"Opera and Graduation in Edinburgh" Edinburgh by Nemorino

Edinburgh Travel Guide: 3,356 reviews and 6,585 photos

Opera and Graduation in Edinburgh - Edinburgh

Scottish Opera is actually based in Glasgow, but they also perform regularly at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. In 2005 my sons and I attended a performance in Edinburgh of the opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1857).

Festival Theatre Edinburgh - Edinburgh

Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Leonore, the heroine of this opera, suspects that her husband has been locked away without charge in the dungeon of a large Spanish prison. Disguising herself as a young man, she gets a job in the prison, and after several months is finally allowed to go down into the dungeon, just in time to save her husband from being murdered by the evil prison governor Don Pizarro.

This is Beethoven's only opera. It was performed by Scottish Opera in the original German, with English surtitles. I was particularly impressed with the chorus -- there are strong choral scenes as the prisoners are released from their cells and come out into the light, Unfortunately the full-time professional chorus of Scottish Opera is being disbanded for financial reasons, so they may well have trouble putting on this sort of opera in future seasons.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse - Edinburgh

The Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is at the bottom end of the Royal Mile, was once the residence of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), better known to opera-goers as "Maria Stuarda" ever since Donizetti wrote his fabulous opera about her in 1834. I have seen this opera in Wiesbaden and Zürich, but not in Edinburgh, although it was performed here by Scottish Opera in the 1990s, if I remember correctly. (I've also seen the play at the Castle Festival in Bad Vilbel.)

Even though this was my third visit to Edinburgh, I still haven't managed to take a tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is always closed to the public when the Queen or a member of the Royal Family is staying there, and this time it was closed for security reasons, because of planned demonstrations about the upcoming G8 Summit Meeting.

I took this photo of the Palace of Holyroodhouse by sticking my camera between the bars of the locked gate.

Update: Check out this new (well, new to me) website about cycling in Edinburgh.

  • Last visit to Edinburgh: Jun 2005
  • Intro Updated Dec 26, 2012
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Reviews (39)

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Comments (82)

  • MalenaN's Profile Photo
    Apr 26, 2013 at 11:26 PM

    I like the fact that there are several museums in Edinburgh with free admission. I wish they had that in Sweden too, because then I would visit museums here more frequently. I hope to return to Edinburgh one day, when it is summer.

    • Nemorino's Profile Photo
      Apr 27, 2013 at 2:33 PM

      Malena, thanks for your ratings and comments on my Edinburgh tips. My younger son really enjoyed his three years there as a student.

  • Reply
    lmkluque's Profile Photo
    Jan 2, 2013 at 12:32 PM

    You have so many updates on this page! That's for the new info Don.

  • Reply
    lmkluque's Profile Photo
    Dec 30, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    Some nice additions you have here Don!

  • Reply
    balhannah's Profile Photo
    Sep 21, 2012 at 3:03 PM

    Very enjoyable pages to read. You have taken me virtually to places in Edinburgh I have never seen before. Thanks for the tour.

  • Reply
    wise23girl's Profile Photo
    Jan 27, 2012 at 1:41 PM

    My daughter and I paid a brief visit to Edinburgh in 2011. Just a touch of Scotland for her...luckily we knew a local

    Thet managed to 'get rid' of the trams in Brisbane...and on Sunshine Coast...what a disaster.
    Marg

  • Reply
    lmkluque's Profile Photo
    Jan 27, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    I have friends with children attending school in Edinburgh and it's nice to see the area they live in. Interesting town and charming school. Thanks for sharing Don!

  • Reply
    slothtraveller's Profile Photo
    Jan 27, 2012 at 10:29 AM

    Seems they really do want to keep the English out, Don. According to the website, admission to the castle is £14 in off season! How times have changed since you wrote this page!

  • Reply
    ettiewyn's Profile Photo
    May 27, 2011 at 6:17 AM

    Fantastic page of Edinburgh! I think that of the museums, I like The People's Story best - it sounds fabulous! I would love to have a graduation ceremony like that. At my uni, we don't have one at all :-(

  • Reply
    kris-t's Profile Photo
    Nov 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM

    Great page! We hope Edinburgh is our next place to see... As I know, they (THEY) would like to get rid of Toronto's streetcars... I thing it will take out part of identity

  • Reply
    Yaqui's Profile Photo
    Nov 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

    Excellent page Don! Edinburgh is on my list of places I want to see some day. The city looks splendid!

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