Media Release: Scottish Opera announces 2013/14 season – from 17th century Venice to the jazz bars of America’s Deep South

SCOTTISH Opera has announced the details of its 2013/14 Season which will feature 14 different shows, including four new productions, a UK premiere, two collaborations and 181 performances taking place in 51 different venues.

The company announced its new season one year from the day that its home, Theatre Royal Glasgow, will re-open with a performance of Madama Butterfly following an ambitious project to build new foyers and improve access and comfort at the theatre.

Scottish Opera’s general director, Alex Reedijk, said: “During our 50th anniversary season, we completed Scottish Opera’s biggest-ever tour, taking in 50 communities around Scotland. This season, we are determined to harness that momentum with great shows, new ways and new places for people across Scotland to enjoy opera.

“Sir Thomas Allen will be opening our season with the title that I have most wanted to see him present ever since he first directed for us with The Barber of Seville in 2007.

“He has world-renowned expertise singing the role of Don Giovanni, and it’s a great honour for us that his first look at it from the other side of the curtain will be for Scottish Opera’s audiences.

“I really am proud of the depth of quality and the breadth and variety of appeal that we are offering with this season: we’ll be taking audiences from 17th century Venice to the war-torn Balkans and the smoky 1960s jazz bars of America’s Deep South.

“With so much on offer, I hope people will find much to enjoy and that many may be tempted to try opera for the first time.”

In the autumn, Sir Thomas Allen and Simon Higlett begin the season with their much anticipated new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, conducted by Speranza Scappuci making her Company debut. In early 2014, director-designer duo Renaud Doucet and André Barbe will create a new production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale to be conducted by Francesco Corti. And in May, the opera that launched the Company in 1962, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, returns to mark the re-opening of Theatre Royal Glasgow in a revival of Sir David McVicar’s ever-popular 2000 production, conducted by newly-appointed music director, Emmanuel Joel-Hornak.

Due to the temporary closure of the Theatre Royal between February and May 2014, Scottish Opera will present these three mainstage operas rather than four, which has been customary in previous years.

However, the Company will remain busy throughout the Spring: in March bidding a formal farewell to outgoing music director Francesco Corti with a concert performance of Puccini’s Turandot at the Usher Hall; and in the same month, Emmanuel Joel-Hornak will conduct a revival of Dominic Hill’s 2005 production of Verdi’s Macbeth with chamber orchestra in Glasgow’s Citizens and Edinburgh’s King’s theatres.

In August 2013, Scottish Opera will once again perform as part of both the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A new co-production with The Opera Group, of Olga Neuwirth’s American Lulu – a radical new take on Berg’s unfinished opera Lulu – will make its UK premier at the Edinburgh International Festival following performances at Austria’s Bregenz Festival. And a revival of Kally Lloyd-Jones’ Herald Angel Award-winning production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s The Seven Deadly Sins will be one of six short shows to be performed as part of the Fringe.

Internationally-renowned singers are lined up to perform in Scotland, with casts throughout the season balancing experience on the worldwide stage with exciting new talent.  Don Giovanni sees Soprano Lisa Milne returning to her native Scotland to sing Donna Elvira alongside Susan Gritton and Peter Kalman. Jose Ferrero returns to Scottish Opera to sing Pinkerton following his success in 2012’s Tosca.

International stars, Claire Rutter, Ryland Davies and Sir Willard White, head up the cast of Turandot. Names to watch include Jacques Imbrailo (Don Giovanni), Ruth Jenkins (Norina, Don Pasquale) and Hye-Youn Lee (Madama Butterfly). Graduate of Scottish Opera’s Emerging Artists programme Nadine Livingstone returns to Scotland in the role of Anna in The Seven Deadly Sins.

Away from Scotland’s main cities, a new production of Handel’s Rodelinda will tour 16 of the country’s smaller venues as part of Scottish Opera’s commitment to ensuring that top-quality opera visits communities the length and breadth of Scotland.

The company’s education and outreach activities continue to thrive nationally and internationally. Alongside long-running core activities such as touring to Scotland’s primary schools, there will be a new Christmas show for three-to-six year-olds, Platypus in Boots, and revivals of both BabyO  and SensoryO, the company’s interactive shows for babies and toddlers.

