*** Baritone Marcus Farnsworth will perform the first nine shows NOT Jonathan McGovern as previously stated. Apologies for any inconvenience caused, full and correct version of the release below ***
AUDIENCES in Scotland will be the first in the UK to hear a brand new work by composer Gareth Williams as Opera Highlights hits the road later this month.
Scottish Opera’s inaugural composer in residence has revised Dance ‘til the Sun Sets especially for the annual 15-date, whistle-stop tour.
It will be performed alongside arias and ensembles from well-known operas including Bizet’s Carmen, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, as well as a sprinkling of lesser-known works from the likes of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko and Britten’s Paul Bunyan.
A cast of four talented young singers will bring the eclectic programme to life in venues from Jedburgh to Mull, Arran to Lochinver, Glenrothes to Livingston, Largs to Musselburgh and back again – they are baritone Marcus Farnsworth (with Riccardo Simonetti singing for the final six performances), soprano Anita Watson, mezzo-soprano Rosie Aldridge and tenor Robert Anthony Gardiner. Packing up her piano to accompany them on the five-week tour is Susannah Wapshott.
In charge of hand-picking the Opera Highlights programme for over a decade, Scottish Opera’s head of music, Derek Clark, is at the helm once again, and can’t wait to get the show on the road.
He says: “It’s great to be able to include a new piece of work in the Opera Highlights programme, particularly as Gareth has worked closely with the singers on revising the piece, it’s been an exciting challenge for them, and will make for a real treat for audiences.
“It fits beautifully into the programme too, which is a real mixed bag of familiar favourites and lesser-known gems, so even if you’ve never tried opera – or if you’re an opera-buff – I’m sure you’ll find something in there to love.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Gareth Williams is Scottish Opera’s first ever composer-in-residence. The post sits within the Company’s already well-established Emerging Artists Programme and will last two years. Gareth has already created two short operas for Scottish Opera in Five:15 Operas Made in Scotland, is a lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has composed works for the Hebrides Ensemble, the Paragon Ensemble, Symposia, the Black Hair Ensemble, and the London Sinfionetta.
He was the winner of the British Conservatoire Composers Forum 2000, and in 2004 won the Dinah Wolf prize for composition. His work has also been featured in the Edinburgh Festival, the St Magnus Festival, Opera to Go, and the York Late Music Festival.
2. Dance ‘til the Sun Sets features a libretto by Marjorie Chan and was developed at Tapestry New Opera’s LibLab 2010, an intensive week-long project for writers and composers to explore the collaborative process.
www.scottishopera.org.uk
For additional press details please contact:
Kerryn Kirkpatrick, press manager, 0141 242 0511, kerryn.kirkpatrick@scottishopera.org.uk
Emma York, press officer, 0141 242 0552, emma.yorkl@scottishopera.org.uk
TOURING AND BOOKING INFORMATION
Tickets at all venues £11 (£5 Under 26) **
** Available from individual venues
(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.)
Running time – two hours (including interval)
The Howden Park Centre, Livingston
Tuesday 31 January, 7.30pm
Tickets: Howden Park Centre, Howden, Livingston, EH54 6AE
Tel: 01506 777 666
www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk
Broughton Village Hall
Thursday 2 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Broughton Village Stores, Broughton, Biggar, ML12 6HQ
Or from Christopher Lambton on 07879 470 920 (text or ring)
Reserve tickets online at www.concerts-in-broughton.co.uk
Jedburgh Town Hall
Saturday 4 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Visit Scotland Information Centre, Murrays Green, Jedburgh, TD8 6BE
Tel: 01835 863 170
Lochside Theatre, Castle Douglas
Tuesday 7 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Lochside Theatre, Lochside Road, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway,
DG7 1EU
Tel: 01556 504 506
www.lochsidetheatre.co.uk
St Columba’s Parish Church, Largs
Thursday 9 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Largs and Millport Information Bureau, 88 Main Street , Largs, Ayrshire, KA30 8AN
Tel: 01475 676 182
Brodick Town Hall, Isle of Arran
Saturday 11 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Book & Card Centre, Shore Road, Brodick, Isle of Arran, KA27 8AJ
Tel: 01770 302 288
Glenuig Hall
Tuesday 14 February, 8pm
Tickets: Glenuig Hall, Glenuig, Lochailort, PH38 4NG
Tel: 01687 470 267
www.thebooth.co.uk
Victory Hall, Benderloch
Thursday 16 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Terry Donovan
Tel: 01631 720 498
Mull Theatre
Saturday 18 February, 8pm
Tickets: Mull Theatre, Druimfin, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QB
Tel: 01688 302 828
bookings@mulltheatre.com
www.mulltheatre.com
Gairloch Community Hall
Tuesday 21 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Carole Miller, West Coast Arts
Tel: 01445 731 535
Lochinver Village Hall
Thursday 23 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Clive Sheppard
Tel: 01571 844 104
c.sheppard962@btinternet.com
Glenmoriston Millennium Hall, Invermoriston
Saturday 25 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Cherry Duncan
Tel: 01320 351 230
Midmar Village Hall
Tuesday 28 February, 7.30pm
Tickets: Colin Stokoe
Tel: 01330 833 719
Rothes Halls, Glenrothes
Thursday 1 March, 7.30pm
Tickets: Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX
Tel: 01592 611 101
www.onfife.com
Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
Saturday 3 March, 7.30pm
Tickets: Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, EH21 6AA
Tel: 0131 665 2240
www.bruntontheatre.co.uk
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Scottish Opera. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Emma York
Phone: 0141 242 0552
Email: emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk
Website: http://www.scottishopera.org.uk
