Lost opera based on Scott novel to get city premiere

IT is a dark tale of madness, kidnap and imprisonment in the heart of the city's underworld which has never been performed in this country until now.

La Prigione di Edimburgo, the dramatic opera based on Sir Walter Scott's Heart of Midlothian, will premiere for the first time in the UK since its completion in 1838.

The rare manuscript was uncovered by Neil Metcalfe, musical director of Edinburgh Grand Opera, after colleague and director Christina Dunwoodie came across a short extract in a 19th-century practice book.

The 44-year-old, who works with various musical organisations in the Capital, tracked down the full manuscript to the Covent Garden Library in December.

The opera, the title of which translates as Imprisoned in Edinburgh, was composed by Federico Ricci, 1809-1877, at a time when Scottish literature was hugely popular in Italy.

It will be performed at the Queen's Hall on May 15 and has already attracted significant attention from Scott enthusiasts and opera fans.

There is no known records of the opera having been performed worldwide since 1865, meaning that the event is expected to generate significant interest from abroad.

Mr Metcalfe said: "We had been looking for a piece that was unusual and as we were searching Christina came across one particular aria from the opera in a book of general operatic arias printed in the 19th century.

"We discovered that it came from La Prigione di Edimburgo and we set about trying to find it.

"It turned out that the Covent Garden Library had two copies of the original manuscripts.

"In 1996 a company called Opera Rara made a recording of the main portions, but it was never performed. It's quite incredible to think that an audience may not have heard this since the 18th century."

When it was written the opera was instantly hailed as a success, and between 1838 and 1865 La Prigione was produced in more than 100 opera houses outside Italy, including Copenhagen, Barcelona, Madrid, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

Mr Metcalfe said: "Federico wrote this at a time in Italian culture where a lot of Scottish stories were very popular and composers incorporated them into their operas, such as Verdi's opera Macbeth, and Maria Stuarda, based on the Maria Stuart story.

"If you were living in Italy, Scotland was a very romantic country and it appears Federico Ricci was inspired by this."

"We're also giving two performances at the Fringe, which will appeal to anyone who is not able to make this premiere performance."

Geoff Akers, chairman of Edinburgh Grand Opera, said: "It will be a performance in period dress and the quality of the music is dramatic and wonderful. We like to do productions that are a bit off the wall and this will certainly not disappoint."