A night at the opera at Rutherglen Town Hall awaits – and all for free and from the comfort of your own home.
Although the venue is currently closed to live audiences, Scottish Opera was given the keys for a recording of their 'On Screen' series, which has created a series of exclusive new filmed concert performances to help keep music live during the pandemic.
Rutherglen Town Hall provides the splendid backdrop for two of Scottish Opera’s 2020/21 emerging artists, Catriona Hewitson and Margo Arsane, and pianist Derek Clark for a night at the opera.
The performance features a variety of beautiful music including Delibes’ ‘Flower Duet’ – much-loved soundtrack to British Airways’ TV adverts – and Puccini’s ‘O mio babbino caro’ - familiar from TV and films including the Merchant Ivory classic
'A Room with a View,' this brand new film sees Scottish Opera team up with South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) to afford a fantastic opportunity to hear glorious music performed live.
The stars of the film also lift the curtain for a peek behind the scenes.
Catriona and Margo share their experiences of being opera singers and how they prepare for the stage, whilst head of music Derek talks about what it is like leading the music department of a national company, and what makes opera so special.
Colin McWilliams, Rutherglen Town Hall venue manager, told Lanarkshire Live : “This is the first project we’ve had since we went into lockdown a year ago.
"Ironically, the last performance we had at the town hall was Scottish Opera with their Opera Highlights show – it was a fantastically successful night, sold out, thoroughly enjoyable. Little did we know what was round the corner.
“Fortunately now, thanks to funding from the Scottish Government’s Performance Arts Venues Relief Fund, administered by Creative Scotland, we’re able to put on projects such as this, and welcome Scottish Opera back in a year later to what will no doubt be a fantastic film.”
The iconic opera moments captured in the filmed performances will be available free on SLLC You Tube channel from 7pm on Friday, April 23.
The recording was filmed on March 23 and 24.
All performers observed the appropriate physical distancing guidelines throughout the filming of this concert.
In addition to the performance from Rutherglen Town Hall, there’s a range of films in the Scottish Opera: On Screen series to explore on Scottish Opera’s YouTube channel.
