A NEW opera by the acclaimed writer Louise Welsh is to be performed as part of the new season by Scotland's national opera company.
Anthropocene, written by Welsh and the composer Stuart MacRae, will be performed in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.
The season also features a new staging of Janacek's Kátya Kabanová, a production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Sir Thomas Allen’s staging of Mozart’s The Magic Flute and a production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci in a large tented venue in Paisley.
Anthropocene is the fourth collaboration between MacRae and Welsh and the "gripping new work tells the story of a team of scientists trapped in the frozen Arctic wastelands."
It will be staged at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow and the King's Theatre in Edinburgh before it transfers to Hackney Empire in London for two performances.
Alex Reedijk, the general director of Scottish Opera, said: "We are delighted to present full-scale productions of Pagliacci, Rigoletto, Kátya Kabanová, The Magic Flute and the world premiere of Anthropocene.
"They are brought to the stage by four of the UK’s finest directors - Matthew Richardson, Sir Thomas Allen, Bill Bankes-Jones and Stephen Lawless - each demonstrating their distinctive approach to storytelling and creating engaging and exciting stage worlds.
"These productions provide the bedrock to a wide-ranging season which sees us present shows in 53 cities, towns and villages the length and breadth of the country, from Pop-up Opera in our ‘theatre on wheels’ to two Opera Highlights tours and our promenade production of Pagliacci in a huge tent that we’ve dubbed ‘Paisley Opera House".
Scottish Opera is also bringing its opera show for babies, BambinO, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Stuart Stratford, the opera company's Music Director, added: "Established favourites The Magic Flute and Rigoletto have, as a counterpoint, the brand new Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh commission, Anthropocene.
"Kátya Kabanová promises to bring the desolation, hopes and shattered dreams of what is arguably Janácek’s finest opera to the stage in a new production.
"Pagliacci will be a visual feast and a thrillingly immersive experience for audiences, bringing together the Paisley community and our wonderful orchestra and soloists."
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