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At the renowned Royal Albert Hall in London, opera singer Nicky Spence took the stage for the Last Night of the Proms, showcasing a celebration of his Scottish heritage. Initially, only a tartan scarf gave a subtle nod to his roots. However, his performance of “Donald, Where’s Your Troosers?” was marked by a dramatic reveal as he removed his “boring black trousers” to display bright red tartan trews, removing any doubt about his Scottish identity.
This lively segment was part of a specially crafted medley named *Scotch Snap*, which blended both traditional Scottish tunes and contemporary favorites. Spence, originally from Dumfries, incorporated spirited dance moves and a series of patriotic costumes throughout the performance. The audience enjoyed a vibrant mix of songs such as The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” Bacara’s disco hit “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” alongside classic pieces like “Rule Britannia!” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
Living now in Paisley with his husband and child, Spence described the show on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast as “such a blast.” He humorously likened the excitement to “a chip fire,” recalling how his quick costume change during “Donald, Where’s Your Troosers?” electrified the crowd. “I think that got everybody’s pulses racing a la Magic Mike,” he remarked. The medley, newly arranged by Stuart Calvert, also included traditional numbers like “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond,” all accompanied by dancers in tartan kilts and bonnets. His performance concluded with a black T-shirt featuring gold sequined sleeves and red tartan trews, backed by a bagpiper dressed in classic Scottish attire.
Spence revealed that he collaborated extensively with the arranger to select and refine the music, aiming to capture the current cultural mood. “I put my finger up the zeitgeist to see what was hot at the time and I thought we have got to include Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” he said. This disco hit, popularly embraced by Scotland’s fans during Euro 2020 and subsequently at the World Cup, provided a lighter contrast to Spence’s usual opera repertoire. Known for his performances of Wagner, Strauss, and Mozart, Spence described these classical pieces as “heavy weather stuff” and found the disco number to be “like sorbet compared to the rest of my life, which is like a heavy meal.” He added that the dancing challenged him more than the singing during this lively act.
Reflecting on his connection to Scottish dress and culture, Spence acknowledged it had been a long time since he had performed in traditional attire but expressed contentment with his recent return to Scotland. He shared, “I had a record contract when I was about 21 years old with Universal Records and I was called The Scottish Tenor so I sang a lot of Robert Burns and wore a kilt most of the day,” before transitioning fully to opera. For those curious, he jokingly offered to sing “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” again if requested.
As part of the BBC Proms finale, Spence also portrayed the prince in Dvořák’s *Rusalka* with the aria “Vidino divná” and followed up Scotch Snap with the Broadway tune “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” from *Guys and Dolls*. He energized the crowd again by opening the final segment with “Rule Britannia!” dressed in a distinctive jacket and kilt featuring the Loch Ness Monster. Earlier, he recorded a rendition of “Nessun Dorma” on the steps of the Royal Albert Hall in honor of the aria’s centenary. The evening wrapped up with a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton, followed by performances of “God Save the King” and “Auld Lang Syne.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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