Details

The story of Friends of the People, unites themes of national struggle, democracy and love against a musical background of David Horne's vigorous and energetic composition. Set in Scotland at the time of the French Revolution, the opera brings to the stage the excitement of the life and struggles of the young Scottish advocate and parliamentary reformer, Thomas Muir of Huntershill, who dared to champion democracy against a fearful and oppressive government. Sustained by love and affectionate friends, dashed by betrayal, condemned by a corrupted Scottish law court, Thomas reflects the hopes and doubts of a free spirit moved by passionate commitment. Confronting brutality with idealistic purpose, his amazing odyssey across the world moves through a battle at sea to a personal climax which causes Thomas, rejected at home and honoured abroad, to seek to resolve the very meaning of his life - a true hero for our time. The operatic score is intensely dramatic and ranges from the sweep of jubilant orchestral passages to the profoundly intimate moments of Muir's self-reflection. Horne's use of the French revolutionary song 'Ca ira' as a motif throughout the opera adds a remarkable poignancy to Muir's struggle against the intransigence of the Scottish Opera.

Creatives/Company

Music: David Horne
Lyrics: Robert Maclennan