Opera Scotland

Barbiere di Siviglia 2007Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Barber of Seville

Scottish Opera's 2007-08 season consisted entirely of new productions, generally successful ones at that. The company was clearly still struggling financially, however. The autumn saw the start of a new relationship with the great baritone Sir Thomas Allen, who directed Il barbiere di Siviglia. The new Mozart staging was Seraglio. There was a small-scale version of Rossini's Cinderella, which toured with piano accompaniment in the autumn, then with a reduced orchestration in the spring. A Night at the Chinese Opera, the first full-length piece by Judith Weir, not yet seen in Scotland, was beautifully staged. There was also a successful new production of Verdi's Falstaff. A stimulating innovation also appeared - the first  of three runs of short new works called 5:15 - Operas Made in Scotland. The partnership with RSAMD also continued, with Eugene Onegin. There was another Highlands and Islands tour under the Essential Scottish Opera title, and the orchestra gave a group of Sunday afternoon concerts in St Andrew's in the Square.

Sir Thomas Allen, directing his first staging for one of the major British companies, chose a piece he knew inside out, and in which he made one of his own early appearances in 1969. Simon Higlett's designs gave the work a latinate, late 19th century setting (the influence of Havana was mentioned), and it all proceeded like clockwork. Most of the cast sang with an excellent sense of style - perhaps Adrian Dwyer being too reedy in tone - ideal for his Don Alonso impersonation, if not for the more romantic aspects of the part.