Opera Scotland

Rake's Progress 2015Edinburgh International Festival

Read more about the opera Rake's Progress

It was nearly thirty years since Sir Andrew Davis had conducted Stravinsky theatre pieces in the Usher Hall. That was with a Canadian orchestra (the Toronto Symphony), and he continued to spend most of his career across the Atlantic. He had, in recent years, reconnected with the Festival, and it was welcome that his visits should continue. His familiarity with The Rake's Progress went back to his years at Glyndebourne when the famous John Cox & David Hockney production set a standard yet to be beaten in this work. Scottish Opera more recently mounted it in an excellent staging by Sir David McVicar, but the Festival had not presented it since 1967, the 'Stravinsky Year', when the composer was present.

This cast was very promising. Gidon Saks, Peter Rose and Alan Oke all spent time with Scottish Opera early in their careers and it was good to hear them all again. Andrew Staples, Cathering Wyn-Rogers and Ashley Riches were becoming increasingly familiar, in concert at least. Emily Birsan and Elizabeth DeShong, a fruity-toned contralto, were welcome newcomers.

The quality of performance by the SCO is almost guaranteed nowadays, and we were also able to celebrate the quality of work that Tim Dean produced at the Conservatoire, even if only by means of a chorus.