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© 2026 The Scottish Opera Podcast
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Welcome to The Scottish Opera Podcast
Step into the exciting world of opera with Scottish Opera's debut podcast series! Join host Jamie MacDougall, tenor and former BBC Radio Scotland presenter, as each new guest brings their unique perspective about what goes on behind the scenes at a national opera company. You’ll hear from directors and designers who dramatise these stories, conductors who interpret music new and old, and singers from international stars to our dedicated Community Chorus members.
Expect deep dives on beloved classics, previews of world premieres, and explorations of opera as a tool for education and wellbeing. With each new episode, we celebrate the talent, dedication, humanity, and creativity that makes opera special and offer new angles on this vibrant art form.
Whether you're an opera aficionado or just dipping your toe into this world, The Scottish Opera Podcast is your window into the craft, challenges, and diversity of opera today.
This podcast is produced in partnership with City of Glasgow College and supported by students on Broadcasting courses at the college, with thanks to James Wilson, Curriculum Head of Broadcasting.
10 Episodes
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2026 marks 100 years since the birth of Sir Alexander Gibson, a defining figure in Scottish classical music. From his early days at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to founding Scottish Opera and leading the Scottish National Orchestra, his influence continues to shape Scotland’s musical life. In this episode we speak on location with his son, Philip Gibson. Philip reflects on his relationship with his father, Sir Alexander’s impact on Scotland’s music, his love of Sibelius, his knighthood...
Presenter Jamie MacDougall catches up backstage at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre with Emerging Artist Edward Jowle. This episode was recorded just as Scottish Opera’s November run of Puccini’s La bohème was about to begin, with Edward preparing to sing the role Schaunard and Jamie himself performing Alcindoro and Benoît. Edward shares how he first discovered opera, reflects on his early years of study, and describes the thrill of stepping onto the Scottish Opera stage for the first time in Oct...
Produced by Kayleigh and Grace from the City of Glasgow College. Presenter Jamie MacDougall chats to director Rebecca Meltzer and Baritone Emerging Artist, Ross Cumming, and about the Opera Highlights tour. This season’s snappy, playful show by director Rebecca Meltzer and designer Kenneth MacLeod explores and celebrates Scotland’s rich landscape. The operatic snapshots, curated for the first time by Fiona MacSherry, Scottish Opera’s Head of Music, form vignettes taking place at t...
This episode was produced in partnership with City of Glasgow College, and supported by broadcast students, Kayleigh, Grace, and Ophelia. Join our presenter Jamie MacDougall as he chats to Karen MacIver, composer for Special Delivery. Entirely led by music, Special Delivery is a new children’s production for ages 3-7 produced in-house at Lanternhouse, a state-of-the-art performing arts centre based at Cumbernauld Community Campus, in a co-production with Cumbernauld Theatre Company, Visible ...
Our presenter Jamie MacDougall sat down to discuss The Small Magician with Lea Shaw, Scottish Opera's Education Artist in Residence. Supported by Scottish Opera, The Small Magician is a new, trauma-aware, inclusive, accessible series of vocal education resources in the form of workbooks, and audio and video guides. Designed to be a safe way for you to explore and foster curiosity - using your voice as a form of play - these resources are open to all and free of charge. This episode was pro...
Presenter Jamie MacDougall is joined by Emma Jenkins (librettist) and Toby Hession (composer) to discuss their brand new operetta, A Matter of Misconduct! As well as discussing the exciting challenges of producing a new operetta, Emma and Toby explore the first experiences of operetta and opera, and their working partnership so far. A Matter of Misconduct! When a scandal threatens to break about the front runner in a bloody leadership campaign, a lawyer is needed to preven...
This podcast features audio from an exclusive live broadcast originally shared with our patrons and donors and produced by Broadcast students at City of Glasgow College. Join acclaimed broadcaster Nicola Meighan (BBC Radio Scotland's Friday Afternoons and podcast, A Kick Up The Arts) in conversation with General Director Alexander Reedijk OBE FRC and Music Director Stuart Stratford as they unveil Scottish Opera's exciting 2025/26 Season. What's Coming This Season Our upcoming season promises ...
Filmmaker Antonia Bain and composer Samuel Bordoli discuss the creative partnership behind "Josefine," Scottish Opera's groundbreaking animated opera short. Drawing inspiration from Kafka's final story 'Josefine The Singer', the pair reveal how they developed their 14-minute award-winning film exploring the performer-audience relationship. They share insights on co-authoring the libretto, directing for animation, and composing music that brings Josefine's desert world to life. Together ...
Director Olivia Fuchs joins Jamie MacDougall in the studio to discuss her production of Leoš Janáček's opera, The Makropulos Affair. This co-production with Welsh National Opera is Scottish Opera's first full staging of the opera since 1993. Hailed as ‘unmissable triumph’ (The Telegraph), this production focuses on the immortal Emilia Marty, or Elina Makropulos, a woman who has managed to live for over 300 years thanks to an Elixir created by her father. Captivating everyone she meet, i...
Presenter Jamie MacDougall welcomes our listeners into the whimsical world of Donizetti's Don Pasquale, as he hosts internationally acclaimed director-designer duo Barbe & Doucet, alongside star baritone David Stout to discuss Scottish Opera's production. This beloved production has charmed audiences from Miami to Toronto since its 2014 debut with Scottish Opera. Barbe & Doucet share their vision for setting this classic opera in the 1960s, where Don Pasquale owns a cat-themed crumbli...
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