Latest news with #ScottishOpera
BBC News
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
End of the road for tenor's Sir Harry Lauder show
Sir Harry Lauder was Scotland's first global first British artist to sell a million cylinder records and a further million newly-invented flat to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth in Portobello were derailed in 2020 by the pandemic but tenor Jamie MacDougall will mark his idol's 155th birthday with performances in the town hall this show Lauder was created with Scottish Opera in 2017, adapted from a script by comedian and actor Jimmy Logan, who was responsible for sparking Jamie's interest in the performer."I was ten years of age at the King's Theatre in Glasgow when I saw Jimmy Logan perform this very play," he recalls."I was taken twice that week. My grandpa knew all the songs and at the end of the week, a record had been bought for me and I began learning them." Sir Harry premiered his classic song I Love A Lassie onstage at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, when he appeared in his first pantomime, Aladdin. It's easy to dismiss his couthy characters, which fell out of fashion after the demise of music hall, but they were hugely popular and Lauder was a shrewd businessman who knew how to manage his successful career."He toured America 22 times and did six world tours," Jamie says."This is before there were planes. He was an incredible artist with a huge global appeal."Other stars of the time wanted to be seen with posed with Charlie Chaplin, swapping hats and canes for a photo in that year also brought heartbreak, with the death of his only son John at the battle of Pozières while serving with the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Lauder threw himself into fundraising, raising a million pounds for returning servicemen as well as writing another of his most famous songs - Keep Right On To The End of the Road. Jamie continues with that cause today, as an ambassador of Erskine Veterans Charity, which will receive all of the proceeds from the Portobello Logan has his own connection to the charity since his father was one of the first recipients of an artificial limb at part of the reason Jamie wants Lauder to be remembered is because the royalties from his songs continue to go to the homes."It's important for everybody to remember who Harry Lauder was. I hope by singing the songs, keeping the songs going, they will find a new audience," he says."I'm very keen for young people to get to sing these songs."For Jamie, it's time to hang up his lowland bonnet and concentrate on other things."It's been this constant presence in my career that's taken me all around the world," he says. "I really had to be here this year because I think this is my last hurrah for Harry. It's been fun and this is a great way to bow out."He hopes another young performer will be as inspired as he was by Scotland's first global star."It would be wonderful if somebody came up with an idea to make a film and there was a young actor out there who could play that incredible life. What a feel-good movie that would be."Lauder is at Portobello Town Hall on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 August at 7pm.
Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scottish Opera show heading to East Kilbride later this year
The audience will follow the story of four very different characters, watching how their personal relationships intertwine at the office party. With no shortage of messy romance and an unforgettable work soiree, this will be a night of opera to remember! Tickets are now on sale for the new production of Scottish Opera's Opera Highlights, which hits East Kilbride Village Theatre on October 2. The audience will follow the story of four very different characters, watching how their personal relationships intertwine at the office party. With no shortage of messy romance and an unforgettable work soiree, this will be a night of opera to remember! Performing in this one-of-a-kind show, created specifically for Scottish Opera each season, are 2025/26 Emerging Artists mezzo-soprano Chloe Harris and tenor Luvo Maranti, along with soprano Ceferina Penny and baritone James Geidt, both making their Company debuts. Accompanying the singers on piano is Music Director Meghan Rhoades, Emerging Artist Repetiteur. Transforming smaller venues into a local opera house, the show starts in East Kilbride and travels to Ayr, Gartmore, Brechin, Ellon, Crail, Castle Douglas, Melrose, Crawfordjohn, Birnam, Nairn, Lochinver, Glenuig, Castlebay (a return visit following the Company's Opera Highlights performance in February being cancelled due to bad weather), Lochranza, Johnstone, and Edinburgh. Scottish Opera's extensive touring programme is one of the largest of any European opera company, ensuring performances are within reach of as many of Scotland's dispersed population as possible. Over 4000 people of all ages attended the Spring Opera Highlights tour this year, with audience members commenting how it was 'wonderful that Scottish Opera comes to some of the more remote and rural areas', bringing the show 'to our doorstep'. The show's Director is Emma Doherty who last worked with Scottish Opera on the Outreach & Education show, The Giant's Harp, and was Assistant Director in 2024 on Oedipus Rex and Marx in London! Designs are by the award-winning Kenneth MacLeod, who worked on last Season's Opera Highlights. The playlist cleverly combines a fabulous collection of much-loved classics with a treasure trove of lesser-known pieces. These include music from Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Gounod's Romeo and Juliette, Massenet's Werther, Handel's Alcina, Strauss II's Die Fledermaus and Samuel Barber's one-act opera, A Hand of Bridge. These operatic snapshots are curated by Fiona MacSherry, Scottish Opera's Head of Music. All are sung in English or an English translation, making the story immediate and accessible for the audience. Director Emma Doherty said: 'I am delighted to be directing the next Opera Highlights tour, which showcases some beautiful music and deals with the themes of forbidden love and deception. In the show, designed by the brilliant Kenneth MacLeod, audiences can expect to see four colleagues with complicated love triangles who are gearing up for their office party!' While on tour with Opera Highlights, Scottish Opera is running school and community workshops, with more details to be announced soon. At these free 'How to stage an opera' interactive sessions, those attending will learn about the process of powerful storytelling through opera, using scenes from the tour as inspiration. The creative team will explore how music can illustrate dramatic context on stage, and the mechanics of staging and directing scenes from an opera. Participants learn how singers use their voices and stage techniques to generate atmosphere and create mood to develop character, and how basic props can support the time, location and even the weather in which the story is unfolding. These sessions, lasting approximately one hour, are open to all ages, and no previous experience is required. Opera Highlights goes on the road again in Spring 2026, when Emerging Artist Repetiteur Toby Stanford accompanies singers including Emerging Artists Daniel Barrett and Kira Kaplan along with Alexandria Moon and Connor James Smith. Opera Highlights is supported by Friends of Scottish Opera and JTH Charitable Trust. Tickets are on sale now at the Scottish Opera website. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Harry Lauder back in Portobello
