Opera Bohemia is delighted to announce their return to Dumfries as part of a Scottish Tour of their exciting new production of Verdi’s La Traviata. They will be performing at the Theatre Royal tonight, Thursday 18th August. It is one of twelve performances that the Scottish touring company is giving across the country and they are particularly excited to be returning to Dumfries to perform at the recently refurbished Theatre Royal, having performed La Boheme at the venue before it closed for renovations.
Opera Bohemia was founded by Glasgow born conductor Alistair Digges and Fife born baritone and director Douglas Nairne. The company has already taken productions of La Bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, Madame Butterfly, Eugene Onegin and Gianni Schicchi to venues all over Scotland, selling thousands of tickets and employing nearly one hundred young singers and musicians. As well as showcasing Scottish talent, they have had guest performers including Australian soprano Suzanne Shakespeare, South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza and English tenor Tyler Clarke, all who have gone on to enjoy international careers. The company’s productions are adaptable for the different venues they visit, from fully equipped theatres to churches and town halls. They have also received invitations south of the border, taking two shows to London (one for a performance at Middle Temple) and one to Cambridgeshire.
One of the original goals was to try and introduce opera to a new audience and younger generation as well as providing more live performances for opera lovers. Lots of the Opera Bohemia audience across Scotland have been opera ‘newbies’ who have loved the experience. The company hopes to tempt people to give opera a try with their new production of La Traviata. It’s one of the worlds most loved opera’s and is packed full of wonderful music, including the famous Brindisi (drinking song) and the soprano aria Sempre Libera, which lots of people will recognise. Sung in Italian with English surtitiles, this new production by Douglas Nairne promises to be something special. Verdi’s masterpiece, based on The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas, tells the tale of the famous courtesan Violetta, who commits the cardinal sin of falling in love.
A stellar cast for the production is led by Scottish soprano Catriona Clark, who plays the role of Violetta. Catriona has enjoyed a glittering career since graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Opera School. Highlights include performing Adele in Die Fledermaus alongside Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Jose Carreras, Alfie Boe and Bryn Terfel at the Royal Albert Hall, opera gala performances for the Prime Minister, and members of the Royal Family, and most recently the title role in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly across Scotland with Opera Bohemia. The cast also includes up and coming Welsh Tenor Thomas Kinch, Scottish baritone Aaron McAuley, who has been enjoying a career at Glyndebourne Opera since graduating from the Royal College of Music International Opera School, and former Scottish Opera young artist and star of Gianni Schicchi, Andrew McTaggart. Accompanied by piano (Geoffrey Tanti) and violin (Katie Jackson) this promises to be a fantastic night at the opera.
Thursday 18th August, 7.30pm
Dumfries, Theatre Royal
Shakespeare Street, DG1 2JH
01387 253 383
Tickets £15, £12 (concession), £6 (under 18)
