in concert. Opera The season opens with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” starring Roland Wood, Jonathan McGovern, Zachary Altman, Hye-Youn Lee, Keel Watson, Pablo Bemsch, Shengzhi Ren, Kitty Whately, Lea Shaw, and Emyr Wyn Jones. Stuart Stratford conducts the production by Sir Thomas Allen. Performance Dates: May 28-June {…}
Scottish Opera turns 60 next year, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of its Outreach and Education program, arguably the longest-standing formal company outreach of its kind in the opera world. The department’s activities range from Paisley’s 2018 “Pagliacci”—performed in a tent with a community choir, and for which designer Tim Meacock won the Best Designer Award at the {…}
(Credit: James Glossop) The Scottish Opera has withdrawn its nomination for a Sky Arts Award for its production of “Nixon in China.” According to The Times, the company was criticized for its use of “yellowface” makeup as well as casting choices. Sarah Owen, the Labour MP for Luton North, took to social media criticizing the company and wondering why the {…}
(Photo Credit: Scottish Opera official website) The Scottish Opera has announced new projects to connect with communities across Scotland in the 50th anniversary year of its Outreach and Education program. The opera house will offer a package of projects for Primary one to seven simultaneously, giving schools the opportunity to engage all pupils in a Scottish Opera primary schools project {…}
The Scottish Opera has announced the premiere of two new films, along with plans for over 200 outdoor performances this summer. The performances will be given in alignment with the Scottish Government timeline for easing restrictions. Among the performances, this summer will be an outdoor production of “Falstaff,” designed and directed by Sir David McVicar, as well as a Pop-up {…}
(Credit: Opera Australia official website) Celebrated Australian opera director Elijah Moshinsky has died at the age of 75. Moshinsky graduated from the University of Melbourne and made his operatic debut in 1975 at the Royal Opera House with a production of Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes.” The famed director went on to stage a number of highly successful productions at the {…}