Opera Scotland

Scottish Opera's 2022/23 Season

Posted 22 Aug 2022

Scottish Opera's new season celebrates 60 years since its foundation in 1962.  It includes several exciting departures from the usual run of events.  In August, Bernstein's operetta Candide will be given in a special performing space at New Rotterdam Wharf, adjacent to the company's Edington Street studios.  This will be an outdoor promenade production.

One of the most successful new operas of recent years is Ainadamar by the Argentine-born Osvaldo Golijov.  This musically-eclectic drama about the Spanish poet Lorca will have its first British staging in October.  It is a co-production with several other companies, including Welsh National Opera and the New York Met.

In March Sir David McVicar returns to direct a rare production of Puccini's rare Trittico, the trio of contrasting one-act dramas - Il tabarro,  Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi.  Director John Fulljames then comes back to Scottish Opera to take charge of a new staging of Carmen.  This will be sung in English for the first time in many years, and will tour to Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh -  the four cities that have suitable theatres.

The company continues its recent policy of giving concert performances of little-known works.  This time the spotlight falls on Massenet, and his stirring French Revolutionary drama Thérèse - lots of rousing melodies to be heard at the Lammermuir Festival and in Perth.

The season kicked off on 5 June, the exact anniversary of that opening performance.  Sir Thomas Allen had earlier revived his excellent production of Don Giovanni and the afternoon performance conveyed a definite sense of celebration.

Other events include the familiar Highlights tour's  as well as a concert novelty The Verdi Collection.  There will also be further Pop-Up Opera events, a revival of BambinO and a new work by the young company.