Scottish Opera has announced the Scottish premiere of Richard Strauss’ Daphne, set to open in Glasgow, followed by performances at the Lammermuir Festival and Edinburgh this autumn and winter. The opera will make its debut on the Scottish stage in collaboration with Lammermuir Festival.

The one-act opera will be conducted by Music Director Stuart Stratford and performed by The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. The concert staging will open at Theatre Royal Glasgow on 5 September, touring to St Mary’s Parish Church in Haddington on 7 September, and to Usher Hall in Edinburgh on 10 December.

The cast includes noted UK music artists such as Hye-Youn Lee, Shengzhi Ren, Dingle Yandell, Catriona Hewitson, Colin Murray, and Francis Church. Two performers, Brad Cooper and Claire Barnett-Jones, will make their company debuts. Scottish Opera Emerging Artists 2023/24 Ross Cumming, Monwabisi Lindi, and Inna Husieva are also in the cast.

Director Emma Jenkins has set the opera in the context of Germany’s Weimar Republic, reflecting the political and artistic turbulence of that era. Richard Strauss' opera, loosely based on Greek mythology, showcases the talents of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

The Lammermuir Festival, scheduled from 7 to 18 September, includes several renowned ensembles and musicians. In addition to Daphne, Scottish Opera's Opera in Concert series will continue with The French Collection in March 2024, featuring works by Georges Bizet, Charles Gounod, and Jules Massenet.