Paisley refit gives Macscagni a Scottish twist

As we go to press, final rehearsals are underway for an intriguing new take on Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana by Paisley Opera. Called A Paisley Kiss and staged in the Scottish company’s hometown, the Sicily-based opera’s libretto has been translated into the local dialect and, we are told, features one or two unlikely twists to the plot. Though the BBC Music editorial team is comprised largely of soft English southerners (plus an Australian), even we can hazard a guess as to what a ‘Paisley Kiss’ might be. If it has any similarity to its equivalent in nearby Glasgow, it is anything but romantic…