European Collaboration 'Opera Hiort' To Screen On BBC Alba

The story of St Kilda will be shown live to the world in a special broadcasting project which will draw six European countries together.
Under the direction of the National Gaelic Arts Project and supported by the Gaelic Media Service (GMS), ‘Opera Hiort’ will be preformed by artists, singers and professional crew drawn from European countries including France, Belgium and Slovakia.
The production will be broadcast live online on BBC Alba between 8.20pm and 9.45pm on Friday 22 June.
The specially commissioned Opera, with music by Jean-Paul Dessy and David Graham, and libretto by Iain Finlay MacLeòid, tells the story of the people of the St Kilda islands and how they dealt with day-to-day life before the islands were cleared in 1930. The production will focus particularly on the islands’ bird catchers who put their lives in daily danger to maintain the food supply.
The power, emotion and appeal of this story will make connections across Europe and will position the Gaelic language and culture, as well as Gaelic broadcasting, on a unique international stage for the first time.
The use of satellite technology will allow ‘Opera Hiort’ to be webcast live on the BBC website while the performance is taking place on the island, and the film footage will also form the basis for a television programme.
Donald Campbell, chief executive of GMS believes ‘Opera Hiort’ shows how relevant the St Kilda story and Gaelic in general are to today’s world.
"Bringing this story to life and broadcasting it live online throughout Scotland and internationally shows how important productions like these are in telling a powerful and vibrant story that touches the emotions," said Donald.
"GMS is proud to be supporting 'Opera Hiort', a project that is progressive, inspiring and thoroughly European. It demonstrates that the story of these islands still provokes discussion and clearly illustrates that Gaelic broadcasting goes a long way to ensuring that Scotland’s culture and heritage is kept alive in the 21st Century."
(DS)