Opera lovers get into character

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Scottish Opera's latest production has proven a hit with fans - even before it reached the stage.

The company offered members of the public a chance to sponsor one of the 60 characters in Der Rosenkavalier, which opens in Glasgow on Wednesday.

It was inundated with requests and has so far raised Â£44,000 - four times the expected figure.

Prices range from Â£25 for a person of suspicious character to Â£5,000 for a central character in the Strauss opera.

One of the most popular choices has been an Italian tenor who sings just one aria in act one, who was snapped up by 20 different people.

Last year Scottish Opera was forced to make almost 100 redundancies and suspend all main scale productions.

The sponsorship scheme is one of several aimed at proving the company can raise funds of its own, as well as spend government money wisely.