Roxana Haines’ new co-production of Oedipus Rex opened at the National Museum of Scotland this week, in partnership with Edinburgh International Festival. There are two further sold-out performances on 18 and 19 August.
These promenade performances of Stravinsky’s opera oratorio build on our well-honed model of 5-star community opera. The Museum’s awe-inspiring Grand Gallery is the spectacular setting for a night of classical drama, exceptional vocal performances and moving orchestral music.
In this co-presentation with EIF, our Music Director Stuart Stratford conducts former Emerging Artist Shengzhi Ren as Oedipus, Kitty Whately as Jocasta, Roland Wood as Creon, Callum Thorpe as Tiresias, Seumas Begg as Shepherd and Emyr Wyn Jones as Messenger.
The designs are by Anna Orton, and an impressive community chorus from across the Central Belt of Scotland, including NHS workers joins us for this unique performance of a timeless piece.
In their five-star review The Stage said it was a ‘clever, powerful and engaging telling of the Oedipus myth’ with the orchestra and chorus creating ‘a glorious sound’, whilst Broadway Baby called it ‘an outstanding musical performance of a great work’.
The Guardian called it ‘an unmissable event’, particularly praising the contribution of the chorus as ‘one of the glories of the production’.
Kitty Whately as Jocasta along with members of the Chorus. Photo by James Glossop
The Telegraph called the production a ‘bold and successful operatic experiment’ and called the performances of the leads ‘superb’ and ‘emotive’.
The Times praised the principal singers, calling Callum Thorpe in the role of Tiresias as ‘impressive’ and Kitty Whately’s portrayal of Jocasta as ‘strident and majestic’.
The Speaker, played by Wendy Seager was praised by The Arts Desk for narrating the tale with ‘an air of ancient wisdom and subtle humour’, and Shengzhi Ren praised for his ‘intense and emotive’ portrayal of Oedipus.
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, under the baton of our Music Director Stuart Stratford was hailed as ‘terrific’ by Bachtrack.
★★★★★ The Stage
★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ ScotsGay Arts
★★★★ The Times
★★★★ The Telegraph
★★★★ The Arts Desk
★★★★ Lothian Life
To view more production images and read more about this exciting co-production including the Director's note, visit the Oedipus Rex page.