What the audience think - Opera Highlights 2012

Here's what audiences have to say about this year's Opera Highlights...

Just home from tonight's show. Very enjoyable. I liked the way one part of the show was linked to the next. The standard of singing was superb, Rosie Aldridge's acting was only bettered by her powerful, emotional voice. The Howden Park Centre is an excellent venue for this type of production. Again thank you to Scottish Opera for the opportunity to 'taste' a night at the opera.

(Livingston)

My wife and I had the good fortune to attend the show at Broughton Village Hall. What a privilege it is to have such a talented, and well presented production right on our doorstep. We enjoyed every moment, and congratulate the cast on providing such wonderful entertainment.
(Broughton)

What a wonderful evening! A splendid variety of beautiful operatic highlights and great performances by the cast. What a rare treat indeed! We were entranced by the vitality and humour as well as the magnificent singing (and playing by such a very talented pianist). A difficult venue to work in, I can imagine. The stage was a wee bit cluttered, for my taste, but we could understand what effect they were trying to achieve. Oh, but please come back!!
(Jedburgh)

We really enjoyed our evening being entertained by four such talented singers, and pianist, at the Lochside Theatre, Castle Douglas. Our high expectations (having been to several of these productions now) were met completely: wonderful singing (in particular, Rosie Aldridge), and great acting which proved opera is not just about the singing. This was entertaining, moving, funny, joyous and atmospheric (especially the Quartet of the Defeated). And what a treat to hear the new "Dance 'til the sun sets" by Gareth Williams. Thanks, Scottish Opera. Please keep visiting Castle Douglas!
(Castle Douglas) 

Delightful evening. Five very talented musicians who were so enthusiastic and seemed to be enjoying every moment. This was reflected by the appreciation of the audience. The four singers enhanced their musical talent with the ability to act while the pianist was superb. Come back soon!

(Largs)

Living in Arisaig we don't get much opportunity for such a night out and we are incredibly indebted to Scottish Opera's singers for making these rural trips which punctuate the winter nights with such beauty. The voices were top-class, the programme not crammed with 'family favourites' and the dramatic backdrop to the pieces was entertaining and contributed to the theatrical evening.
 

I'm sure I could write on about the choice of pieces and the finale of 'music hall' tunes but that is only a matter of personal taste and would be churlish in the circumstances as after a hard day at work I could sit in a village hall and let such music wash over me and feel all the better for it afterwards. We hope that this sort of opportunity will continue and that people continue to support it. Thank you.
(Glenuig)

Couldn’t have been better! A wonderful evening. Four talented and well-matched singers and an amazing pianist who gave their all to make it highly enjoyable for us.
Many thanks.
(Gairloch)

We really enjoyed the singing. Top notch singers and even the boss (Scottish Opera's Head of Music, Derek Clark) came up to play the piano! Five of us travelled 40 miles there and 40 miles back to attend. Some of us had never experienced opera before and were blown away. Thank you for coming to visit.
(Lochinver)

Thank you for a wonderful evening of top quality music. The singers and their accompanist have to be congratulated for their performances. I was also very impressed by the stage management, a simple setup, a few props, the whiteboard was a genius idea, but all extremely well handled. It was an evening I'm glad I did not miss and my favourite piece had to be "Dance 'til the sun sets," beautiful and very poignant.
(Invermoriston)

First class as ever!

(Midmar)

I attended the performance at the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes and thought the whole evening was wonderful. The singers were delightful and the pianist was marvellous. I do hope we can have the pleasure of this type of evening in the future in Glenrothes. Thank you for bringing this to Fife.

(Glenrothes)