Annual reports
Scottish Opera is pleased to release its 2020/21 Annual Report – New Stages. Same Strong Spirit. – in the following formats:
- View/download full PDF (6MB) – this is recommended particularly if you use a screen reader
- View on Issuu
2020/21 Summary
In the 2020/21 financial year, the Covid-19 pandemic gravely impacted all segments of the performing arts and the lives of millions who rely on this industry. Scottish Opera has, however, had a strong year in spite of the challenges presented. Scottish Opera learned digital skills to release a series of films, performed live opera outdoors when restrictions allowed, maintained jobs through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), maintained full pay of self-employed artists and contractual staff whose engagements were curtailed, and supported the nation by making scrubs and PPE (personal protective equipment). Scottish Opera supporters remained loyal and audiences appreciated, and were inspired by, the Company's adaptability.
This was Music Director Stuart Stratford’s fifth year with Scottish Opera. His knowledge, energy and enthusiasm continue to play a key part in shaping the Company’s artistic success.
Scottish Opera continued to champion imaginative, innovative programming that is accessible for a wide audience. This year, a key pillar of this work was Scottish Opera: On Screen, a series of opera films made throughout lockdown. Scottish Opera was the only Scottish National Performing Company to present live performances during the 2020 pandemic.
The Year in Numbers
820 sets of scrubs made for NHS Scotland
87 films posted on YouTube with a total of 238,030 views
2,079 people saw Pop-up Opera at 46 performances
27,984 people from 66 different countries took part in our online Primary Schools project, Fever!
665 people at 6 sold-out outdoor performances of La bohème
3 collaborations with Edinburgh International Festival, Lammermuir Festival and Perth Festival
2 BBC Radio Scotland broadcasts
1 Classical Music Digital Award 2020 for The Narcissistic Fish
Over 260,000 people, in Scotland and beyond, experienced Scottish Opera in 2020/21
In the Press
‘A welcome antidote’
– Bachtrack on The Narcissistic Fish
★★★★★ ‘Worth an Oscar.’
– The Scotsman on The Telephone
★★★★★ ‘A little comic gem’
– The Times on The Telephone
★★★★ ‘A stunning triumph of event opera.’
– The Stage on La bohème
‘Inspired and inspiring production’
– Opera Magazine on La bohème
★★★★★ ‘A compelling treatment of a richly ambiguous work’
– Bachtrack on The Diary of One Who Disappeared
★★★★ ‘A little touch of magic’
– Bachtrack on Hansel and Gretel
★★★★ ‘A veritable ray of sunshine’
– The Scotsman on A Little Bit of Don Giovanni
★★★★ ‘Light-hearted but soulful performances’
– The Stage on A Little Bit of The Gondoliers
★★★★ ‘A ray of sunshine in lockdown gloom’
– Highland News (Inverness) on Song of the Clyde
Gallery
Audience members watching Scottish Opera's outdoor production of La Boheme. Credit James Glossop
Daniel Keating-Roberts in Fox-tot! Credit James Glossop
Rhian Lois as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, available to watch now in the Scottish Opera On Screen collection. Credit James Glossop
Opera Highlights, available to watch now as part of the Scottish Opera On Screen collection. Credit Colin Hattersley
Rhian Lois as Musetta in Scottish Opera's outdoor production of La Boheme. Credit James Glossop
On Screen collection. Credit Julie Broadfoot
The Brassketeers, Scottish Opera's online cross-curricular project for P1–P3 pupils. Credit Jamie Macdonald and Tess Wood
Making scrubs for NHS Scotland during the pandemic in 2020
Soraya Mafi as Lucy in The Telephone, a Scottish Opera film commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival. Credit James Glossop
