Opera Scotland

Così fan tutte 1944Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Così fan tutte

These early performances represent the first production of Così by Sadler's Wells, and they certainly put out a top cast of principals, including the company's director, Joan Cross, as Fiordiligi. She, Peter Pears and Owen Brannigan would all play leading roles in the premiere of Peter Grimes the following year.  Margaret Ritchie was cast as Dorabella. She was a light lyric soprano, and that is a voice type that is again becoming fashionable instead of the darker mezzo sound of recent decades - but then Joan Cross was herself the possessor of a powerfully dramatic voice.

Rose Hill, who sang Despina, sang regularly for Sadler's Wells and at Glyndebourne, before turning to acting, when she performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company among others. She may also be remembered for regular appearances as Madame Fanny in the TV series 'Allo, 'Allo late in her career.

Cast details are from a copy of the programme in the A M Gardiner collection at the Mitchell Library