Opera unwrapped for Highland Pupils

This week, to coincide with the Scottish Opera tour to Highland venues of La traviata, pupils from six secondary schools will be taking part in special workshops. 

The sessions, linked to the curriculum, will be led by Scottish Opera staff and are designed to explore the music, characters and background of the opera. The young people taking part will also find out what happens behind the scenes to stage the production before having the opportunity to watch the full performance in their local venue.

The workshops will be taking place today in Thurso High School and Dornoch Academy, on Tuesday at Fortrose Academy and Inverness High School, at Millburn Academy on Wednesday and at Plockton High School on Thursday.

The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton said: “The workshops are designed to give the young people taking part the chance to see everything they’ve learned be performed live on stage by professional singers. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Scottish Opera and I am sure everyone taking part will enjoy the experience and by studying the music and characters, gain a better understanding of this moving opera.”

This new piano-accompanied production of La traviata takes a fresh look at Verdi’s deeply poignant and ever-popular tale of a love denied. It is set in 1950s Paris, a stylish world on the cusp of modernity but where a woman pushing the boundaries is still a step too far. Director Annilese Miskimmon, the newly-appointed Artistic Director of Danish National Opera, gets to the heart of the story in a production that centres on the passionate but turbulent relationships at its core.

For details of this week’s public performances of La traviata in Fort William, Plockton, Portree, Strathpeffer, Drumnadrochit, Thurso, Ullapool and Nairn visit www.scottishopera.org.uk