FAUST: THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO PAISLEY

Review From Paisley Photographs

Last night, Paisley Opera breathed new life into Gounod’s sumptuous music drama, Faust, with a distinctly Paisley twist. The full-dress rehearsal at Paisley Methodist Halls on Gauze Street was nothing short of electrifying, showcasing a fresh and bold reimagining of the classic tale about a man who sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for youth and love.
 
In this production, Paisley Opera embraced its roots, infusing the drama with the raw and vivid energy of Paisley dialect. The result was a performance that felt modern and accessible, while retaining the grandeur of Gounod’s original score. The collaboration with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera added a rich musical backdrop to the powerful storytelling, while the dancers from Right2Dance brought an extra layer of visual intensity to the stage.
 
What stood out most in this retelling was the daring use of language. Lines like, “Yeugh! Did you pish in my glass? Is this your best?” and “Ya piece of shite, ya evil stinking bastard, I’m gonna dae ye!” punctuated the drama, delivering a visceral punch that pulled the audience into the gritty emotional landscape of the characters. This bold adaptation was both humorous and deeply unsettling, reflecting the turmoil at the heart of Faust’s pact with the Devil.
 
The chorus, joined by international soloists, added to the production’s depth, their powerful voices blending seamlessly with the intensity of the narrative. Despite the local flavor, the production remained faithful to the spirit of Gounod’s opera, with a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, offering an experience that was immersive from start to finish.
 
Overall, Paisley Opera’s latest adventure is a thrilling, unconventional take on a classic, proving that even the grandest of operas can be given new life through innovation and local flair.

ABOUT US

Paisley Opera is first and foremost a company for the people of Paisley and the surrounding areas. It doesn’t matter whether you are a keen opera fan or have never sang a note in your life! We believe that everyone can sing and so we’re here to give you a voice.

We get together to sing and make friends, while also performing in full-scale operas alongside top-class soloists and an orchestra!

“Paisley Opera is something very special and worth celebrating.”

The Edinburgh Music Review

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MACBETH: HIGHLIGHTS REEL

Paisley Opera were proud to open up our beautiful Paisley Town Hall for two sold-out shows of Shakespeare’s enduring tale of Macbeth.

Under the direction of Simon Hannigan and musical direction of Alistair Digges, and with a brand new “Buddy-friendly” translation by Lindsay Bramley, we soared high into the melodies of Verdi’s dramatic masterpiece.

DARE TO SING OPERA!

As Urban Opera, we put on our first performance in Paisley at the University of The West of Scotland in December 2015. Since then we have been planning on how best to make the company a real part of this great town, and we are always looking for new members.

We want to create a company that the people of Paisley can be proud of. This means creating and staging opera in unpredictable and unusual places close to the streets of the town. It means opening the doors and inviting people in to watch our work and to work with us. This means sharing a great art with great people. Fancy joining us?

It doesn’t matter if you have never sung before… One of our tenors had only ever sung on football terraces!

Simon

I didn’t know I could sing and didn’t know anything about opera, like most people I thought it was a bit posh and not for me, but now I love it!

Anne

It’s tremendously encouraging to see opera initiatives springing up away from the formality of the city theatres.

The Scotsman

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