Opera Scotland

Assassin Tree The Assassin Tree

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Music

Stuart MacRae

Text

Simon Armitage

Source

Episode in The Golden Bough (1922) by James Frazer (1854-1941), after classical mythology.

 

Premières

First Performance: Edinburgh (Royal Lyceum Theatre), 25 August 2006.

First Performance in Scotland: As above.

Scottish Opera première: N/A.

 

Background

Stuart MacRae had long been considered as one of the most promising Scottish composers, with a good range of orchestral works successfully performed. Even so, to have his first attempt at opera commissioned jointly by the Edinburgh Festival, the Royal Opera House and Scottish Opera, gave it a high profile, and generated a level of expectation which it could hardly have lived up to.

 

Main Characters

Diana (soprano)

Priest King (bass-baritone)