Nick to perform with Scottish National Opera

xantha

Following his recent message, we can now confirm the details for Nick performing with the Scottish National Opera in 2008....

What happens if an opera company puts crime Writer Ian Rankin and Grammy Award-winning composer Craig Armstrong in a room together with a blank piece of paper? What about novelist Bernard MacLaverty and composer Gareth Williams? The results will surprise and delight.

Five:15 is five new fifteen-minute chamber operas produced through collaborations between some of the leading lights working in Scotland's vibrant creative industry. Each of the contributors has a particular passion for opera, though many of them are new to creating it.

Scottish Opera is committed to commissioning new work. These new pieces offer the creative teams a chance to explore the artform in a 21st century context and present their short operas in an informal and intimate environment. Each opera will have its own unique musical and thematic identity and we are sure that each audience member will have their own particular favourite.

Five:15 takes Scottish Opera for the first time to Glasgow's Oran Mor and The Hub in Edinburgh, venues that are well known for their passion for championing innovation in the arts.

Players from The Orchestra of Scottish Opera

Cast Includes
Lise Christensen
Nicholas Garrett
Alexander Grove
Paul Keohone
William Purefoy
Kate Valentine
Peter Van Huille

Dream Angus
Writer:
Alexander McCall Smith
Composer: Stephen Deazley
Director and Dramaturg: Ben Twist

The Perfect Woman
Writer: Ron Butlin
Composer: Lyell Cresswell
Director:
Frederic Wake-Walker

The King's Conjecture
Writer: Bernard MacLaverty
Composer: Gareth Williams
Director: Ben Twist

Gesualdo
Writer: Ian Rankin
Composer: Craig Armstrong
Director: Michael McCarthy

The Queens of Govan
Writer: Suhayl Saadi
Composer: Nigel Osborne & Wajahat Khan
Director: Michael McCarthy
Sarod Performance: Wajahat Khan

Dramaturg
Michael McCarthy

Designer
Andrew Storer

Conductor
Derek Clark

Oran Mor, Glasgow
Fri 29 Feb 7.30pm
Sat 1 Mar 7.30pm
Sun 2 Mar 3pm
0844 847 1645
www.ticketweb.co.uk

The Hub, Edinburgh
Sat 8 Mar 3pm & 7.30pm
Sun 9 Mar 3pm
0131 473 2000
www.hubtickets.co.uk

Tickets £15 (no concessions)

In addition to this, you can join in a FREE post-performance discussion and tell us what you think?

Oran Mor, Glasgow
Sat 1 Mar
9.45pm - 10.30pm
(following 7.30pm performance)

The Hub, Edinburgh
Sat 8 Mar
9.45pm - 10.30pm
(following 7.30pm performance)

Seating unreserved (doors open 45 minutes before performance begins)

Running time 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 542

That sounds very interesting and Scottland makes for very nice holiday trips.
Sure to be good if Nick is part of it!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

xantha · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject:

There's an interesting article in February's ClassicFm Magazine where composer Craig Armstrong and author Ian Rankin discuss their new project for Scottish Opera, Five:15.
Anyone who's going to see Nick perform in this, may be interested in reading it as it gives some background into the making of the opera and the stories behind the 5 pieces.

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 368

I always have a hard time getting copies of ClassicFm Magazine, I would of liked to have read this article. Thanks Xantha for that info, maybe I will get lucky and still find a copy. Very Happy

xantha · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

Nick fans may be interested in tuning into Anne-Marie Minhall's show 'The Guest List' this Sunday 20th January, 9pm on ClassicFM.

On the Guest List this week Anne-Marie Minhall talks to two of the world's leading authors Alexander McCall Smith and Ian Rankin.

Both McCall Smith and Rankin are taking part in Scottish Opera's new season featuring collaborations between some of Scotland's most famous composers and authors.

Ian Rankin is collaborating with the film composer Craig Armstrong on a new piece entitled 'Gesualdo' while Alexander McCall Smith is working with the composer Stephen Deazley on a work called 'Dream Angus'.

This show is also available on podcast CLICK HERE

and listen again feature, for 7 days after the broadcast CLICK HERE

xantha · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

Scotland on Sunday have written a review of the forthcoming Opera Five:15 starring Nick Garrett.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REVIEW

The New York Times has also given the Opera a mention
CLICK HERE

According to The New York Times the opera is a sell out in both Edinburgh and Glasgow! - That's great news for all involved. Smile

xaria · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject:

That's great news! Nick is going to be seen by so many people! Very Happy

I can't wait to see more reviews after the show. I just wish I could go. x
_________________
'A life in music is a life beautifully spent.' (Pavarotti)

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 542

Yeah, fantastic news!!!
Wishing Nick a safe trip to Scottland!!! Hope we will get to hear from the man himself about it after!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

xantha · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:20 am Post subject:

The Herald have also written an article about Five:15

CLICK HERE

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 542

Hope Nick is having a good time with rehearsals. Only a week to go!

Good Luck Nick!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

xantha · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:35 am Post subject:

Ian Rankin and Craig Armstrong talk to Russ Coffey of The Telegraph about their opera(s) Five:15.
CLICK HERE

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 542

That is a great interview! Would love to see the opera's, it really is hard to imagine the story stuffed into 15 minutes. Even as an excert.

I think Nick is a perfect choice of a performer!

Thank you for posting this article!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 368

This opera sounds amazing and all in 15 minutes. Would like to get a sneak peak of some of this opera. Good Luck Nick!

xantha · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:02 am Post subject:

After their performances in Glasgow this past weekend, here are some of the reviews (one of which contains a very small photo of what looks like Nick's character)

The Herald CLICK HERE

FT.com CLICK HERE

Telegraph CLICK HERE

- and a bit of trivia for all you Nick fans, this final article shows a picture of one of the other performers, Alexander Groves, who also performed at the Manchester International festival with Nick in 2006.

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 542

Ha, I just posted the Telegraph review on Nicks site... did not even see that you had it up here.
Interesting reviews though aren't they!!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!