Opera Scotland

Ernani 2006Tayside Opera

Read more about the opera Ernani

Ernani is such an enjoyable piece for audiences, with its succession of rousing melodies and lovely bel canto arias, that it seems surprising that it is done so rarely, at least in Scotland.  Undeniable idiosyncrasies of plot can usually be by-passed by audiences in the enjoyment of the moment - no worse than Il trovatore.

Twenty-five years had elapsed since the previous Tayside attempt, and it was high time to give it another go.  This production came over just as well, even if Silva no longer boasted a gallery of old master paintings to impress everyone with his good taste (and money).

Again the team was led by an excellent Verdi stylist in the professional tenor Paul Featherstone, at the time a member of the Chorus of Scottish Opera.

Perhaps on this occasion the local singers were less consistent than the team put together in 1981, but they all had a good idea of the vocal requirements, and the ensembles all came off nicely.