Scottish Opera

Scottish Opera, Scotland's national opera company, based in Glasgow. Scottish Opera owns the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, one of Scotland's principal theatres, but it also tours Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, with occasional visits abroad.

Scottish Opera was founded in 1962 by Sir Alexander Gibson, and its opening production was Madama Butterfly by Puccini at the King's Theatre, Glasgow. Twelve years later, the company purchased the Theatre Royal, which was completely renovated and has become a major venue for all of the performing arts, attracting touring ballet and drama companies in addition to its opera schedule. The Scottish Opera Company developed its reputation under the guidance of Sir Alexander Gibson, with ambitious productions including The Ring Cycle, Der Rosenkavalier, and The Turn of the Screw.

Scottish Opera is committed to increasing the accessibility of opera. Today, it gives around 100 full-scale performances every season, at venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Newcastle. It also has a unit called Scottish Opera Go Round, which takes performances on a modest scale to smaller, more remote venues. Further interest in opera is generated by Scottish Opera For All, the educational unit of Scottish Opera, which works within schools and brings opera workshops to the community.