Editor

Warm thanks for winter performances

Write to: e-mail: pj.letters@ajl.co.uk All letters are subject to editing and must include your full address and daytime telephone number for verification. Thank you SIR, – The dark November evenings are chilly and cold, but there was only warmth and charm in the two very different musical productions I attended recently at HM Theatre in Aberdeen.

In the Scottish Opera production of Verdi’s La Traviata, pictured, which I think was one of their best, the part of Violetta was sympathetic and gorgeously sung by a Russian/Dutch soprano Gulnara Shafigullina. The whole production was a truly uplifting experience.

Secondly, I booked with trepidation wondering what I was to hear in the lesser known of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals, Sunset Boulevard which has no real well known signature songs. I was, however, not disappointed. The sets were very cleverly constructed and the musical flowed along smoothly. The main parts were played by Ria Jones and the much younger Danny Mac, finalist in Strictly 2016. Not only is he a dancer but an accomplished actor and singer. Both leads did the production proud. Once the final chord was played by the orchestra they received a standing ovation which was well deserved.

Both these performances were well attended and I thought how lucky we are in Aberdeen to have HM Theatre (albeit the seats are a bit uncomfortable!).

Congratulations to APA for bringing these two wonderful productions to Aberdeen.

Dorothy Gray, Glendee Terrace, Cults, Aberdeen