As Opera Bohemia’s La Traviata heads north, conductor and tenor Alistair Digges reveals what audiences can expect.
WHERE IS OPERA BOHEMIA HEADING ON ITS NORTHERN TOUR?
Opera Bohemia will make a welcome return to Strathpeffer and Lossiemouth and make our first visit to Aberdeen, as part of a 12-venue Scottish tour of our exciting new production of Verdi’s La Traviata. We will be performing at Strathpeffer Pavilion on Tuesday, July 12; Lossiemouth Town Hall on Wednesday, July 13; and Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen on Friday, July 15.
WHAT’S THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY?
Opera Bohemia was founded by Fife-born baritone and director Douglas Nairne and myself, in order to create more opportunities for young professional singers and musicians in Scotland.
The company has already taken productions of La Bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, Madame Butterfly, Eugene Onegin and Gianni Schicchi to venues all over the country, selling thousands of tickets and employing nearly 100 young professional singers and musicians.
As well as showcasing Scottish talent, performers have included 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 we visit, from fully equipped theatres to churches and town halls.
WHAT ARE ITS AIMS?
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 in Scotland. Lots of the Opera Bohemia audience across Scotland have been opera “newbies” who have loved the experience.
We hope to tempt people along to give opera a try with our new production of La Traviata. It’s one of the world’s most-loved operas and is packed full of wonderful music, including the famous Brindisi (drinking song) and the soprano aria Sempre Libera, which I’m sure lots of people will recognise.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OPERA ITSELF?
The opera will be sung in Italian with English subtitles and the new production by Douglas Nairne promises to be something really 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.
TELL US ABOUT THE CAST
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, former Scottish Opera young artist and star of Gianni Schicchi, Andrew McTaggart and lots of other talented young singers.
Accompanied by piano (Geoffrey Tanti) and violin (Feargus Hetherington) this promises to be a fantastic night at the opera.
WHERE CAN WE GET TICKETS?
For Strathpeffer Pavilion (01997 420 124 or www.strathpefferpavilion.org);
For Lossiemouth Town Hall (www.wegottickets.com or 01592 741 670);
For Aberdeen Queen’s Cross Church (01224 641 122 or www.aberdeenperformingarts.com).