PRESIDENT’S WELCOME MESSAGE

On behalf of Edinburgh Studio Opera, I would like extend a warm

welcome to you all and our sincere thanks for coming along to our
production of Cavalleria Rusticana. This year has been an exciting year
for Edinburgh Studio Opera, with new members joining our ranks, as
well as loyal cast members from previous years returning for more
operatic experiences.

We have had a lot of fun this year while working under the
guidance of our brilliant Musical Director, Will Conway. Opera is not
always an easy style of music to deliver, but with Will and Assistant
Musical Director Mark Rogers offering encouragement and support
along the way, ESO becomes not only an opportunity to socialise and
meet new people, but also an opportunity to learn and develop outside
of regular studies.

This year, our Film Noir style

production, selected and directed by Jen
McGregor, beautifully demonstrates that
traditional opera need not be left behind in
centuries gone by, but can, in fact, be
presented and relevant in the 21st century.
Audience members can relate to the
storyline and themes present in this opera,
giving cast and audience members a
chance to connect.

I would personally like to thank all those who have made this
production possible, for the hard work invested by cast and production
members, and to you, our audience, for coming along to support us.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Aine Cassidy
 PRESIDENT’S WELCOME MESSAGE

On behalf of Edinburgh Studio Opera, I would like to extend to you a warm welcome
to our production of Cavalleria Rusticana. This has been an exciting year for Edinburgh
Studio Opera, with the addition of a Winter Gala Concert, Opera Composition
Competition, masterclasses, workshops and choral performances to our schedule. We
have also reintroduced our Winter Ball and Fringe show. I would like to personally
thank each and every member of Edinburgh Studio Opera for their immense talent,
diligence and commitment, which has allowed us to exercise enormous ambition in
our development as a company this year.

In Verismo, probably more than any other genre of opera, the audience can find
something to relate to. Mascagni takes the everyday emotions of love, joy, jealousy
and heartbreak and heightens them with his stunning score, creating compelling
drama from ordinary human experiences. Jen McGregor’s film noir style production,
masterfully conducted by Will Conway, illustrates beautifully that opera can be both
visually and musically stunning while remaining human and relatable.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest thanks to all those who
have made this production possible. Week on week, I am amazed by the energy, effort
and dedication that our cast, committee and production team bring to rehearsals, and
I have no doubt that tonight’s performance will be a testament to their hard work. I
would also like to thank our sponsors, without who, productions of this calibre would
not be possible; the wonderful musicians from EUCO, whose excellent playing adds
so much to our performances; and finally you, the audience, for coming and
supporting Edinburgh Studio Opera and all the work it does to promote opera. Now,
sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance!

– Áine Cassidy
President of Edinburgh Studio Opera

EDINBURGH STUDIO OPERA COMMITTEE

President Áine Cassidy

Secretary Olivia Stevens
Treasurer Grace Moran
Publicity Manager Lucy Bridgeman
Sponsorship Manager Grace Moran
Events Manager Eleanor Craig-Fisher
Social Secretary Hannah Leggatt
Ordinary Members Maria Fijol and Elizabeth Gibb
Cast Representative Holly Gowen
 CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
A One Act Opera by Pietro Mascagni

Turiddu has returned home from an extended military campaign, only to learn that
his beloved, Lola, has married Alfio, a wealthy teamster. Turiddu consoles himself by
seducing Santuzza, a young village girl. Jealous, Lola begins an affair with Turiddu,
who quickly discards Santuzza.

On Easter morning, Santuzza goes in search of Turiddu, stopping by his mother’s

tavern. Lucia, Turiddu’s mother, thinks that he is purchasing wine from a
neighbouring town, but Santuzza informs her that Turiddu is instead still in the
village. The conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Alfio, black-market goods in
tow, searching for the finest quality wine from the tavern. Alfio informs Lucia that he
has also spotted Turiddu in the village. A puzzled Lucia is quickly hushed by
Santuzza, as the tolling of church bells signal the beginning of Mass. Following the
Marian procession, Santuzza confides in Lucia, telling her of her despair at Turiddu’s
unfaithfulness. Santuzza has been left distraught and excommunicated. Lucia takes
pity on Santuzza, conceding that she will pray for her at Mass. Turiddu arrives, and
Santuzza confronts him about his infidelity. Turiddu spots Lola entering the church,
and follows her in, leaving Santuzza angry and alone. Overcome with ire, Santuzza
informs Alfio of Lola and Turiddu’s torrid affair, with Alfio pledging ‘No Mercy!’

