Scottish Opera - Glasgow
28 April 2024

Company search

click here for more photos for
this opera company
Click below for
production trailers
Marx in London!
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Carmen
Il trittico
Ainadamar

You've been granted free access to this page.

Take a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL or SUBSCRIBE today to access the full content of theoperacritic.com.

Free access

Performance reviews

Key Photo gallery Production details Video link
8th Door

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 9

A bloody good double bill
10 Apr 17 / The Observer
An emotional roller coaster
8 Apr 17 / The Opera Critic
Sung with such eloquence it makes you wish we heard more operas in Hungarian
7 Apr 17 / The Spectator
What’s behind Bluebeard’s 8th door? Chilling double bill from Scottish Opera
4 Apr 17 / Bachtrack
A tantalising prospect
2 Apr 17 / The Herald
Bartók’s opera is partnered with a new work in an intriguing double bill
1 Apr 17 / Financial Times
Intense and moving
1 Apr 17 / The Stage
Scottish Opera's compelling tour of Bartók's horrors
31 Mar 17 / The Guardian
Scottish Opera premiere a new work by composer-in-residence Lliam Paterson
30 Mar 17 / The Herald
Pelléas et Mélisande

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 9

Scottish Opera are on their finest form for David McVicar’s Pelléas et Melisande
13 Mar 17 / Seen and Heard
An intriguing Pelléas et Mélisande by Scottish Opera
11 Mar 17 / The Opera Critic
This is a production every opera buff and every devotee of Debussy should see
9 Mar 17 / Edinburgh Guide
Debussy to die for at Scottish Opera
6 Mar 17 / The Observer
A masterpiece of nuance and atmosphere
28 Feb 17 / Telegraph
An enthralling experience
28 Feb 17 / The Scotsman
This understated, sombrely lit production of Debussy’s engimatic work builds a brooding intensity
27 Feb 17 / The Times
Scottish Opera's raptly beautiful, classy production
25 Feb 17 / The Guardian
McVicar's stylish and moving Pelléas et Mélisande from Scottish Opera
25 Feb 17 / Bachtrack
L’Enfant prodigue

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 1

Debussy's early opera is charming and effective
13 Feb 17 / The Opera Critic
The Trial

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 6

Glass' The Trial gets its Scottish Opera premiere
9 Feb 17 / The Opera Critic
Laughter in the dark: Scottish Opera pass the test of Glass’s The Trial
6 Feb 17 / Seen and Heard
The disharmony of evil
29 Jan 17 / The Herald
Unfulfilled potential in Philip Glass' The Trial
28 Jan 17 / Bachtrack
A brilliant, intricate reading of Kafka
26 Jan 17 / The Herald
Economical but effective
26 Jan 17 / The Stage
Le nozze di Figaro

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 3

Still as fun and sunny as it was the first time around
14 Nov 16 / The Opera Critic
Sir Thomas Allen managed to bring comedy into a serious story
12 Nov 16 / Edinburgh Guide
Borderline sumptuous: Scottish Opera revives The Marriage of Figaro
15 Oct 16 / Bachtrack
L'elisir d'amore

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 3

The Elixir of Love provided a comedic, beautifully sung and hugely enjoyable night of opera
30 Oct 16 / The Saint
A delightful boutique Elixir of Love from Scottish Opera on tour
28 Oct 16 / Bachtrack
Scottish Opera flirts with PG Wodehouse
26 Sep 16 / The Guardian
L'Amico Fritz

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 3

Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz exudes charm and gentleness
28 Oct 16 / The Opera Critic
Curiosity and ambivalence in Scottish Opera's L'amico Fritz
26 Oct 16 / Bachtrack
Diaphanous Mascagni romcom is a mixed blessing
25 Oct 16 / The Guardian
The Mikado

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 10

Enjoyable and visually appealing Mikado from Scottish Opera
6 Jun 16 / Seen and Heard
All's well that ends well in the town of Titipu
3 Jun 16 / The Opera Critic
It’s a real box of delights
27 May 16 / The Inverness Courier
Director Martin Lloyd-Evans has created something utterly reliable and palatable
16 May 16 / The Guardian
Scottish Opera could have a hit on its hands with this new Mikado
12 May 16 / The Spectator
For Glasgow audiences it felt very much like a rehearsal for the real thing
11 May 16 / Opera Britannia
This take on Gilbert and Sullivan's classic looks beautiful, but needs some settling in
10 May 16 / The List
A Victorian variety show on Japanese Night
10 May 16 / Bachtrack
If you think opera is not for you then let the Mikado change your mind
10 May 16 / Daily Record
Visually resplendent
7 May 16 / The Stage
Rusalka

