Opera Scotland

Opera Highlights 2025Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Opera Highlights

As in previous seasons, a troupe of talented singers, including Scottish Opera's Emerging Artists, traversed Scotland to bring an original piano-accompanied production to local venues.  A vibrant, one-of-a-kind show created specifically for Scottish Opera each season.

Following the retirement of Derek Clark, this year's tour programme was devised by Fiona MacSherry, Scottish Opera's new Head of Music.

The programme was loosely strung together as a kind of magical mystery tour with several extracts from the chosen operas grouped together.

The final performance of the tour was at Dundee Rep, where an audience of 400 clearly thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  The performances were in clearly enunciated English up to, an including, the Donizetti.  The switch to original languages worked smoothly, with the heartbreak of Handel followed by the uncharacteristically cheerful drinking song from Hamlet.

The programme was:

Beethoven Fidelio Act 1. Canon Quartet 'A wonder, clear and pure' (KK, CH, RF, RC)

Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin Act 1. Olga's Aria; Scene, Quartet, Lensky's Aria (KK, CH, RF, RC).

Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel Act 1.  'Goosey, goosey Gander' (KK, CH).

Bizet The Pearl Fishers. Duet 'From deep within the shrine' (RF, RC); Léila's Cavatina (KK); and duet 'I am weak when I see him' (KK, RC).

Interval

Donizetti The Elixir of Love. ;Just to see my sweet Adina (RF); 'Like a roving Casanova (RC); Here in my hands I have it.....Lallaraallara la la la (KK, RF).

Handel  Ariodante 'Scherza, infida' (CH).

Thomas Hamlet 'O vin, dissipe la tristesse' (RC).

Rossini Songs from  Les soirées musicales - La danza; Voga, o Tonio benedetto; L'orgia.