In Conversation with Scottish Soprano, Claudia Wood
Claudia Wood is a Scottish soprano and the founding Artistic Director of Blackbird Opera, a small, passionate opera company based right here in South West Scotland. Having trained at some of the UK’s most respected conservatoires, Claudia has performed across Europe and brings a rare combination of technical brilliance and genuine warmth to everything she does.
This summer, supported by Arts D&G, we have two wonderful operatic experiences coming to Barwhillanty. In May, we host a semi-staged production of Verdi’s La Traviata, an evening of international operatic talent by Opera Caledonia, and the perfect occasion to launch our Supper Club with an Italian feast served pre-performance. In June, Claudia will be performing at our much-loved and family friendly Picnic Prom; a relaxed afternoon of music and merriment in the Walled Garden—this year with the added pleasure of our beautiful new venue, The Pavilion. Tickets for both are available to book now. Sign up to our mailing list to enjoy 20% off.
Ahead of these events, we caught up with Claudia to find out a little more.
Let’s start at the beginning. When did you realise opera was your path?
Well, at the very beginning I was a Police Officer! I realised music was my path when I met my husband. I was singing in a concert with other young artists from the region, and he was the Sound Engineer for the evening. It was a year or so after that event, that he turned around to me and said that he hadn’t heard me sing publicly since that concert. I think it was from that point onwards that everything started to click into place. I left the police and pursued vocal training at UK Conservatoires. From that point on, opera stopped being just an interest and became something I knew I wanted to pursue seriously.
Blackbird Opera is rooted here in Dumfries and Galloway. What is it about the community and landscape here that inspires what you’re building?
The picturesque setting of Dumfries and Galloway is what naturally encourages creativity, inspiring local communities to engage with the arts and the outdoors, making it possible to develop concerts and events from the ground up. I’ve always felt that access to great music shouldn’t be limited by geography, and the Picnic Prom in the Walled Garden is proof that world-class opera can be performed in rural settings.
What does it mean to you to bring opera into spaces like Barwhillanty Estate, and away from the concert hall?
It’s incredibly important to me. Opera can sometimes feel intimidating when it’s confined to traditional venues in large cities, but when you bring it into spaces like Barwhillanty, it becomes something much more accessible. People can experience the music in a relaxed environment, the performers and the audience are together in the Walled Garden and helps to break down any perceived barriers in a really special way.
This June you’re back for the Picnic Prom, performing alongside soprano Rachael Brimley and pianist Derek Clark, Scottish Opera’s former Head of Music. What can our guests expect from the afternoon?
It’s going to be a joyful, relaxed celebration of music. We’re bringing together a mix of well-loved classics, lighter repertoire, and a few surprises. I’ll be singing alongside Rachael Brimley, a soprano who was previously a Young Artist for Opera Holland Park and has sung in the freelance Chorus of Scottish Opera. We will be accompanied on the piano by Derek Clark, who was the Head of Music at Scottish Opera from 1977 to 2023 and conducted more than 30 operas for the company. He continues to work as an accompanist, and as a Guest Coach and examiner at the major conservatories and at the National Opera Studio.
How do you approach curating a programme for an outdoor summer audience? Is there a particular piece you’re especially excited to perform?
For an outdoor audience, I always think about variety and atmosphere. You want recognisable music that connects immediately, that feels uplifting and engaging in an open-air setting. There are always one or two pieces in the programme that I’m especially excited about, and singing with another soprano might give a little clue as to what we might be performing as a duo, but expect to hear classics from major works by Mozart, Puccini and Verdi.
The Picnic Prom this year will be held once again in our Walled Garden. What does a space like that add to the experience, for you as a performer and for the audience?
There is an intimacy to the Walled Garden that you don’t always get in open spaces. It feels enclosed, like a natural outdoor theatre. For performers, it creates a closer connection with the audience, and for listeners, it becomes a more immersive experience where the beautiful surroundings and the music enhance each other. Of course, the weather can dampen the experience, but with the newly refurbished Walled Garden and newly built Pavilion, there will be plenty of options for the audience to move around the garden comfortably and still enjoy the music.
The Picnic Prom is deliberately family friendly and accessible. How important is that to you, and how do you think we bring new and less experienced audiences into opera?
Opera should be for everyone, not just for people who already know and love it. Creating an event that is welcoming, informal, and open to all ages is one of the best ways to invite new audiences in. If someone’s first experience of opera is positive and enjoyable, that moment can stay with them for a lifetime.
For someone coming to their very first recital, what would you want them to know?
I’d want them to know that there’s no right or wrong way to experience it. Opera is all about emotion and storytelling, but you don’t need to understand everything or know the background. Just come and listen, connect to the sound of the music, and see how it makes you feel.
Claudia’s performances are just the beginning of what promises to be a truly memorable summer at Barwhillanty. Whether you’re joining us for the magic of La Traviata or spreading out a blanket for the Picnic Prom, these are evenings and afternoons worth saving the date for. Head to our events page to explore what’s coming up — and if you haven’t already, sign up to our mailing list for first access to news from the Estate and 20% off your first event ticket. We’d love to have you with us.
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