SCOTTISH Opera is packing up the piano once again as Opera Highlights heads off on a 15-date Scottish tour.
This year’s programme promises to spread a little sunshine and warm up those winter nights in Galashiels, Dunkeld/Birnam, Banchory, Halkirk, Orkney, Clashmore, Findhorn, Ullapool, Ballachulish, Ardfern, Greenock.
The performance features arias, duets and ensembles from well-known operas including The Magic Flute (Mozart), La traviata (Verdi), Don Pasquale (Donizetti), The Merry Widow (Lehár), as well as music by Handel and Rossini, and a sprinkling of lesser-known works to surprise even the opera buffs out there.
Scottish Opera’s head of Musicm Derek Clark, who hand-picks each song, says: “As well as choosing familiar favourites, I try to introduce something that people won’t recognise.
“There’s also a couple of pieces from operas in our current season – we have excerpts from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Bizet’s Carmen.
“This is a very different experience from going to a full opera and I hope people will enjoy the more informal and intimate atmosphere that Opera Highlights creates. It’s a great way to try opera for the first time.”
A cast of four talented young singers – Winner of the 2010 Ferrier Competition Njabulo Madlala, Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Marie Claire Breen, mezzo-soprano Catherine Hopper and tenor Nicholas Watts – together with pianist Alison Luz will bring the works to life in an entertaining semi-staged performance directed by Dafydd Burne-Jones.
So whether you’re in Stranraer or Sanday, Banchory or Ballachulish, sit back, relax, and enjoy.
-ENDS-
www.scottishopera.org.uk
For additional press details, image and interview requests, please contact:
Kerryn Hurley, Press Manager, 0141 242 0511, kerryn.hurley@scottishopera.org.uk
Emma York, Press Officer, 0141 242 0552, emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk
TOURING & BOOKING INFORMATION
Tickets at all venues £11 (£5 Under 26) **
** Available from individual venues, www.scottishopera.org.uk and 0844 847 1645.
(Booking fees may apply. Please check with individual venues/box offices. Advance booking is highly recommended. Any remaining unsold tickets will be available for sale at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance begins.)
Rutherglen Town Hall
Tuesday 1 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 0141 6135700
Ryan Centre, Stranraer
Thursday 3 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01776 703535
Crawfordjohn Public Hall
Saturday 5 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01864 504 298
Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
Tuesday 8 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01387 381 196
Volunteer Hall, Galashiels
Thursday 10 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01896 759 655
Birnam Arts & Conference Centre
Saturday 12 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01350 727 674
Woodend Barn, Banchory
Tuesday 15 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01330 825 431
Ross Institute, Halkirk
Thursday 17 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01847831205 & 01847 892 364
Sanday Community School, Orkney
Saturday 19 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01857 600 354 & 01857 600 208
Carnegie Hall, Clashmore
Tuesday 22 February 7.30pm
Tickets 01862 810 226
Universal Hall, Findhorn
Thursday 24 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01862 810 226
Macphail Centre, Ullapool
Saturday 26 February, 7.30pm
Tickets 01854 613 336
Ballachulish Village Hall
Tuesday 1 March, 7.30pm
Tickets 01855 811 866
Craignish Village Hall, Ardfern
Thursday 3 March, 7.30pm
Tickets 01852 500 746
Arts Guild Theatre, Greenock
Saturday 5 March, 7.30pm
Tickets 01475 723 038
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Contact: Emma York
Phone: 0141 242 0552
Email: emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk
Website: http://www.scottishopera.org.uk
