The Orchestra of Scottish Opera

The Orchestra of Scottish Opera was formed in January 1980 by Scottish Opera’s founder and first Music Director, Sir Alexander Gibson. The music directors John Mauceri, Sir Richard Armstrong, Francesco Corti and Stuart Stratford have since followed in Sir Alex’s footsteps. 

The Orchestra takes part in every performance of Scottish Opera’s mainstage production and operas in concert, as well as in concerts, galas, and operas mounted by other arts organisations in Scotland. In recent years, The Orchestra of Scottish Opera has also performed in England, Northern Ireland, the United States, and Australia to accompany Scottish Opera’s touring productions. 

The Orchestra serves as the musical backbone of the company's diverse programming, performing alongside world-class soloists and various ensembles throughout Scotland. Recent performances have been conducted by distinguished maestros including Martyn Brabbins, Dane Lam, David Parry, and Scottish Opera Music Director Stuart Stratford, with critics noting The Orchestra ‘sounding on top form… with luminous string solo work’ (Bachtrack on The Merry Widow 2025).

Beyond traditional opera performances, The Orchestra supports Scottish Opera's innovative programming including adapted works, concert performances, and collaborative projects with other arts organisations including Scotland’s Choral Unions. The Orchestra is also available for hire for private and corporate events, studio recording sessions, concerts, ballet performances, and festivals, extending their reach beyond the opera house and contributing to the country’s broader cultural landscape. Many of its players are tutors at the RCS, training the next generation of sector-leading classical musicians here in Scotland. 

Two recordings by The Orchestra of Scottish Opera were released in June 2025: Utopia, Limited by Gilbert and Sullivan conducted by former Head of Music Derek Clark (NAXOS), and The Seal Woman by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Granville Bantock conducted by John Andrews (Retrospect Opera). The former gives one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s late collaborations a landmark modern recording, and the latter is a haunting Celtic Folk Opera bringing to life the timeless legend of the selkies through evocative Hebridean folk songs. In 2024, Retrospect Opera’s recording of C V Stanford’s Shamus O’Brien, conducted by David Parry and featuring The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, was released and shortlisted in the opera category of the Gramophone Classical Music Awards.