Opera Scotland

Roland for an Oliver A Roland for an Oliver

Music

Henry Bishop (born London, 18 November 1786;  died London, 30 April 1855)

Text

Thomas Morton.

 

Premieres

First Performance: London (Covent Garden), 29 April 1819.

First Performance in Scotland: tbc.

 

Background

Described as a musical farce in two acts, A Roland for an Oliver maintained a place in the repertoire until well into the century. In Mary Ann Paton's 1824 Edinburgh season it followed after The Marriage of Figaro, to make a substantial evening. It continued to feature a few years after the composer's death, when it could still be seen as an afterpiece.