Opera Scotland

Essential Scottish Opera

Tours by decade

Tours by location

Essential Scottish Opera was billed as 'A concert tour of opera highlights' - an annual event in which the company sent a team of four young singers on an extensive circuit of the Highlands and Islands. Some remote lowland venues would also be included.

The team consisted usually of soprano, mezzo, tenor and baritone, with a young pianist to accompany and provide occasional guidance. The programme, an enterprising blend of light and serious, familiar and unfamiliar, was put together by Scottish Opera's Head of Music, Derek Clark. The performers were given further help in projecting the various dramas by a talented young director, frequently an operatic novice.

These tours were invariably highly entertaining and gave residents in remote parts of the country a tantalising glimpse of what they might be missing in the big cities.