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 6

A tale of the impossibility of crossing cultures
20 Apr 16 / The Opera Critic
In a word, epic
16 Apr 16 / Daily Record
Traditional Rusalka a visual feast for Scottish Opera
12 Apr 16 / Bachtrack
Scottish Opera leave fairytale cruelty to lurk below the surface
11 Apr 16 / The Guardian
Traditional, but also bristling with macabre humour
7 Apr 16 / Telegraph
Fine performance of Rusalka from Stuart Stratford and Scottish Opera
7 Apr 16 / Seen and Heard
Ariodante

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 8

Good cast and excellent period band in Scottish Opera’s Ariodante
29 Feb 16 / Seen and Heard
Scottish Opera's Ariodante offers musical riches
27 Feb 16 / The Opera Critic
A very finely sung Ariodante from Scottish Opera
23 Feb 16 / Bachtrack
A fine druid double act and Handel with added bits
22 Feb 16 / The Guardian
Sombre Ariodante au Scottish Opera
19 Feb 16 / Bachtrack (French)
A claustrophobic, beautifully sung new production of Handel's opera of deception and jealousy
19 Feb 16 / The Arts Desk
Beautiful singing, but Scottish Opera's new production drags
18 Feb 16 / The Guardian
A modern Ariodante fit for Handel’s score
18 Feb 16 / Telegraph
The Devil Inside

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 8

The Devil Inside, a new work that works
2 Feb 16 / The Opera Critic
Scottish Opera’s striking re-imagining of Stevenson’s Bottle Imp
1 Feb 16 / Seen and Heard
Stuart MacRae’s devilish new opera is intimate, intense and unsettling
31 Jan 16 / The Observer
Spellbinding adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson short story
28 Jan 16 / The List
Subtle and daring
26 Jan 16 / The Stage
This electric new commission from Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh sizzles with energy
26 Jan 16 / Opera Britannia
A deeply chilling opera receives its world première in Glasgow
26 Jan 16 / Bachtrack
Spirited operatic update of a sinister tale
25 Jan 16 / The Guardian
'We talked diseases for days'
The making of a modern opera: Robert Louis Stevenson’s sinister story is the starting point for Louise Welsh and Stuart MacRae’s opera of desire, devilry and detuned sounds, The Devil Inside.
Carmen

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 7

Scottish Opera’s Carmen lacks colour and life
14 Nov 15 / Seen and Heard
Lithuanian born mezzo-soprano Justina Gringyte was without doubt the evening's highlight
7 Nov 15 / Edinburgh Guide
Justina Gringyte's Carmen is languorous, liquid and sensuous
5 Nov 15 / The Opera Critic
Justina Gringyte is a fabulous Carmen in Scottish Opera's Revival
22 Oct 15 / Bachtrack
Justina Gringyte in the title role commands the stage with an astonishing performance
16 Oct 15 / The Scotsman
Gringyte impresses in Scottish Opera's robust production
14 Oct 15 / The Guardian
A spare staging of Bizet’s masterpiece first seen in Glasgow in 1999
14 Oct 15 / The Herald
Justina Gringyte - from Carmen to Carmen
After a triumph at ENO, the mezzo soprano brings her signature role to Scottish Opera.
Così fan tutte

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 1

Pocket-sized Mozart ducks the moral murk
26 Sep 15 / The Guardian
Il Trovatore

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 9

A rewarding performance
26 May 15 / The Opera Critic
A particularly powerful performance from Scottish Opera that is highly recommended
25 May 15 / Edinburgh Guide
Scottish Opera’s Il Trovatore takes audience by surprise
25 May 15 / Seen and Heard
Scottish Opera ends its season in great voice with Il trovatore
20 May 15 / Bachtrack
Any similarities to the former MP for East Renfrewshire are purely coincidental
17 May 15 / The Herald
It looked good, sounded marvellous and was full to the brim with all the drama and passion
11 May 15 / Opera Britannia
Stark simplicity
9 May 15 / The Herald
A definite success for Scottish Opera in a strongly cast production
9 May 15 / The Stage
Claire Rutter shines in Scottish Opera's static production
9 May 15 / The Guardian
Jenufa

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 11

A performance full of raw emotions
20 Apr 15 / The Opera Critic
Even at the tragic heart of Janáček's Jenůfa there is ambiguity
20 Apr 15 / The Arts Desk
Lee Bisset's Jenůfa, enhanced by her own pregnancy, is strong and dignified
19 Apr 15 / Edinburgh Guide
Scottish Opera’s Jenufa transposed to the west of Ireland makes perfect sense
13 Apr 15 / The Observer
A night to remember
11 Apr 15 / Opera Britannia
Scottish Opera’s Jenůfa impresses with its integrity and power to stun
11 Apr 15 / Seen and Heard
Powerful and haunting
10 Apr 15 / Bachtrack
Scottish Opera’s co-production is intelligent and sensitive
9 Apr 15 / The Guardian
This production's strong cast made the force of Jenůfa's tragedy hit home
9 Apr 15 / Telegraph
Miskimmon’s production is focused and detailed
9 Apr 15 / The Stage
Go see, but take a hanky
9 Apr 15 / The Herald
A Janacek champion in the Mackerras mould
Annilese Miskimmon - director of a new production that opens at Scottish Opera next week - says she is determined to investigate the many tangled dimensions of the relationships in the opera.
Orfeo ed Euridice

