Scottish Opera - Marx in London! and La traviata Audio Described
Season 2, Episode 349, Feb 14, 11:00 AM
News now of a couple of opera productions from Scottish Opera that are coming up this spring and into early summer with audio described performances of Marx in London! and La traviata for blind and partially sighted people.
RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by Scottish Opera’s Audio Describer Catriona Gillies with an overview and insight into these two Scottish Opera productions.
About Marx in London!:
In London 1871, the spectre of communism might be haunting Europe, but Karl Marx’s demons are far more mundane. Watched by a spy, chased by debt collectors, harried by his family (legitimate and not), and rescued repeatedly from financial ruin by Friedrich Engels, a single madcap day is the backdrop for a run of misadventures and mistakes. Marx might have envisioned an economic system that would restore order and equality to the workers of the world, but his own affairs are in chaos. Amidst this storm in a teacup, can he find an hour to write?
Audio Described performances:
Theatre Royal Glasgow, Saturday 17 February
Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Saturday 24 February, both performances at 7.15pm with touch tours at 6pm.
About Verdi’s La traviata:
Violetta Valéry lives on borrowed time. In Paris’ hedonistic high society, she wrings each day for its joys before her illness catches up with her. When the idealistic young Alfredo offers true love, happiness seems possible – but her past has exacted a price. Giuseppe Verdi’s devastating tragedy – based on Alexander Dumas fils’ novel, in turn inspired by a real woman – has inspired countless retellings, including cult favourite films Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge!.
With his characteristic eye for detail, Sir David McVicar (Il trittico, Falstaff, Pelléas et Mélisande) gets to the love and loss at the core of this doomed love affair in his passionate, gripping, and startlingly intimate production. Tanya McCallin’s sumptuous designs centre Violetta’s journey and enduring legacy despite her fleeting life. Verdi’s magnificent score sweeps the characters through every shifting mood – from the wildly dramatic to the most vulnerable moments.
This beloved production, which began life at Scottish Opera in 2008, has been seen at the houses of co-producers Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Welsh National Opera.
Audio described performances:
Theatre Royal Glasgow, Saturday 18 May
Eden Court, Inverness, Saturday 25 May
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, Saturday 1 June
Festival Theatre Edinburgh Saturday 15 June, with all performances at 7.15pm and touch tours at 6pm.
For more about Scottish Opera and audio described performances of their productions do visit their website -
https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/access/audio-description-touch-tours
(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)
RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by Scottish Opera’s Audio Describer Catriona Gillies with an overview and insight into these two Scottish Opera productions.
About Marx in London!:
In London 1871, the spectre of communism might be haunting Europe, but Karl Marx’s demons are far more mundane. Watched by a spy, chased by debt collectors, harried by his family (legitimate and not), and rescued repeatedly from financial ruin by Friedrich Engels, a single madcap day is the backdrop for a run of misadventures and mistakes. Marx might have envisioned an economic system that would restore order and equality to the workers of the world, but his own affairs are in chaos. Amidst this storm in a teacup, can he find an hour to write?
Audio Described performances:
Theatre Royal Glasgow, Saturday 17 February
Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Saturday 24 February, both performances at 7.15pm with touch tours at 6pm.
About Verdi’s La traviata:
Violetta Valéry lives on borrowed time. In Paris’ hedonistic high society, she wrings each day for its joys before her illness catches up with her. When the idealistic young Alfredo offers true love, happiness seems possible – but her past has exacted a price. Giuseppe Verdi’s devastating tragedy – based on Alexander Dumas fils’ novel, in turn inspired by a real woman – has inspired countless retellings, including cult favourite films Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge!.
With his characteristic eye for detail, Sir David McVicar (Il trittico, Falstaff, Pelléas et Mélisande) gets to the love and loss at the core of this doomed love affair in his passionate, gripping, and startlingly intimate production. Tanya McCallin’s sumptuous designs centre Violetta’s journey and enduring legacy despite her fleeting life. Verdi’s magnificent score sweeps the characters through every shifting mood – from the wildly dramatic to the most vulnerable moments.
This beloved production, which began life at Scottish Opera in 2008, has been seen at the houses of co-producers Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Welsh National Opera.
Audio described performances:
Theatre Royal Glasgow, Saturday 18 May
Eden Court, Inverness, Saturday 25 May
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, Saturday 1 June
Festival Theatre Edinburgh Saturday 15 June, with all performances at 7.15pm and touch tours at 6pm.
For more about Scottish Opera and audio described performances of their productions do visit their website -
https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/access/audio-description-touch-tours
(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)