The Makropulos Affair 2025 | Trailer

Theatre Royal Glasgow:
15, 19 & 22 February 2025, 7.15pm

Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
27 February & 1 March 2025, 7.15pm

★★★★★ - The Telegraph

★★★★★ - The Telegraph
★★★★★ - The Times
★★★★ - Bachtrack
★★★★ - The Guardian

‘Olivia Fuchs’s new production convinces me that this is Janáček’s most powerful and innovative, if not greatest, stage work’ - The Arts Desk


Hailed as an ‘unmissable triumph’ (The Telegraph) and nominated for a 2022 Southbank Sky Arts Award, this co-production of Janáček’s mature masterpiece returns to Scottish Opera in its first full staging since 1993.

Emilia Marty is a stylish, enigmatic diva with a secret. For over three centuries, she has lived many lives, in a quest to become a great opera singer. Emilia - also known as Elina Makropulos, or simply E.M. - captivates minds and hearts along her journey through time and across Europe. Her existence raises questions of science and nature, reality and fantasy, and life and death. But as the elixir she was given begins to lose its power, the secrets of her lives and loves begin to come to light. She can no longer escape from these essential human tensions.

Olivia Fuchs’ ‘emotionally driven direction’ (The Telegraph) is supported by Nicola Turner’s multi-layered, poetic designs. Sung in English, Orla Boylan (Marx in London! 2024) leads as Emilia Marty, with Ryan Capozzo (Scottish Opera debut) as Albert Gregor. Joining them are Henry Waddington (Greek 2018) as Doctor Kolenatý, and Mark Le Brocq (Nixon in China 2020) as Vitek. The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, conducted by Martyn Brabbins, brings out every dramatic nuance.

Emilia Marty
Orla Boylan

Albert Gregor
Ryan Capozzo

Doctor Kolenatý
Henry Waddington

Vítek
Mark Le Brocq

Kristina
Catriona Hewitson

Baron Jaroslav Prus
Roland Wood

Janek Prus
Michael Lafferty

Count Hauk-Šendorf
Alasdair Elliott

Stage Technician
Edward Jowle*
*2024/25 Emerging Artist


The Orchestra of Scottish Opera


The Chorus of The Makropulos Affair

Conductor
Martyn Brabbins

Director
Olivia Fuchs

Designer
Nicola Turner

Lighting Designer
Robbie Butler

Video Designer
Sam Sharples