Scottish Opera reveals a programme of filmed and outdoor performances

Scottish Opera is back on the road bringing opera to local communities with its hugely popular Pop-up Opera tour, with five brilliant bite-size Gilbert and Sullivan shows.

Condensing the fun-filled classics and all their frivolity into 25 minute performances of A Little Bit of… The Gondoliers, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and Iolanthe, two specially-adapted trailers take to the road at the same time, attracting expected audiences of over 12,000, assuming seating in bubbles, with plans to be on the road by June 8 subject to Scottish Government guidelines.

Popping up at a variety of iconic and surprising venues across Scotland and featuring some of Gilbert and Sullivan’s wittiest lyrics and best- known tunes, it’s an ideal opportunity for anyone new to opera to try a taster.

The final leg of the tour, running throughout September, will offer a double bill of shows including the Pirates of Penzance and a revival of A Little Bit of Bubble McBea.

Aimed at children in Primary 1 to 3, Bubble McBea deals with environmental issues in the coasts around Scotland, raising awareness of sea pollution in the run up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

Following the success of Così fan tutte in December, Roxana Haines turns to her next filmed performance of Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore as part of the Scottish Opera: On Screen programme. Filmed at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal on May 22, it will be available to watch on the Scottish Opera website from June 18.

Before then, BBC Radio Scotland features audio excerpts from the performance as part of a special Classics Unwrapped, presented by Jamie MacDougall, on Sunday, June 13.

Director, Roxana Haines explains how she has chosen to embrace the Austen era, ‘when social distancing was a natural part of daily etiquette’, for a charming production packed full of comedy and touching romance.

It features Scottish Opera’s Emerging Artists, Catriona Hewitson, Shengzhi Ren and Arthur Bruce alongside guest principals Roland Wood, Elena Garrido Madrona and an impressive 18 strong chorus.

Scottish Opera has also released Live in South Lanarkshire, a film of operatic favourites.

The Company’s 2020 Opera Highlights performance at Rutherglen Town Hall was the last indoor performance for a live audience in the theatre, before the pandemic forced venues to close their doors over a year ago.

However, this special one-off film gives Scottish Opera the key to Rutherglen Town Hall, to take advantage of the stunning surroundings in a celebration of local venues, encouraging communities to return as soon as guidelines allow.

The playlist includes Bizet’s Carmen, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and more from the likes of Puccini, Mozart and Delibes.

For more information visit https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/