Guerilla Opera returns to Edinburgh
New venues for EIF’s narrative-driven song-cycles
Emma Morwood and Chris Elliott ready for a little bit of Love in a Bookshop. Photo credit Claudine Quinn
By Thom Dibdin
The Lovin’ Spoonful would not doubt have approved. It’s hot town, Summer in the City but the Edinburgh International Festival aren’t getting dirt and gritty – just making it so the days can be like the night.
It’s “go out and find a girl” time for the return of the Love in a… series of guerilla operas which premiered last year with Love in a Library. There’s no need to wait for the night in order to experience a tuneful spoonful, either, as the performances take place during the day.
It’s all part of the EIF’s year-round education and engagement programme and is directed by Sally Hobson, EIF head of programme development. It will see Emma Morwood, the Northern Irish soprano based in Scotland, and lyric tenor Chris Elliott making eyes and declaring their love through a narrative-driven selection of songs and arias in public places.
So not quite a guerilla opera then, more like a pop-up song-cycle.
Last year’s series sought to charm unsuspecting audiences – and those in the know – with a “moving story of unfolding feelings between a librarian and a reader”.
According to the EIF’s Maciej Czajka, “What is special about this year’s series is that it explores love stories emerging in new unexpected places, not only libraries. We will be announcing details on our social media every morning at 9.30am
“The venues were selected as places where the public gather in pursuit of things like looking for a book, reading, having a cup of coffee or going for a walk. The aim is to have the audiences unsuspecting of an event happening around them.”
It’s that heady sense of not knowing where the pop-up concerts will take place that keeps the intrigue. The first – announced on the EIF’s facebook and Twitter this morning at 9.30am – is Blackwell’s bookshop on Southbridge and will take place today, Tuesday 4 June, at 3pm. There will be more all week – but just where has yet to be revealed.
Follow the EIF on twitter: @edintfest
Follow the EIF on facebook: edinburghinternationalfestival
ENDS