After mass, Lola and Turiddu, in high spirits invite friends for drinks at his mother’s
tavern that evening. Alfio enters the tavern and rejects Turiddu’s offer of a drink in
disgust. Sensing impending danger, the villagers exit, taking Lola and Mamma Lucia
with them. Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel, which Turiddu accepts, with a bitten
ear signalling a fight to the death. After Alfio leaves, Turiddu laments to his mother
that he may not return and begs her to look after Santuzza like her own daughter.
With one last kiss from his mother, Turiddu leaves for the duel. Santuzza embraces
Lucia, and together they wait for the outcome. Moments later, shouts are heard in the
distance and the crowd stirs, crying ‘Turiddu has been killed’.

The English translation used in this production was provided by David Parry.

Synopsis by Áine Cassidy

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director Jen McGregor
Musical Director Will Conway
Producer Michael Jamieson
Assistant Director Frances Taylor
Assistant Musical Director Mark Rogers
Stage Manager Olesya Lesyk
Lighting Designer George Manchester
Repetiteur Eleanor Cozens
Executive Producer Áine Cassidy
Poster Design Amy Taylor

Jen McGregor- Director

Jen McGregor is a Scottish writer and director. She trained
at Mountview. Theatre work includes Comfort and Joy
(TREND Festival, Rome), Winter Fuel Allowance (Village
Pub Theatre) #SonsOfGod: Vox (Piccolo Theatre of Milan),
Volante (Hothouse, Traverse). She is a contributor to 404
Ink’s smash-hit anthology Nasty Women. Jen was
mentored by Rob Drummond through Playwrights’Studio Scotland. In 2017 she
undertook a BOP Artists residency at Rockvilla. Her play Heaven Burns won the
Assembly Roxy Theatre Award in 2018. This is Jen’s debut production with
Edinburgh Studio Opera.

Frances Taylor- Assistant Director

Frances Taylor is an experienced classical singer and actor who
has enjoyed numerous roles ranging from Lady Macbeth and The
Merry Widow to The Wicked Witch of the West. She has sung
with many companies in Scotland, most recently Fife Opera,
Tayside Opera, Kirkcaldy Gilbert and Sullivan Society and Mad
Props Theatre. She directed the Orpheus Abroad concert
ensemble and Capricorniche entertainers and has written,
directed and produced five revues for Glasgow’s West End Festival. In 2017 she
directed Nabucco for Tayside Opera. She is thrilled to be joining the ESO Production
Team for Cavalleria Rusticana – the first opera in which she appeared, sometime last
century (the latter part !). Plans for this year include Gerhilde in Wagner’s Die
Walküre, “Ho jo to ho!”
 Will Conway- Musical Director
William Conway is an internationally renowned conductor,
whose performances have been described as ‘astonishingly
convincing’ (Opera Magazine), ‘a tour de force’ (Guardian), with
‘a flair for the unpredictable’ (Financial Times). On the podium,
he is known for his conviction, clarity and intelligent
musicianship, while his collaborations with Hebrides
Ensemble, of which he is the Artistic Director and founding
member, have been praised for their fresh and inspirational approach to
programming.

His dedication to developing contemporary music has been recognised by an award

from the Scottish Society of Composers for an outstanding contribution to new music.
Born in Glasgow, Conway studied cello in Scotland and London before returning
home to take the position of Principal Cello with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for
ten years which he combined with this present post of Principal Cello with the
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, of which he is a founder member As a conductor, he
studied in Helsinki with Jukka-Pekka Saraste and was a finalist and prizewinner in
the 1994 Leeds Conductors’ Competition. Since then, he has established himself as a
versatile conductor in chamber, symphonic and operatic repertoire, with a host of
major orchestras both at home and abroad. He made his conducting debut at the 2018
BBC Proms in a staged performance of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale.

He is Music Director of Edinburgh Studio Opera and is Artistic Director and Head of
Strings at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh. He also teaches conducting at the
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 3 and has
recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, Linn Records, Unicorn-Kanchana, NMC and
most recently Delphian Records in a series of highly successful recordings of the
music of Judith Weir and Nigel Osborne.Their recordings on the same label of music
by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir James MacMillan reached no. 3 and no. 1
respectively in the classical music charts. This is Will's fifth consecutive year working
with Edinburgh Studio Opera, beginning with Die Fledermaus in 2014.

