Scottish Opera: Pop Up Opera

Scottish Opera's first live performances in nine months took place at Eden Court this week. 

Two socially distanced outdoor shows visited the Inverness venue, condensing three Gilbert & Sullivan classics into 30-minute performances. 

This was an ideal opportunity for anyone new to opera to try a taster, including young children.  

Performed on the back of a truck by two singers, a storyteller and two musicians (cello and guitar) this was a lively experience in the windy car park of the venue. The audience spaced into bubbles enjoyed a whiz through one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular shows, ‘The Gondoliers’. Full of lovesick chaps, kings and queens and misguided ladies, this slick adaptation was great fun even for a lively grandson. The mostly elderly audience sat dutifully as the artists did their best to entertain.  

Well sung and battling a windy day, the soprano and baritone did their best to take the audience to Venice and the silly goings on. They sang with brio and tackled the various extracts well. I suspect they could use a little more gesture and performance training whilst concentrating on the vocal gymnastics, but they had energy and worked hard to liven up the audience. The setting would have benefited with a more colourful and larger backdrop - and the plastic chairs for the musicians did not help. 

However, at last they were able to sing and play live and this was obviously a great joy. And they didn’t mind being introduced to a happy three-year-old as they packed up. There is no substitute for live action, and it was a joy to at last enjoy some good old-fashioned entertainment. Recommended.  

Book shows on the tour on the Scottish Opera website.