Glasgow Theatre Blog

Touring this Autumn is Amadeus & The Bard: 18th Century Cosmic Brothers, a brand new show from Scottish Opera created and directed by Mary McCluskey, former Artistic Director of Scottish Youth Theatre. Amadeus & The Bard celebrates the lives of two much-loved men, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Robert Burns, through storytelling and song, honouring the many and sometimes surprising similarities between them.

Opening on 9 September in Earlston High School, the production tours to schools in Kirkcudbright, Annan, Auchinleck, Ayr, Largs and Paisley, as well as the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and Scottish Opera Production Studios in Glasgow.

Karen MacIver is the Music Director and pianist on this dramatic and emotive show, which features a talented cast including soprano Stephanie Stanway, a Samling Young Artist and Arthur Bruce, The Robertson Trust Scottish Opera Emerging Artist, alongside actor Andy Clark and violinist Shannon Stevenson. They are joined by an ensemble of four singers from Scottish Opera Young Company: Cara Blaikie, Ross Fettes, James McIntyre and Erin Spence.

Set in Poosie Nansie’s Inn, a favourite haunt of Burns, the cast blend traditional folk songs with some of Mozart’s most popular work, from ‘Tam O’Shanter’ and The Magic Flute, to ‘A Red, Red Rose’ and The Marriage of Figaro. Amadeus & The Bard invites audiences to enjoy a night of entertainment in celebration of these two brothers of the Enlightenment.

Director Mary McCluskey said: ‘It is our intention for our merry band of talented performers, singers, actors and musicians to give you an insight into the work of Mozart and Burns. We hope to entertain and inform you, in order that you will leave knowing more than you did when you came along to see the production, and that we will have whetted your appetite for the work of these two talented men.’

Jane Davidson, Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education said: ‘Amadeus & The Bard affords us some fascinating glimpses into the (often parallel) lives of Robert Burns and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; cultural icons of the eighteenth century whose musical and literary ‘voices’ have inspired people through the generations down to the present day. So, the warmest of welcomes is extended to everyone to join our dynamic young company of performers around the fireside in Poosie Nansie’s hostelry for an hour of songs, ensembles, arias and poetry.’

Director/Creator        Mary McCluskey

Music Director          Karen MacIver

Soprano                     Stephanie Stanway

Baritone                     Arthur Bruce*

Storyteller                  Andy Clark

Ensemble                   Cara Blaikie, Ross Fettes, James McIntyre & Erin Spence (Scottish Opera Young Company)

Violin                          Shannon Stevenson

Piano                          Karen MacIver

Performance diary

 

Earlston High School

Mon 9 Sep, 7pm

 

Kirkcudbright Academy

Wed 11 Sep, 7pm

 

Annan Academy

Fri 13 Sep, 7pm

 

Auchinleck Academy

Mon 16 Sep, 7pm

 

Ayr Academy

Wed 18 Sep, 7pm

 

Largs Academy

Thu 19 Sep, 7pm

 

National Museum of Scotland

Sat 28 Sep, 12pm & 3pm

 

Paisley Grammar School

Fri 4 Oct, 7.30pm

 

Scottish Opera Production Studios

Fri 11 Oct, 7.30pm

Sat 12 Oct, 3pm & 7.30pm

 

Tickets are available online now for all venues at www. scottishopera.org.uk/amadeus