By Chris Hardy

GLAMIS CASTLE, the venue for the weekend’s 15th Grand Scottish Prom Picnic and the third Grand Opera Prom, is a place of legends.

“Awesome Auty” may become a legend judging by the reception he received from the thousands who enjoyed the two evenings of classical music and opera.

Almost 5000 people attended Saturday’s concert where Peter Auty, hailed as Britain’s finest operatic tenor, sang Scottish songs and arias by Puccini and Verdi.

The Prom, co-sponsored by The Courier and Renault, included music by Strauss, Mendelssohn and Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy played by violin virtuoso Leland Chen.

The National Symphony Orchestra of Scotland, conducted by Iain Sutherland, played classical pops.

Last night’s Opera Prom brought Auty back to the stage along with baritone Andrew Slater, alto Kate McCartney and young soprano star Rachel Nicholls.

Auty sang Nessun Dorma and the duet from the Pearl Fishers with Andrew Slater who opened the programme with the Prologue to Pagliacci and the famous Toreador Song from Carmen.

Kate McCartney sang Chanson Boheme from Carmen and the dramatic Stride la Vampa from Il Trovatore.

Rachel Nicholls lifted the chill but sent a shiver down the spine with two of the most famous soprano arias in opera, One Fine Day from Madame Butterfly and Vissi d’arte from Tosca. They all also combined in duets and quartets to complete a memorable two nights which ended with a spectacular firework display to the Can-Can by Offenbach.

“They were great crowds—they really enjoyed themselves,” said orchestra leader John Reid.

“We are fortunate in having a loyal audience and once again its response was superb.”