About Us
Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland. It was founded by Sir Alexander Gibson and was inaugurated with a production of Madama Butterfly at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. In 1974 Scottish Opera purchased the Theatre Royal Glasgow, which reopened in 1975 as Scotland’s first national opera house. The Orchestra of Scottish Opera was founded in 1980.
Notable achievements include the world premiere of James MacMillan’s Ines de Castro at the 1996 Edinburgh International Festival and complete Ring cycles at the 2003 Edinburgh International Festival, which won the 2004 South Bank Show Award for Best Opera Production. Recent commissions include Five:15 Operas Made in Scotland, part of a five-year research and development project to find the next generation of opera-makers, composers and librettists.
We are committed to bringing the widest possible range of opera, performed to the highest possible standards, to the maximum audience throughout Scotland and the UK; each year it performs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness and over 50 other theatres, village halls and community centres. We also operate an extensive programme of outreach and education work which involves over 12,000 primary school children a year, as well as many other activities including adult learning and Unwrapped taster sessions.
Scottish Opera’s income is derived from public subsidy, box office and private and commercial support. It is funded by the Scottish Government.
Contact Us
Scottish Opera is based in Glasgow, at two main locations.
Administrative, Marketing, Press, Fundraising, Planning, Finance and Human Resources staff are based at:
39 Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow G2 4PT
Tel: 0141 248 4567
Our Technical and Education teams are based at:
Scottish Opera Production Studios, 40 Edington Street, Glasgow G4 9RD
Tel: 0141 332 9559
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Our History
Learn about key milestones in our 47-year history.
See what operas we have performed.
Board Members
Read biographies of our board members.
Emerging Artists
Find out about our Emerging Artists programme
Company Profiles
Read profiles of people throughout the Company, from singers and directors to graphic designers and painters.
Current Vacancies
All the latest job opportunities across the Company.
Work Experience
Find out about work experience at Scottish Opera
