ABOUT – Aria Alba | Opera For All

Aria Alba Opera for all is a community opera company serving Edinburgh and Scotland since 2011.

At our weekly rehearsals we build skills in singing, languages and acting.

Our community is led by a team of world class industry professionals and provides a safe and nurturing environment for people to grow in confidence and flourish with the support of our members and production team.

We’re here equally for aspiring professionals and those who just want to let loose and make some noise with paths open to perform full length operas in original language as part of our fabulous chorus, production team or even in the lead roles.

2012.LE NOZZE DI FIGARO || 2013.DIDO AND AENEAS || 2014.DiE ZAUBERFLOTE || 2015.ARIA GOES OFFICE || 2016.DIE FLEDERMAUS || 2017.SEMELE || 2018.IDOMENEO || 2019.LA SONNAMBULA || 2021.ARIA GOES MISSING || 2022.MARIA STUARDA || 2023.COSI FAN TUTTE || 2024.CARMEN || 2025.DIE FLEDERMAUS || 2026. CAV AND PAG

2011

Company Founded by Nell Drew to create a new space for Opera in Edinburgh. The company would support emerging young singers and be a place for singers of all ages to find community, and experience Opera together.
2012

Aria Alba perform their first full length opera at Edinburgh Fringe under the direction of Nell Drew. The opera is performed with piano accompaniment and features a cast of singers from children through to retired folk.
2013

Aria Alba perform Dido and Aeneas at Edinburgh Fringe. The opera is reimagined with Dido as Heiress to a fortune and Aeneas as a banker. The witches form an activist group to collapse the bank and send Aeneas packing.
2014

The company has hit it’s stride, and membership is on the up. The Fringe offering is Die Zauberflote with a full cast of amateur and pre-professional musicians. Jacob Zualski joins the team as Co-Musical Director and performs in the role of Papageno.
2015

The members divise their own characters for a new work coordinated by Nell Drew: Aria Goes Office. The story uses a selection of songs, arias, ensembles and choruses to bring to life the colourful interpersonal relationships of office life.
2016

Die Fledermaus takes the spotlight with guest performances from a group of young dance students, Pat McKerrow and even a famous celebrity chef! (Don’t worry, we didn’t recognise him either!). This years production takes the company onto a whole new level with props by Susie Hazledine including a complete high tea banquet.
2017

Semele hits the magazine covers after her wedding to Athamus flops at the alter. She’s found herself a new man, a surgeon no less! But will he work on her, or will he continue to keep his work from her?
2018

Sadly Nell’s health has begun to suffer, and she is unable to realise her full vision for Idomeneo as a non-specific US president with blond hair, orange tan and childish temperament (any similarity to real world charachters is coincidental…). The production is completed by Jake Zualski in his directorial debut.
2019

We have reached peak Alba, with our most comprehensively designed production ever. La Sonnambula has brought a new professionalism to Aria Alba including theatre lighting, curated costuming, and high level performances accross the cast. The production seamlessly blends high camp comedy with the tragedy of Bellini’s classic masterpiece.
2020

Our community moves online, meeting once a week to sing, talk and stay connected during this most difficult year. We collaborated with Harlekin Studio Opera and Three Bridges Opera to produce a video piece concieved and produced by Jake Zualski with Nell drew as co-director. Luminaria explores the dim light of hope in the darkest day of the year.
2022

Max McWhirter joins the company as accompanist, and performs his first full length opera, Maria Stuarda on piano for Edinburgh Fringe.
2022

After more than a decade of contributions to the company in her role as Artistic Director, Nell Drew sadly dies following a long illness. Jacob Zualski is installed as her successor.

Board of Management
Fiona Watson…………..Chair
KATA FEITH……..SECRETARY
Andy Stewart..Treasurer
EILIDH RIDDELL…….TRUSTEE
JAMIE ROSS…………TRUSTEE

JACOB ZUALSKI – ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Jake has been director of Aria Alba since 2022, and before that worked as musical director for the company from 2014. Jake is a singing teacher, and singer as well as holding many other creative interests from historical tailoring to violin building.

Jake has performed in the the roles of Papageno, Harlekin, Il conte di Almaviva, Guglielmo, Escamillo and more. Collaborations have included work with Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Three Bridges Opera, VoiceArc and Dramatic Voices Program Berlin.

His passion for inclusive opera and inspiring high-level artistic outcomes for community groups led him to specialise in producing works that are engaging for both performers and audiences alike. He has created works with both Aria Alba and Harlekin Studio Opera, including the first ever opera at Newcastle Castle Keep (Dido and Aeneas 2019).

Die Fledermaus is a jovial experience that doesn’t take itself at all seriously, succeeding in making opera accessible. – All Edinburgh Theatre

MAX MCWHIRTER – ACCOMPANIST/REPETITEUR

SUZANNE GODET – ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR

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