Apostles 2016Edinburgh International Festival
Read more about the opera Apostles
The British oratorio tradition has been sadly neglected by the Edinburgh Festival over the years. Even Elgar has only been represented by the occasional performance of Gerontius. Perhaps this long-overdue outing for The Apostles will be the start of a systematic exploration. Certainly the team assembled gave it the best opportunity to make an effect. They were a blend of familiar Festival performers - John Relyea and Karen Cargill - and the less familiar - Jacques Imbrailo in particular.
Perhaps additional mention should be made of the small group called Royal Conservatoire Voices. On this occasion the select band of advanced students sang the group of minor apostles, almost a semi-chorus. Several of them quickly began to build useful solo careers. The five tenors were Richard Shaffray, Robert Forrest, Ted Black, Kenneth Reid and Luke Sinclair. There were four baritones - Christopher Nairne, Euros Campbell, Stefan Berkieta and Jack Sandison.
Festival opera programme 2016
The opera programme of the 2016 Edinburgh Festival featured two imported stagings. The rarity was a piece difficult to bring off and receiving its first Festival showing - Bellini's Norma. The second was a work far more frequently seen, Così fan tutte. There was the start of a new Ring project, in concert form, with Das Rheingold. The Usher Hall concert schedule also included several works that should be listed here, even if they are not exactly opera. These ranged from Bach (St Matthew Passion) to Elgar (Apostles) and Schoenberg (Gurrelieder).
