Scottish Opera’s Merry Widow tangles with the New York Mafia

Paula Sides (Hanna Glawari)

Alex Otterburn (Danilo) and Henry Waddington (Don Zeta)

Rhian Lois (Valentina)

Paula Sides (Hanna Glawari)

By David Smythe, 01 May 2025

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“Otterburn’s bright and breezy baritone was a good match for Paula Sides’ spirited Hanna”

Reviewed at Theatre Royal, Glasgow on 30 April 2025

Lehár, Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) (Sung in English)

Scottish Opera

Stuart Stratford, Conductor

John Savournin, Director

takis, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Ben Pickersgill, Lighting Designer

The Orchestra of Scottish Opera

Scottish Opera Chorus

Lise Bondu, Associate Director

Paula Sides, Hanna Glawari

Alex Otterburn, Count Danilo Danilovich

Henry Waddington, Baron Mirko Zeta

Rhian Lois, Valencienne

Ellie Neate, Sylviane

Amy J Payne, Olga

Rosie Lavery, Praskowia

William Morgan, Camille de Rosillon

Connor James Smith, Raoul de St Brioche

Christopher Nairne, Vicomte Cascada

Jonathan Forbes Kennedy, Bogdanovich

Matthew Siveter, Kromow

Matthew Kellett, Njegus

Francis Church, Pritschitsch

Kally Lloyd-Jones, Choreography

East meets West in Dai Fujikura’s The Great Wave at Scottish Opera

David Smythe, 12th February

Stuart Stratford conducts the world premiere of Fujikura’s opera about Hokusai’s image at Scottish Opera, with Satoshi Miyagi directing with his Japanese creative team.

***11

Sepia memories: Scottish Opera’s La bohème delights in revival

David Smythe, 11th October

Hye-Youn Lee and Mario Chang head a strong cast in Barbe and Doucet’s revival of La bohème, which marks the retirement of veteran lighting designer, Guy Simard.

****1

Lampooning the law: Scottish Opera’s satirical new double bill

David Smythe, 14th May

Scottish Opera’s double bill of Trial by Jury and the world premiere of Toby Hession’s fun-packed A Matter of Misconduct! features an ensemble cast, mostly of Emerging Artists.

****1

The Makropulos Affair defies the march of time

Mark Valencia, 15th February

Orla Boylan’s creation oozes charisma and reeks of entitlement, driven to emotional cruelty by the lassitude of a life too-long lived.

****1

Scottish Opera’s Albert Herring: as fresh as dew on a May morning

David Smythe, 22nd October

Scottish Opera’s Albert Herring is updated to 1990 in Daisy Evans' likeable production, finely sung with a tight ensemble.

****1

Barbe and Doucet's stylish Don Pasquale is a comic delight

David Smythe, 12th October

Barbe and Doucet’s witty 1960s Don Pasquale is revived for Scottish Opera, with Stuart Stratford conducting a fine cast.

****1

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David Smythe

David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.