Scottish Opera
Greek
★★★★☆ Dark and inventive:
Mark-Anthony Turnage’s operatic version of Greek, based on Steven Berkoff’s play, brings dark humour to the Festival Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
The Trial
★★★★☆ Brutal:
Dark, brooding and brutal, Scottish Opera’s take on Kafka’s The Trial, catches several areas of resonance and delivers a piece which is as glorious as it it is forbidding.
Ariodante
★★★★☆ Joyous yet dark
Death hangs brooding low over Scottish Opera’s fine production of Handel’s Ariodante, at the Festival theatre for a sadly limited run.
The Devil Inside
★★★☆☆ Devilish detail:
All the makings of a Faustian tale of darkness, damnation, intrigue and desperation are present in Scottish Opera’s The Devil Inside, at the King’s for two nights on its premiere tour.
Carmen
★★★★☆ Dark and dramatic:
It may be a slow starter, but there’s no shortage of drama at the Festival Theatre this fortnight with Scottish Opera’s production of Carmen.
Il Trovatore
✭✭✭✭✩ Weighty drama:
Darkness and light are so intertwined, it is impossible to have one without the other. In SO’s Il Trovatore, love, hope and light burn even stronger when through the darker elements of humanity.
Don Pasquale – Review
✭✭✭✭✩ Don miss it
When the overture is still being played and an opera audience is already laughing out loud, the signs are all good for an evening which will be something of a treat.
Review – Last One Out
Scottish Opera’s Last One Out is described as ‘ a haunting mix of opera and Country’. Gareth Williams’ music and Johnny McKnight’s libretto combine to produce an elusive, impressive tale of how the past continues to influence the present.
Review – the Pirates of Penzance
✭✭✭✭✩ Upping the ante:
Frothy and fun – just as any production of the Pirates of Penzance should be – this new collaboration between Scottish Opera and the D’Oyly Carte Theatre Company has a rarely heard quality to it.
Preview of the week Mon 27 May – Sun 2 June
There’s a busy but rather bitty week ahead for theatregoers in Edinburgh with plenty of new shows opening – or arriving in town – but few on for more than a day or three.
