ESSENTIAL SCOTTISH OPERA - Coming To Wick and Other Places In Scotland

6th December 2007

15 January - 16 February 2008

Scottish Opera's tour "Essential Scottish Opera" is set to travel to fifteen venues the length and breadth of Scotland in 2008. Opening in East Kilbride's Village Theatre on 15 January, four singers, accompanied by pianist Ian Shaw, will tour to Arran, Beauly, Campbeltown, Carrbridge, Castle Douglas, Findhorn, Glenuig, Greenock, Jedburgh, Midmar, Mull, Strathmiglo, Torridon and Wick performing a delightful programme of operatic highlights.

Essential Scottish Opera features something for everyone, whether new to opera or already a fan, in a relaxed and informal evening. The show features a mixture of musical styles including much-loved arias from Rigoletto, La Traviata, L'Elisir d'Amore and Carmen alongside less familiar pieces by Handel, Monteverdi, Tchaikovsky and Smetna. The evening will finish with an American flavour with pieces from Barber, Cole Porter and Bernstein.

This year's cast are soprano Amanda Forbes, a recent graduate of the National Opera Studio, mezzo-soprano Catriona Barr, who played Kate Pinkerton in Scottish Opera's recent production of Madama Butterfly, tenor Blake Fischer, winner of the Royal Northern College of Music's prestigious Gold Medal in 2003, and baritone Anders Östberg, a Swedish singer who is also a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. The singers are accompanied by Scottish Opera Pianist Ian Shaw.
Essential Scottish Opera is sponsored by the Friends of Scottish Opera.

PERFORMANCE DATES 2008
Thursday 31 January, 7.30pm
Assembly Rooms, Wick
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: DR Simpson Newsagents, 88/90 High Street, Wick KW1 4LY
Tel: 01955 603304

Tuesday 15 January, 7.30pm
The Village Theatre, East Kilbride
Tickets: £11, £9 (conc.)
Tel: 01355 248669
Thursday 17 January, 7.30pm
Lochside Theatre, Castle Douglas
Tickets: £11, £9 (conc.)
Tickets from: Lochside Theatre, Lochside Road, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway DG7 1EU
Tel: 01556 504506
www.lochsidetheatre.co.uk

Saturday 19 January, 7.30pm
Town Hall, Jedburgh
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: Tourist Information Centre, Murrays Green, Jedburgh TD8 6BE
Tel: 01750 20555

Tuesday 22 January, 7.30pm
Village Hall, California/Skene Street, Strathmiglo
Tickets: £10, £8 (under 16s)
Tickets from: Strathmiglo Post Office, 70 High Street, Strathmiglo KY14 7PR
Tel: 01337 860201
Also Falkland Post Office, High Street, Falkland KY15 7BZ
Tel: 01337 858743
Also Auchtermuchty Post Office, 47 High Street, Auchtermuchty KY14 7AR
Tel: 01337 827940

Thursday 24 January, 7.30pm
Midmar Village Hall
Tickets: £9, £7 (conc.)
Tickets from: Colin Stokoe, Midmar Village Hall
Tel: 01330 833719

Saturday 26 January, 8.00pm
Universal Hall, Findhorn
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: Phoenix Stores, Findhorn
Tel: 01309 690110
www.booth.co.uk

Tuesday 29 January, 7.30pm
Carrbridge Village Hall
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: Carrbridge Community Arts Ticket Line
Tel: 01479 841211
Also The Old Bakery Coffee Shop, Main Street, Carrbridge PH23 3AS

Thursday 31 January, 7.30pm
Assembly Rooms, Wick
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: DR Simpson Newsagents, 88/90 High Street, Wick KW1 4LY
Tel: 01955 603304

Saturday 2 February, 7.30pm
Phipps Hall, Beauly
Tickets: £8/£6 (conc.)
Tickets from: Morison's Ironmonger, High Street, Beauly IV4 7BT
Tel: 01463 782213

Tuesday 5 February, 7.30pm
Torridon Community Hall, Torridon
Tickets: £10, £8 (children)
Tickets from: Margaret Brown, Torridon Arts and Culture Group
Tel: 01445 791488
Also Dorothy Hall, Torridon Arts and Culture Group
Tel: 01445 791239

Thursday 7 February, 7.30pm
Glenuig Hall, Glenuig
Tickets: £8, £6 (conc.)
Tickets from: Glenuig Hall, Glenuig, Lochailort PH38 4NG
Tel: 01687 470267
Also, www.thebooth.co.uk
Tickets for this event are also available from Glenuig Inn, Acharacle Shop, Acharacle Post Office, Strontian Shop, the Granite House (Fort William) and by post from Glenuig Hall.

Saturday 9 February, 7.30pm
Community Centre Hall, Bunessan, Mull
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: Bunessan Post Office, Isle Of Mull PA67 6DG
Tel: 01681 700252

Tuesday 12 February, 7.30pm
Victoria Hall, Campbeltown
Tickets: £10, £8 (conc.)
Tickets from: Aqualibrium, Kinloch Road, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6EG
Tel: 01586 551212

Thursday 14 February, 7.30pm
Brodick Hall, Brodick, Arran
Tickets: £10/£8 (conc.)
Tickets from: Book and Card Centre, Shore Road, Brodick, Isle of Arran KA27 8AJ
Tel: 01770 302288

Saturday 16 February, 7.30pm
Arts Guild Theatre, Greenock
Tickets: £12, £10
Tickets from: Arts Guild Theatre, Campbell Street, Greenock PA16 8AP
Tel: 01475 723038

Tickets for all performances can also be purchased by calling the 24 hour booking line on 0844 847 1645. Please note that tickets bought online or from the 24 hour booking line will be subject to a booking fee.