Mark Rogers- Assistant Musical Director

Mark Rogers is a pianist from San Antonio, Texas, now studying
at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under Graeme McNaught.
He has won the Hester Dickson prize for Lieder Accompaniment
and frequently collaborates with singers, instrumentalists, choirs,
chamber ensembles, and orchestras. He is the pianist for the Les
Sirenes choir, and conducted the Edinburgh Studio Opera Winter
Gala Concert in November of last year.
Producer Michael Jamieson
From a young age, Michael has studied music at school and
privately and is currently taking vocal lessons from his father,
Ralph Jamieson, who teaches music in Angus, Scotland.
Michael’s first operatic experience was with Tayside Opera in
Dundee, singing small parts and with chorus, as well as
serving on the committee and assisting with their recruitment
and front-of-house. Michael has organised and produced a
variety of successful concerts and performances in
Edinburgh, Dundee and London. The most successful concert to date was a charity
Opera Gala in September 2018, raising £5000 for Target Ovarian Cancer. Currently
working at The Royal College of Physicians as an Events Coordinator, Michael has
experience coordinating large conferences, weddings and other special events. A
believer in providing platforms and opportunities for musicians of all ages, Michael
is thrilled to be a part of Edinburgh Studio Opera.

Áine Cassidy- Executive Producer

Áine is the President of Edinburgh Studio Opera and Executive
Producer for Cavalleria Rusticana. Áine is currently in her fourth
year of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Edinburgh. As
former Chorus Manager for Edinburgh University Music
Society and President of Edinburgh University Chamber Choir,
Áine is a well-experienced concerts manager. Áine is also an
accomplished singer, having performed as a member and step-
out soloist for both the Irish Youth Choir, Edinburgh University Music Society Chorus
and Edinburgh University Chamber Choir. This year, Áine represented the University
of Edinburgh, performing at the Scottish Varsity Match players' reception. Áine has
also given solo recitals in her home town of Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland. This is
Áine's third year with the company, having previously performed in Eugene Onegin,
Dido and Aenas and The Tumbling Lassie.
 CAST
Santuzza- Debora Ruiz-Kordova
The Irish mezzo-soprano Debora Ruiz-Kordova left the
professional field of opera since settling in Edinburgh a few
years ago. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music,
London in 2015 with a Masters in Opera and honorary DipRAM
for excellence in recital. Here she studied under a full
scholarship and won numerous awards such as the Eva Turner
prize for most promising dramatic voice. Prior to this Debora
studied musicology and piano in her native Ireland. She has
performed many roles across Europe, is no stranger to the
concert platform and has worked with many prestigious
conductors. She continues to sing for pleasure in Edinburgh and is a permanent member
of St Giles’ Cathedral Choir.
She now studies Psychology at Edinburgh University and is interested in developing a
career in mental health and social work.

Turiddu- Cameron Mitchell

Cameron Mitchell is a 23 year old tenor from Carlisle, Cumbria.
He completed his undergraduate degree in 2018 at the Royal
Academy of Music under the tutelage of Neil Mackie. Starting
his musical career at aged 7 at Carlisle Cathedral as a chorister,
he was involved in many choral organisations and festivals,
participating in tours in many parts of Europe including,
Budapest, Hungary, Stavanger, Norway and Brittany, France,
performing solos on numerous occasions.

In the Autumn of 2015, he joined Academy on a tour to New York and Leipzig under the
direction of Masaaki Suzuki, performing with members of the Juilliard School of Music.
He has sung with the BBC Choirs for recordings on several occasions when additional
tenor voices were required.

In the summer of 2018, Cameron began working in Cumbria giving singing and music
theory lessons, whilst also creating his own choir “Carlisle Sings” which he directs and
conducts. This is all to help him pursue his goal of studying a Masters Degree in Opera at
the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which he will start in September this year.
Lola- Rebecca Davies
Hailing from West Wales, Rebeca Davies was brought up in
its rich music tradition. She has performed as a chorister and
soloist with several choirs including the National Youth Choir
of Wales, the BBC Chorus of Wales, and the Bach Choir.
Having gained a First Class Honours degree in Music from
King’s College London, Beca currently studies at the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland with Elizabeth McCormack. Beca
relishes the opportunity to explore operatic roles- some of
which include Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart) and Bridget Booth in The Crucible by
Robert Ward (Berlin Opera Academy); Carmen, Carmen (Bizet), Annio, La clemenza di Tito
(Mozart), Rosina, Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) (North Wales Opera Studio); and Mrs
Noye, Noye's Fludde (Britten) and Jenny Diver, The Beggar's Opera (Britten) (King's Opera).

Alfio - Ed Birchinall
Ed Birchinall, a bass-baritone from Hertfordshire, started
singing as a chorister at Ely Cathedral, where, with the help of
his singing teacher Vanessa Scott, he developed a keen interest
in classical singing. Ed is currently in his third year at
Edinburgh, studying music.

