Undiscovered score leads to Australian first

A CHANCE find at the former Melbourne Conservatorium of Music of a four-act opera by Scottish romantic composer Hamish MacCunn has been brought back to life by the Melbourne-based Savoy Opera Company (SOC).

SOC has a long-standing tradition of touring its productions through regional Victoria and will bring its new offering, Jeanie Deans, to the Ballan Mechanics Institute on Saturday 24 May as part of its Australian premiere run of shows.

The ‘forgotten opera’ was first produced at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in 1894 and is loosely based on Walter Scott’s 1818 novel, The Heart of Midlothian.

As the opera’s director Stee Cordelia – originally from Lockerbie in south-western Scotland – explained, the story follows Jeanie Deans, whose sister Effie is accused of killing her child in 1700s Scotland.

“In that time, if a woman denied (it) and didn’t confess, she could be hanged,” she said. “Effie insists she didn’t do it, so Jeanie sets out to London to seek a pardon.

“The audience can discover what really happened – it’s a classic operatic story, but no one actually dies in (it), (there is) no violence or distressing scenes, so the show is family-friendly.

“Kids especially enjoy seeing the orchestra up close since it’s on floor level, so it’s a great way to experience live music and performance in a small, intimate venue.”

Savoy Opera Company will present Jeanie Deans at the Ballan Mechanics Institute on Saturday 24 May from 2pm.

Tickets can be purchased on the Trybooking website.