The Orchestra of Scottish Opera
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera plays at all Scottish Opera performances in Glasgow’s Theatre Royal, Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, Inverness’s Eden Court and Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre. The principal players within the sections also form an ensemble that accompanies tours to smaller theatres round Scotland, as well as the Company’s Five:15 Operas Made in Scotland project.
The Orchestra leaves the pit and takes centre-stage for its annual series of Sunday afternoon concerts at the beautifully restored Georgian church, St Andrew's in the Square, in Glasgow city centre. Here the musicians get the opportunity to flex their musical muscles in non-operatic repertoire, ranging from Haydn and Beethoven symphonies to contemporary works. You can get a taste of the Orchestra’s playing by listening to specially recorded music excerpts which featured in the St Andrew's in the Square concert programme.
In addition to its work with Scottish Opera, the Orchestra is in increasing demand for concerts, working regularly with Children's Classic Concerts and Celtic Connections, as well as with choral unions and societies around the country.
The Orchestra celebrates its 30th birthday in 2010, having been formed by Scottish Opera’s founder and first Music Director, Sir Alexander Gibson. The conductors John Mauceri and Sir Richard Armstrong followed in Sir Alex’s footsteps. Today, Francesco Corti is in charge of the baton. Read more about our Music Directors.
Many of the more than 50 players in the Orchestra have musical lives away from Scottish Opera, either engaged as Visiting Tutors to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow – ensuring that their skills and experience are passed on to the orchestral players of tomorrow – playing in chamber ensembles, or as soloists or section principals with orchestras throughout the UK.
See a full list of our players.
If you want to know more about The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, or to make enquiries about booking the Orchestra for your organisation, please contact Jay Allen, Orchestra & Concerts Director on 0141 242 0561 or email jay.allen@scottishopera.org.uk.
'The orchestra is at its ebullient best under new music director Francesco Corti' – The Guardian, The Two Widows, 2008
'Thrilling ... The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, grand and sounding possessed' – The Herald, I Puritani, 2009
'What really sets this production apart, though, is the explosive tonal world explored by the Scottish Opera orchestra' – The Scotsman, Manon, 2009
