Discover Opera introduces pupils aged 13-18 to one of our main-stage operas through an interactive, potted version performed in their school by our team of artists.

This June, Discover Opera visited 15 Edinburgh Schools with a group of professional opera singers and a pianist. They performed a specially created version of Verdi’s A Masked Ball.

Through a live performance and Q&A, around 1,000 music pupils had the exciting opportunity to explore the opera’s music, themes and story up close.

One of our Youth Collective members, Abhinav, reflects on his experience ⬇️

I didn’t know what to expect when I first sat down in my school hall in front of the Discover Opera team three years ago. But I certainly didn’t expect that hour and a half to completely change the way I perceive music.

When the opening Aria began and we heard the piercing vibrato for the first time I noticed a few giggles and remarks behind me. But the room quickly settled into an amazed silence and we were soon all hooked into the story that the singers skilfully shaped through their voices alone. I was fully transported into a new realm, picturing the scenes unfold as the operatic flourishes captivated me.

Before the Discover Opera event I was an enthusiastic fan of music in general, but I never really got the chance to experience the sound of opera in person. But that first time feeling the booming bass notes in my bones and watching how the singers soulfully called out to the audience, forming a personal connection to the music and us, felt ethereal to see.

After that, I felt invigorated. I wanted to build a personal connection to the music that I wanted to perform in the same way I saw the singers do that day. I approached how I perform a piece from a completely new perspective, learning how to feel the music in every part of myself, and embody the music. I could at once see the shift in my playing and singing. This newfound connection I had built was solely mine, and I felt like I had just been brought into an entirely new area in the world of music.

It’s no secret as to how young people view opera – common words that would run through a young person’s mind would be “old-fashioned” or “snooty”, and at first these were admittedly my thoughts as well. But I had never seen opera in real life before Discover Opera showed up at my school drama studio and removed the barriers that I felt were keeping me away from live performance.

Along with the knowledge of opera, another thing that young people don’t really have is money, so the thing that really perked my ears up was the opportunity to see a fully staged version of the opera I had heard earlier for free! I, along with some other friends, decided to try it, and with the Discover Opera free ticket offer I also got to see the magnificent UK premier of Verdi’s Masked Ball performed by the Zurich Opera this year.

We all came out crying.

The passion these artists had for what they were performing really hit me hard. I could not understand just how much time, effort, and love they put into a show for our enjoyment, and that dedication to the art was extremely admirable.

Now I wouldn’t miss an opera at the Edinburgh International Festival for the world. In 2026 I also saw The Galloping Cure, which really pushed me to think about how opera intersects with other forms of art. Lush arias combined with rhythmic EDM? Flying horses and singing sheep? It made me realise how, not just the audience, but the producers view this medium from wildly differing perspectives. After that, I also figured out the reason why it's personally important for me to keep seeing new performances out of my comfort zone; I want to experience all these different types of art to learn, grow, and take inspiration from.

The Discover Opera team have now come to my school every year since that first time three years ago and I am so thankful to the performers for sharing their art with us, but most of all, to the Discover Opera team of Emma, Colin, Andrew, Laura and David that sparked the inspiration and willingness in me to expand my horizons. 

Discover Opera Information

In bringing a live operatic experience to pupils, Discover Opera deepens musical knowledge and encourages conversations about storytelling, musicianship and performance. 

After the workshops this year, hundreds of free tickets were made available for participating pupils to attend Zurich Opera House’s production of Verdi’s A Masked Ball at the Festival Theatre in August.

Our Discover Projects are offered for free to secondary school pupils and are an annual commitment to creating pathways to each of our artforms.