Opera highlights will brighten up the Isles this winter

A great evening for those new to opera, seasoned fans and everyone in-between, Opera Highlights features music from some of the world’s most popular operas, as well as some lesser-known treats selected by Scottish Opera’s Head of Music, Derek Clark.

This February, Scottish Opera’s trusty van will be loaded up with a piano, a handful of props and four singers to perform at some of the smaller or more remote venues the length and breadth of Scotland.

The annual tour has been taking to the road since 1994, when it started life as Essential Scottish Opera.

This year’s tour visits Livingston, Castle Douglas, Largs, Ardfern, Ballachulish, Tarbert - Isle of Harris, Lochinver, Halkirk, Strathpeffer, Dunkeld, Cove, Markinch, Lossiemouth, Midmar, Braemar, Hawick, Dunblane and East Kilbride.

Sitting alongside familiar favourites from Verdi’s La traviata, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado will be lesser-known gems mined from the archives by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Aaron Copland and Ambroise Thomas.

To complete the evening, Opera Highlights will also feature the world premiere of a new innovative and satirical piece of music entitled ‘Anatomy of a diva’ by Scottish Opera’s Emerging Artist Composer in Residence Lliam Paterson, created especially for the tour.

A cast of four talented young singers will bring the eclectic programme to life; soprano Filipa Van Eck, mezzo-soprano Samantha Price, tenor Anthony Flaum (Macbeth 2014), and 2013 Kathleen Ferrier Song Prize winner baritone Johnny Herford.

They will be accompanied by pianist Philip Voldman and the production is directed by Jack Furness, both current Scottish Opera Emerging Artists.

Scottish Opera’s Head of Music, Derek Clark, said: “We hope that Opera Highlights will be an uplifting and enjoyable experience in the Scottish winter.

“These are really evenings for everyone. Even if you don’t know a single tune when you come to see us, I guarantee you’ll be humming at least one of them on the journey home.”

The Scottish Opera’s Opera Highlights will be performing at Tarbert Community Centre, Harris on Saturday 20th February 7.30pm.