Notable solo performances include Dvorak’s Stabat

Mater (EUMS), Nicholas Hytner’s production of Mozart’s The
Magic Flute (ENO), Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane,
‘Simone’ in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (ESO) and appearances in the 2017 and 2018 BBC
Proms with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain of which he is a member of the
chamber choir. Ed is also prominent within Edinburgh University’s music scene, singing
with the Edinburgh University Chamber Choir and as a soloist in concert. He studies
vocal studies under Eric von Ibler and sings with Schola Cantorum of Edinburgh. In 2018
he won the Margaret Fletcher Lieder Competition and in 2019 won the Edinburgh
University Tovey Memorial Competition.

Mamma Lucia - Hannah Leggatt

Hannah Leggatt is a fourth year BMus student at the University
of Edinburgh and is currently studying under the tutelage of
Irene Drummond. Previously with ESO Hannah has performed
in Dido and Aeneas (Second Woman), Tumbling Lassie and Fergus
of Galloway. She has performed as a soloist with Edinburgh Bach
Choir, as well as chorally with the Edinburgh University
Chamber Choir, Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers,
and The Reid Consort.
CHORUS

Soprano I Alto
Cara Blaikie Grace Moran
Claire Gilchrist Holly Gowen
Eleanor Glynn Leora Browning
Georgina McNamara Olivia Stevens
Lucy Bridgeman
Tenor
Soprano II Dan Safford (Turridu cover)
Áine Cassidy (Lucia cover) David Surtees
Elizabeth Gibb (Lola cover) Gio MacDonald
Maria Fijol Giorgos Kassapis
Ruby Downie (Santuzza cover)
Sophie Halpin Bass
Fraser Robinson (Alfio cover)
Lichuan Ko

Biographies and headshots for all our singers are available on our website
www.edinburghstudioopera.org

Offstage Chorus
Clara Foo Douglas Taylor
Violet Legge Archie Sladden
Frances Taylor
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Orchestral Manager: Arno von Kietzell

Violin 1 Flute
Andrew Taheny Laura MacFarlane
Alexia Alice Cochrane Izzy Henry
Kaori Shimizu
Henry Brown Oboe
Zhenshen Zhou
Violin 2
Andre Coimbra Clarinet
Ruth Reynolds Beatrix Calleja
Paul Ersfeld Mandujano Michael Saunders
Jonathan MacKay Bassoon
Viola Peter Cleaves
Ellie Barber Horn
Becky Paton Ella Ogilvy
Anna Laakkonen Estella Browne
Cello Trumpet
Viola Migone Emma Wylie
Anoukia Nistor Gareth Flett
Double Bass Trombone
Arno von Kietzell Matt McPherson
Organ/Harp Timpani
Eleanor Cozens Morgan Brougham
 SPONSORSHIP
Edinburgh Studio Opera would like to extend their sincerest thanks to our sponsors,
without whose generosity the show would not have been possible. If you would like
to support Edinburgh Studio Opera, or find out more about our Angels Scheme,
please contact [email protected]

SPONSORS
Lady Margaret Elliot
David McClellan

ARCHANGELS
Alison Craig
John Fisher
Jill and Alastair Cozens
Peter and Juliet Stevens
Philly and Patrick Moran
Bernice and Anand Chitnis
Jim and Mairi Leggatt

ANGELS
Stella Williams
Ruby Downie

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:

David Parry Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra

Reid School of Music Assembly Roxy Staff
Alan Oke Carnival Chaos
Ciao Roma Tommy Rhys
Margaret Aronson Marc Romano
 EDINBURGH STUDIO OPERA

Edinburgh Studio Opera is a student run society aiming to

encourage and develop our singers both musically and
theatrically, and produce performances of the highest standard.
Our members benefit from an invaluable opportunity to work
with professional and experienced directors, providing them
with a solid foundation for operatic performance. Edinburgh
Studio Opera was founded in 1968 as 'Edinburgh University
Opera Club', performing the UK premier of Monterverdi's
L'Orfeo that same year.

A WORD FROM OUR PATRON, ALAN OKE

''I was delighted when I was asked to support the work of

Edinburgh Studio Opera by becoming its patron. During a
career of some 40 years, I have become increasingly aware of
the diminishing number of opportunities for young singers at
the beginning of their careers to gain vital performance
experience. Companies such as ESO perform an invaluable
service in this area, acting as a half-way house between
college/university productions and the professional world. ''