As Stravinsky originally conceived it, the opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex (first performed almost a century ago) fits well into this Edinburgh international festival’s “rituals” theme. Scottish Opera’s bold staging in the acoustically challenging atrium of the National Museum of Scotland still fits, although director Roxana Haines has disregarded many of the composer’s original stipulations.
Most obviously, the chorus – which integrates professionals with community volunteers, including local NHS workers – includes female voices, in a nod to modern sensibilities but surely also for practical reasons. Their contribution, choreographed by Alex McCabe to interact with the promenading audience, and directed by Susannah Wapshott, is one of the glories of the production.