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 9

Good singing, but Scottish Opera’s Orfeo is a hotchpotch
10 Mar 15 / Seen and Heard
A thoroughly competent and enjoyable experience
5 Mar 15 / Edinburgh Guide
Elegant and charming
5 Mar 15 / The Opera Critic
For anyone wishing to sample modern opera this is the show for you
5 Mar 15 / The Scotsman
Scottish Opera's Orfeo ed Euridice a wild visual feast
3 Mar 15 / Bachtrack
Though it made little sense, the production was incredibly visually striking
25 Feb 15 / Opera Britannia
Exquisitely constructed telling of Gluck’s tale of the power of music ironically excels in other areas
24 Feb 15 / The Stage
Good-looking but musically bereft
21 Feb 15 / The Guardian
Caitlin Hulcup and Lucy Hall make the most of their roles
21 Feb 15 / The Herald
Inés de Castro

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 8

MacMillan's Inés de Castro makes for a night of horror
2 Feb 15 / The Opera Critic
Shocking and unmissable
27 Jan 15 / Bachtrack
James MacMillan packs a punch with Inés de Castro
26 Jan 15 / The Observer
Inés de Castro is intense, raw and packed with action
25 Jan 15 / Daily Record
Gory and discomfiting MacMillan
24 Jan 15 / The Guardian
Ines de Castro returns
24 Jan 15 / The Herald
Triumphant and bloody new production of James MacMillan’s first opera
24 Jan 15 / The Stage
This staging of James MacMillan’s Inês de Castro is an unrelieved parade of madness and despair – but it's impressive
24 Jan 15 / Telegraph
La Cenerentola

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 9

Flat and forgettable La Cenerentola from Scottish Opera
22 Nov 14 / Seen and Heard
Scottish Opera's Cenerentola kicks off the panto season
17 Nov 14 / The Opera Critic
The final hand clapping made up for lost ground along the way
15 Nov 14 / Edinburgh Guide
Cendrillon s’impose par le rire
11 Nov 14 / ConcertoNet (French)
Scottish Opera's La Cenerentola with a Russian star
28 Oct 14 / Bachtrack
From early to epic, Rossini’s irrepressible operas are currently everywhere
26 Oct 14 / The Observer
A couple of top-notch singers rescue Scottish Opera’s new production of La Cenerentola from the doldrums
20 Oct 14 / Opera Britannia
Decent but unmemorable Cinderella retelling
17 Oct 14 / The Guardian
This co-production with Opera national du Rhinhas a cut-price look
17 Oct 14 / The Herald
Madama Butterfly

Scottish Opera


No. of reviews: 7

Anne Sophie Durprels beautifully portrays Butterfly’s naivety
17 Jun 14 / Daily Record
Five stars go to 'the best performance Glasgow’s theatre scene has seen in years'
30 May 14 / The Journal
Hye-Youn Lee gives moving portrayal of Madama Butterfly
21 May 14 / Seen and Heard
Scottish Opera's Butterfly soars with a new cast
12 May 14 / The Opera Critic
Hye-Youn Lee brought an assertive edge to the title role
12 May 14 / Financial Times
<< back | next >>
Reviews search
Use this search to find historical reviews in our database
Performance schedule
Verdi
8 May to 9 Jun 2024

News & Articles

Scottish Opera announces 60th anniversary season for 2022/23
Scottish Opera has unveiled its 2022/23 Season which includes four new main stage productions, with one of the four an outdoor community opera.
19 May 2022 / Scottish Business News
Scottish Opera withdraws nomination for Sky Arts Award
The Scottish Opera has withdrawn its nomination for a Sky Arts Award for its production of Nixon in China after being criticized for its use of 'yellowface' makeup, The Times reports.
14 Jun 2021 / Broadway World
Scottish Opera announces Spring/Summer season
Scottish Opera’s forthcoming season includes two specially made films, along with plans to bring live opera back to audiences with outdoor performances in the summer.
15 Apr 2021 / Opera Now
Scottish Opera reveals plans to stage 200 'pop-up' shows
Scottish Opera has revealed plans to stage more than 200 outdoor performances for around 12,000 people across Scotland as it emerges from lockdown restrictions.
8 Apr 2021 / The Scotsman
Singing in the rain
Scottish Opera is beginning live performances again with a string of pop-up shows across the country - with musicians behind screens and singers staying three metres apart.
6 Sep 2020 / BBC News