OPERA HIGHLIGHTS TOUR SET TO VISIT 17 VENUES ACROSS SCOTLAND

Scottish Opera will celebrate the 21st anniversary of Opera Highlights with a 17-date tour of Scotland in the New Year.



A great evening for those brand new to opera, seasoned fans and everyone in-between, Opera Highlights features music from some of the world’s most popular operas, as well as some lesser-known treats selected by Scottish Opera’s Head of Music,Derek Clark.



This January, Scottish Opera’s trusty van will be loaded up with a piano, a handful of props and 4 singers to perform at some of the smaller or more remote venues the length and breadth of Scotland. The annual tour has been taking to the road since 1994, when it started life as Essential Scottish Opera. This year’s tour visits Rutherglen, Brechin, Campbeltown, Islay, Benderloch, Durness, Torridon, Arisaig, Peebles, Castle Douglas, Cumnock, Findhorn, Golspie, Banchory, Duns, Killin and Bathgate.


Arias from Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Verdi’s La Traviata will be showcased alongside the famous Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen. Audiences will also be treated to Gilbert & Sullivan classics from HMS Pinafore and The Gondoliers as part of the 2-hour production.


This year’s Opera Highlights programme also includes a world premiere from Scottish Opera’s new Composer in Residence,Liam Paterson, entitled “Touching Eden”.


Scottish Opera’s Head of Music, Derek Clark, said:

“In the midst of a Scottish winter sometimes we all need a bit of warming up, so the theme for the show this year is an operatic garden party.

“These are really evenings for everyone. Even if you don’t know a single tune when you come to see us, I guarantee you’ll be humming at least one of them on the journey home.”


This year’s singers are former Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Sioned Gwen Davies and tenor Sam Furness, who performed as Kate and Frederic in 2013’s The Pirates of Penzance. They are joined by Welsh tenor Joshua Owen Mills, Ben McAteer, winner of NI Opera’s inaugural Festival of Voice competition in 2011, and soprano Reisha Adams, winner of the 2012 Ian Stoutzker prize for outstanding musicianship. They will be accompanied by pianist Ina Selvelieva and the production is directed by Max Webster.

www.scottishopera.org.uk


Rutherglen Town Hall Thu 29 Jan 7.30pm
Brechin City Hall Sat 31 Jan 7.30pm
Victoria Hall, Campbeltown Tue 3 Feb 7.30pm
Bowmore Village Hall Thu 5 Feb 7.30pm
Benderloch Victory Hall Sat 7 Feb 7.30pm
Durness Village Hall Tue 10 Feb 7.30pm
Loch Torridon Community Centre Thu 12 Feb 7.30pm
Astley Hall, Arisaig Sat 14 Feb 7.30pm
Eastgate Theatre, Peebles Tue 17 Feb 7.30pm
The Fullarton, Castle Douglas Thu 19 Feb 7.30pm
Cumnock Town Hall Sat 21 Feb 7.30pm
Universal Hall, Findhorn Tue 24 Feb 7.30pm
Golspie High School Thu 26 Feb 7.30pm
Woodend Barn, Banchory Sat 28 Feb 7.30pm
Volunteer Hall, Duns Tue 3 Mar 7.30pm
McLaren Hall, Killin Thu 5 Mar 7.30pm
Regal Theatre, Bathgate Sat 7 Mar 7.30pm