Portobello's most famous son, Sir Harry Lauder, will be celebrated as Scottish Opera's acclaimed one-man show Lauder is performed at the seaside suburb's Town Hall on 4 and 5 August. Born just a stone's throw from the venue – a plaque marks the cottage at 3 Bridge Street – Lauder's Porty legacy remains strong and is commemorated with a memorial garden at the Town Hall and the local ring-road is named after the international performer. Tenor and broadcaster Jamie MacDougall is reviving the much loved show – written by another legendary Scottish artist, Jimmy Logan – with performances in London, Derbyshire and Portobello, and proceeds will go to the Erskine Veterans Charity, for which MacDougall is an ambassador. Lauder was much affected by the death of his son, Captain John Lauder, at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and raised huge sums of money for injured servicemen, donating his musical royalties to Erskine. Famously performing in full Highland regalia – kilt, sporran, Tam o' Shanter, and walking stick – Lauder's global influence led Winston Churchill to call him 'Scotland's greatest ever ambassador', and acknowledged the comfort his songs provided during WW2. Jamie MacDougall said: 'I was 10 when I was taken twice to see Jimmy Logan in Lauder at the King's Theatre Glasgow. That was the start of my life-long association with these wonderful songs and Sir Harry, an entertainer who was the first truly global star. I am honoured to be an Ambassador for Erskine, and hope audiences can come along to see this special show and raise money for an incredible charity.' Adapted by MacDougall and director Kally LloydJones from the original script by Jimmy Logan, it features well-known songs such as 'I Love a Lassie', composed for the 1905 Glasgow pantomime Aladdin, and 'Roamin' in the Gloamin'' and 'End of the Road'. The performance also includes footage of Lauder's funeral and trenchera visuals, transporting audience members through his life. Like this: Like Related
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Inspiring school near Glasgow wins top music award
Milngavie Primary has achieved the Gold Award from the We Make Music School Award scheme for their outstanding success in the subject. The distinction 'recognises and celebrates the rich variety of music-making activity taking place in primary and additional support needs schools in Scotland'. Milngavie is the first school in East Dunbartonshire to gain the accreditation and one of only three in Scotland to achieve gold. Jennifer Ramsay, a specialist music teacher at the school, said 'We are very proud to place music at the heart of our school and delighted to have our commitment to music celebrated. 'We know music is extremely beneficial to pupils and can help increase attainment, confidence and resilience. "It also promotes inclusion and develops strong teamwork skills. 'At Milngavie we want all children to experience the joy music can bring and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts.' READ NEXT: Homes in postcode could be left without water In particular, the Gold Award acknowledges the school's commitment to high quality weekly music lessons and extracurricular groups who regularly perform in the local community. It also recognises its collaborative links with outside organisations such as Scottish Opera, The Benedetti Foundation and The Milngavie Music Club. Furthermore, the award celebrates the team of instrumental teachers who work together to host performances such as the annual musical evening, which showcases the talent of pupils from across the school. The award was presented to Milngavie by Neil Millar from Education Scotland who came along to the school for the occasion. He said: 'This is only the third time in which gold has been awarded, so it is a huge achievement, and it is clear from today's showcase of musical talent why it has been awarded. 'Music is very much at the heart of the ethos of the school and it is fantastic to see." READ NEXT: 'Like a wasteland': Bereaved residents hit out at 'disgraceful' cemetery Mae Murray from We Make Music Scotland added: 'Huge congratulations to Milngavie. "Your hard work, talent, and dedication to the arts truly shines. "It's inspiring to see a school nurturing creativity and giving young people the opportunity to express themselves through music. "Well done to all the pupils and staff who made this possible.'
Daily Record
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Cathkin High pupil Rose hit the high notes as she won national competition
She won the Solo Performer of the Year category at the Scottish Young Musicians awards in Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire. A highly-gifted Cathkin High pupil certainly hit the high notes when she flew the flag for South Lanarkshire at a prestigious national event. Rose Murray was the finalist for the region in the Solo Performer of the Year category at the Scottish Young Musicians awards in Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire. This year there were 33 finalists, one representing every local authority in Scotland and one from the independent schools. And Rose won her award for performances of Song to the Seals by Granville Bantock and Taylor The Latte Boy by Zina Goldrich. As well as her award, to support her musical journey, Rose also gets to spend a day with Scottish Opera where she will meet with the production team and the cast of outstanding singers of their autumn production La Boheme. And she will also secure tickets to one of the performances. Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year is Scotland's leading music festival for soloists and ensembles. Young musicians can compete to win big prizes, perform live on a national stage and push their skills like never before. Elaine Duffy, the council's instrumental music co-ordinator, said: 'We are delighted that Rose has been recognised at this most prestigious event. 'It is a real testament to her hard work and dedication over the years, supported by her singing teacher Sandra Hawkins.' Her performing career to date includes the council's annual Instrumental Music Service showcase in Hamilton Town House and soloist at the annual Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations. Rose has also performed with the South Lanarkshire Orchestral Society (SLOT) Senior Concert Band and has been invited to sing with Stewarton Winds Concert Band.
