A Double-Bill Of Comedy Opera

Clyde Opera Group are performing at Edinburgh New Town Church on Saturday 21 November, a double-bill of comedy opera that marks the company's 10th anniversary. They're pairing two short works in one evening, both on the funny side of the genre, and both performed semi-staged with piano accompaniment rather than a full orchestra.

The first half is Pergolesi's La Serva Padrona, a classic of the comic tradition. It's a story of a maid who manages to outwit her master and end up as his wife, and it's one of the earliest examples of opera buffa, so it's built on the kind of fast-paced, character-driven comedy that works well in a smaller setting. The second half is Gian Carlo Menotti's The Telephone, a mid-century piece that's a bit more modern in its target. It's a short, sharp look at a couple whose relationship is interrupted by a ringing phone, and it's usually played for laughs as much as for the music.

The cast brings together singers from three different countries. Soprano Heather Fetrow comes from the USA, baritone Ondřej Potůček from the Czech Republic, and the piano is handled by Ekaterina Isayevskaya from Norway. With just the two voices and the piano, the focus stays on the singing and the comedy rather than a big production, which fits the semi-staged approach.

It's a double bill, so you get two distinct pieces in one sitting, and the whole thing is presented as a celebration of the group's ten years. The performance starts at 7:30pm at Edinburgh New Town Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh New Town, EH2 2PA.