Thea Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots Returns to San Francisco Opera
Nearly half a century after its premiere, Thea Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots returns to San Francisco Opera in a new production by Stewart Laing, presented in partnership with English National Opera. The opera runs from 20 September to 4 October 2026 at the War Memorial Opera House, with Clelia Cafiero conducting and Heidi Stober in the title role.
First seen at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1977, Mary, Queen of Scots focuses not on the queen’s imprisonment and execution, which inspired works by Schiller and Donizetti, but on her turbulent years ruling Scotland. Musgrave’s libretto follows the young monarch as she navigates political intrigue, shifting alliances and the ambitions of three men determined to control her authority: her half-brother James Stewart, her husband Lord Darnley and the Earl of Bothwell.
The work occupies a significant place in 98-year-old Musgrave’s catalogue. One of the leading figures in British and American contemporary music, the Scottish-born composer’s operas include The Voice of Ariadne, A Christmas Carol, Harriet, The Woman Called Moses and Simón Bolívar. As her centenary approaches in 2028, performances of her work are receiving renewed attention internationally.
The production marks the opera’s mainstage premiere at San Francisco Opera. Musgrave herself conducted its West Coast premiere in 1979 at the Curran Theatre as part of the company’s Spring Opera Theater programme. Laing’s staging, first seen at English National Opera in 2025, places the story in a contemporary Scottish setting, drawing parallels between sixteenth-century political conflict and modern social divisions.
American soprano Heidi Stober reprises the role of Mary after performing it in London in 2025. She is joined by British baritone Thomas Mole as James Stewart, making his American debut, alongside Christopher Sokolowski as Lord Darnley and Thomas Kinch as the Earl of Bothwell. The cast also includes Hadleigh Adams, David Soar, Olivier Zerouali, Chance Jonas-O’Toole and a number of current Adler Fellows.
The performances will also introduce Italian conductor Clelia Cafiero to San Francisco audiences. Cafiero has attracted growing attention in recent seasons for appearances with major European companies and makes her company debut with Musgrave’s score.
Speaking about the revival, Musgrave described Mary, Queen of Scots as “the cornerstone” of her operatic output:
I have always felt it to be the cornerstone of my operatic repertoire. It is also very close to me personally as I am a woman, a Scot and lived for several years in Paris. It was therefore easier for me than others to get inside of Mary’s feelings as the 18-year-old widowed Queen of France returning to Scotland as the Scottish Queen.
Mary grew quickly to hold her own in a land menaced by the conflicting ambitions of the men that surrounded her, only in the end, ironically, to be defeated and brought down by a woman, Queen Elizabeth I.
Happily, Mary won the long game when her son, James VI of Scotland, became James I of England and Scotland on Elizabeth’s death. I am hoping my opera will likewise continue to bring her valour, her strength and particularly her emotional journey to life in a meaningful way for today’s audiences at San Francisco Opera.
Six performances are scheduled between 20 September and 4 October, and the 26 September performance will be livestreamed worldwide and remain available on demand for 48 hours.
Interview with composer Thea Musgrave at 90: I am happy and fulfilled to be the composer and person I am now
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