The Scottish Opera Emerging Artists programme, which gives graduate singers the opportunity of professional work with the Company, goes from strength to strength. Two outstanding young singers, soprano Sarah Power and mezzo-soprano Sioned Gwen Davies join baritone Andrew McTaggart who stays on for a second year. And for the first time, a director, Lissa Lorenzo, will join the scheme. Gareth Williams continues in his role as Composer in Residence.

Alongside all of these productions, Scottish Opera continues to introduce new audiences to opera and take opera out of the theatre with free performances of Opera Unwrapped and A Little Bit of… In a continuation of Scottish Opera’s ‘£10 tix if you’re under-26′ scheme, which has seen over 18,000 young people attend a Scottish Opera performance since it started in 2006, tickets for any seat at any performance of Don Giovanni, Don Pasquale and Madama Butterfly will be priced at £10 for those under the age of 26.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Performances

AUG 2013

Fri 16 Aug 8pm American Lulu Bregenz Festival, Austria

Sat 17 Aug 8pm American Lulu Bregenz Festival, Austria

Wed 28 Aug 7.30pm Dance Derby Universal Hall, Findhorn

Thu 29 Aug 8pm Dance Derby One Touch, Eden Court, Inverness

Fri 30 Aug 7.30pm Dance Derby Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline

SEPT 2013

Sun 1 Sep 7.30pm Dance Derby Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock

Fri 13 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Sat 14 Sep 7pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Tue 17 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Wed 18 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Fri 20 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Sat 21 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Mon 23 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Tue 24 Sep 7.30pm American Lulu Young Vic, London

Thu 26 Sep 7.30pm Rodelinda The Beacon, Greenock

OCT 2013

Tue 1 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Nevis Centre, Fort William

Thu 3 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Macphail Theatre, Ullapool

Sat 5 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda An Lanntair, Stornoway

Sun 6 Oct 3pm Orchestral Concert St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow

Tue 8 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Wick High School

Thu 10 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda One Touch, Eden Court, Inverness

Sat 12 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Haddo House, Ellon

Tue 15 Oct 7.15pm Don Giovanni Theatre Royal Glasgow

Tue 15 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Macrobert, Stirling

Thu 17 Oct 6pm Don Giovanni Unwrapped Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 17 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries

Fri 18 Oct 7.15pm Don Giovanni Theatre Royal Glasgow

Sat 19 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Victoria Halls, Helensburgh

Sun 20 Oct 4pm Don Giovanni Theatre Royal Glasgow

Tue 22 Oct 7.15pm Don Giovanni Theatre Royal Glasgow

Tue 22 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Gardyne Theatre, Dundee

Thu 24 Oct 7.15pm Don Giovanni Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 24 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Deeside Theatre, Aboyne

Sat 26 Oct 7.15pm Don Giovanni Theatre Royal Glasgow

Sat 26 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Nairn Community & Arts Centre

Tue 29 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline

Thu 31 Oct 7.30pm Don Giovanni His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Thu 31 Oct 7.30pm Rodelinda Tait Hall, Kelso

NOV/DEC 2013

Fri 1 Nov 3pm AerialO Production Studios, Glasgow

Fri 1 Nov 6pm Don Giovanni Unwrapped His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Fri 1 Nov 7pm AerialO Production Studios, Glasgow

Sat 2 Nov 7.30pm Don Giovanni His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Sat 2 Nov 7.30pm Rodelinda The Brunton, Musselburgh

Thu 7 Nov 7.15pm Don Giovanni Eden Court, Inverness

Fri 8 Nov 6pm Don Giovanni Unwrapped Eden Court, Inverness

Sat 9 Nov 7.15pm Don Giovanni Eden Court, Inverness

Thu 14 Nov 7.15pm Don Giovanni Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Fri 15 Nov 6pm Don Giovanni Unwrapped Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Sat 16 Nov 7.30pm Orchestral Concert Paisley Abbey

