Lossie stage set for opera company's return
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A DYNAMIC opera company which aims to widen the art form's appeal will return to Lossiemouth a decade after its performance of La Boheme in the town.
In its biggest ever Scottish tour to mark its 10th anniversary, Opera Bohemia will stage a special production of Franz Lehár’s operetta, The Merry Widow, on Wednesday, August 28, at Lossiemouth Town Hall. It will be the first time the operetta has been performed professionally in Scotland for over 10 years.
The new production is set in 1930s Paris, where various suitors squabble to win the hand of the widowed and very wealthy Hannah Glawari. The work includes well-known show-stoppers Viljah, The Merry Widow Waltz and Chez Maxim’s.
One of the company's reasons for being is to bring opera to first-time opera-goers and to younger generations in fresh and exciting ways.
In 2017 it launched an education project, taking free opera and classical music workshops to schools around Scotland. This year the sessions involve more than 600 children across 18 schools. The sessions, which tie in with the school music curriculum, aim to challenge the "unfair stigma" often attached to opera.
Artistic directors and founders Douglas Nairne and Alistair Digges said: "We can't quite believe it has been 10 years since we began our mission of bringing live opera round Scotland and giving opportunities to young professional singers and musicians.
"We're excited to be back in beautiful Lossiemouth again – always a highlight of our tour."
The production will showcase some of Scotland’s finest young professional talent, with many Royal Conservatoire of Scotland alumni in the line-up. Scottish soprano Catriona Clark and baritone Douglas Nairne sing the lead duo, with other cast members including former Scottish Opera Young Artists Marie Claire Breen and Andrew McTaggart.
Director John Wilkie, who made his directorial debut with Opera Bohemia in 2010 and who has gone on to enjoy an international career, returns to the company for the 10th anniversary tour.
Tickets, priced £16, £14 concession and £6 for under-18s, are available at Buckley's newsagent in Lossiemouth or from www.wegottickets.com. The performance starts at 7.30pm. For further information, visit www.operabohemia.co.uk.
