Behind the scenes of Live in South Lanarkshire at Rutherglen Town Hall with Margo Arsane.Behind the scenes of Live in South Lanarkshire at Rutherglen Town Hall with Margo Arsane.
Behind the scenes of Live in South Lanarkshire at Rutherglen Town Hall with Margo Arsane.

Scottish Opera, live in your livingroom

Scottish Opera will kick off its spring/summer programme today with Live in South Lanarkshire.

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.

However, this one-off film gives Scottish Opera the key to the town hall to take advantage of the stunning surroundings, while encouraging communities to return as soon as guidelines allow.

The 45 minute film was released today (Friday) and is free to view on the Scottish Opera website at www.scottishopera.org.uk.

Filmed on March 24, Scottish Opera’s head of music Derek Clark is joined by emerging artists Margo Arsane and Catriona Hewitson for a playlist including Bizet’s Carmen and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, with an introduction from town hall manager Colin McWilliams.

In association with South Lanarkshire Council, Live in South Lanarkshire will be available to watch on Scottish Opera’s website.

Alex Reedijk, Scottish Opera’s general director, said: “I am delighted we are preparing to bring live music back to audiences following almost a year without live shows.

"As we continue to make our way out of the pandemic, we are very happy to add Live in South Lanarkshire to our filmed collection.”

Scottish director Sir David McVicar, who last worked with Scottish Opera on his UK theatre award-winning production of Pelléas and Mélisande, will also return to direct an outdoor production of Verdi’s Falstaff at the company’s Edington Street car park in Glasgow.

And from June 8, the company will be back on the road with its Pop-up Opera tour, with five brilliant bite-size Gilbert & Sullivan shows, A Little Bit of… The Gondoliers, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and Iolanthe.

Popping up at a variety of iconic venues across Scotland, it’s an ideal opportunity for anyone new to opera to try a taster.

Stuart Stratford, Scottish Opera’s music director, said: “I am so excited that we are able offer outdoor, live opera to audiences across Scotland once again.”

The company’s on screen productions are available to watch at www.scottishopera.org.uk/what-s-on/opera-on-screen.