Sun 17 Nov 4pm Don Giovanni Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Tue 19 Nov 7.15pm Don Giovanni Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Thu 21 Nov 7.15pm Don Giovanni Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Sat 23 Nov 7.15pm Don Giovanni Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Wed 27 Nov 10am and 1pm Platypus in Boots Production Studios, Glasgow

Thu 28 Nov 10am and 1pm Platypus in Boots Production Studios, Glasgow

Fri 29 Nov 10am and 1pm Platypus in Boots Production Studios, Glasgow

Sat 30 Nov 10am and 1pm Platypus in Boots Production Studios, Glasgow

Sun 1 Dec 10am and 1pm Platypus in Boots Production Studios, Glasgow

JAN 2014

Fri 24 Jan 7.15pm Don Pasquale Theatre Royal Glasgow

Sun 26 Jan 4pm Don Pasquale Theatre Royal Glasgow

Wed 29 Jan 7.15pm Don Pasquale Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 30 Jan 6pm Don Pasquale Unwrapped Theatre Royal Glasgow

FEB 2014

Sat 1 Feb 7.15pm Don Pasquale Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 6 Feb 1.10pm Emerging Artists’ Recital Concert Hall, University of Glasgow

Tue 18 Feb 7.15pm Don Pasquale Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Wed 19 Feb 6pm Don Pasquale Unwrapped Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Thu 20 Feb 7.15pm Don Pasquale Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Sat 22 Feb 7.15pm Don Pasquale Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Tue 25 Feb 7.30pm Opera Highlights Howden Park Centre, Livingston

Thu 27 Feb 7.30pm Opera Highlights Craignish Village Hall, Ardfern

MAR 2014

Sat 1 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Bunessan Community Centre, Mull

Tue 4 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Ballachulish Village Hall

Thu 6 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Seall at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye

Sat 8 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Gairloch Community Centre

Tue 11 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Carrbridge Village Hall

Thu 13 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Orkney Theatre, Kirkwall

Sat 15 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Black Isle Community Theatre, Fortrose

Tue 18 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Morrison’s Academy Hall, Crieff

Thu 20 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Midmar Village Hall

Sat 22 Mar 7.30pm Macbeth Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

Sat 22 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Montrose Town Hall

Tue 25 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Corn Exchange, Cupar

Thu 27 Mar 7.30pm Macbeth Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

Thu 27 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Dalbeattie Town Hall

Sat 29 Mar 7.30pm Macbeth Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

Sat 29 Mar 7.30pm Opera Highlights Victoria Hall, Selkirk

Sun 30 Mar 4pm Turandot Usher Hall, Edinburgh

APR 2014

Tue 1 Apr 7.30pm Opera Highlights Whiting Bay Village Hall, Arran

Thu 3 Apr 7.30pm Opera Highlights Maybole Town Hall

Sat 5 Apr 7.30pm Opera Highlights Village Theatre, East Kilbride

Tue 8 Apr 7.15pm Macbeth King’s Theatre Edinburgh

Thu 10 Apr 7.15pm Macbeth King’s Theatre Edinburgh

MAY 2014

Thu 8 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Fri 9 May 6pm Madama Butterfly Unwrapped Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Sun 11 May 4pm Madama Butterfly Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Tue 13 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Thu 15 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Sat 17 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Wed 21 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 22 May 6pm Madama Butterfly Unwrapped Theatre Royal Glasgow

Tue 27 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 29 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

Sat 31 May 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

JUN 2014

Sun 1 Jun 3pm Orchestral Concert St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow

Thu 5 Jun 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Eden Court, Inverness

Fri 6 Jun 6pm Madama Butterfly Unwrapped Eden Court, Inverness

Sat 7 Jun 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Eden Court, Inverness

Thu 12 Jun 7.30pm Madama Butterfly His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Fri 13 Jun 6pm Madama Butterfly Unwrapped His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Sat 14 Jun 7.30pm Madama Butterfly His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

JUL/AUG 2014

Tue 29 Jul 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

Thu 31 Jul 7.15pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

Sun 3 Aug 4pm Madama Butterfly Theatre Royal Glasgow

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Contact: Kenny Young
Phone: 0141 242 0511
Email: kenny.young@scottishopera.org.uk
Website: http://www.scottishopera.org.uk