The last few years have been rocky for Scottish Opera. They had to take a whole season off in order to offset a massive deficit; their Music Director departed, understandably unhappy with the circumstances; audience figures were dropping; and they had to scale back all their operations.
Yet the beleaguered company's fortunes have been turning round. Last year, a highly-acclaimed new production of Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier by David McVicar became one of the big events of the opera calendar, and will be seen next year at English National Opera. Their current tour includes Lucia di Lammermoor and Madama Butterfly, both of which have been extremely well received in the press. And to cap it all, their 2007-08 season contains the most promising, ambitious and important project to be given by any of the UK opera companies in the next twelve months.
Five: 15 - Opera Made in Scotland is a series of five new fifteen-minute chamber operas written by many of leading Scottish artists, several of whom are new to creating opera. Scottish Opera is taking the ambitious combined production, which lasts under two hours, to two intimate venues for the first time: Glasgow's ÒranMòr and The Hub in Edinburgh. The creative teams include some extraordinary names, including crime novelist Ian Rankin working with Grammy Award-winning composer Craig Armstrong and film composer Patrick Doyle setting the words of author William Boyd. If all goes to plan, it will be an intriguing and important project that could potentially expand to bigger dimensions.
Traditionalists need not worry, however: there is still the usual programme of full-scale productions. Many will be thrilled at the prospect of Sir Thomas Allen directing Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia in October 2007. It will be Allen's first time directing one of the national opera companies, and given his prowess in the role of Figaro (his account on Neville Marriner's recording is still unbeaten, in my opinion), not to mention the excellent reviews of his recent production of Don Giovanni at The Sage in Gateshead, this promises to be a delightful experience. The cast includes Dutch baritone Thomas Oliemans making his UK debut as Figaro, and Glasgow-born Karen Cargill as Rosina. Not to be missed.
In repertory with The Barber, Mozart's The Abduction from the Harem returns to Scottish Opera for the first time since 1963 and opens in October in Glasgow. Sung in English, Tobias Hohesheisel's new production is reportedly a 'clear, clean and resourceful' take on the composer's Turkish Singspiel. Popular soprano Rebecca Bottone heads a cast that is otherwise new to the company, as is conductor Jeremy Carnall. One of Mozart's most underrated works, The Abduction deals with clashes of class, race and culture, and it contains some of his most taxing and entertaining music.
The Spring season contrasts two operas that could scarcely be more different. Continuing the celebration of native artists, the company presents Scottish composer Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera for the first time. Scottish Opera has done Weir proud, with an excellent conductor (Sian Edwards) and cast (including Toby Stafford-Allen) performing the challenging piece. Opening on 11 April 2008, this production is not to be missed.
Nor should the new production of Verdi's Falstaff be overlooked in a hurry. Sung in Italian, Dominic Hill's new production is conducted by Peter Robinson and features Covent Garden regular Peter Sidhom in the title role. Joining him are three distinguished British artists: Sally Burgess as Mistress Quickly, Leah-Marian Jones as Meg Page and rising star Lucy Crowe as Nannetta. The production starts in Glasgow on 13 May 2008, later touring to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Out of their commitment to serve the whole of Scotland, Scottish Opera is taking a touring production of Rossini's Cinderella to smaller venues around the country. Directed by Harry Fehr, who is a member of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, the production will tour to twenty venues from September 2007, with piano accompaniment The following April, it will visit nine additional venues, accompanied by an ensemble from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.
In addition, from 15 January to 16 February 2008, the company takes a tour of operatic highlights entitled Essential Scottish Opera to fifteen small venues, including East Kilbrade's Village Theatre, and it even goes to the Isle of Mull!
It's also worth noting the company's admirable £10 Tickets for Under 26s scheme. Scottish Opera offers any seat for any performance in the Theatre Royal Glasgow, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre and His Majesty's Aberdeen for only £10. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the young to experience opera in the flesh and is to be commended.
In April 2007, Scottish opera was granted the status of a National Performing Company, joining Scottish Ballet, the RNSO, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the National Theatre of Scotland in receiving funding directly from the Scottish Executive. One can only hope that this deserved move will allow the company to regain its balance and offer opera performances of the highest quality.