Opera Scotland

Enfant et les sortilèges 2026Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Read more about the opera Enfant et les sortilèges

Ravel's charmingly intractable, but utterly delightful, opera with words by Colette, has never thus far had a full staging in Scotland. The work's only previous appearance here was in a series of four concerts in 1975, when the composer's centenary was celebrated with a tour that took in Aberdeen and Dundee as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

That all-Ravel evening was conducted by the orchestra's chief guest, Gary Bertini, and the opera was preceded by the Mother Goose suite and the Piano Concerto (soloist Ilana Vered).  The Child was performed by the diminutive young Scottish mezzo Cynthia Buchan. The various other soloists were from the current roster of Scottish Opera's contract principals.

This time round, the evening is conducted by the orchestra's Music Director Thomas Søndergård.  Soloists are to be chosen from the vocal students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, who this season, at least, appear to be starved of genuine operatic opportunities. The Child will be  performed by another Scottish mezzo of a more recent generation, in Katie Coventry.

The first half of the evening does not contain any Ravel, but is still quite enticing.  It starts with another piece of French enchantment in The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas. It is followed by the wonderful Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, in which the piano soloist is the sensitive young Scottish talent Ethan Loch.