Opera Scotland

Trovatore 1912Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Trovatore

Il Trovatore was hugely popular with the opera-going public, though the critics were, it seems, not entirely convinced.

The cast for Aberdeen is from a copy of the programme in Aberdeen City Library.  Saturday performances were only rarely reviewed by the press, so confirmation of the four principal roles in Dundee is from advertising on the Saturday morning.  The four principals in Edinburgh are given in the Scotsman review.

 

A Northern Perspective

Aberdeen Press and Journal :  5 February 1912  (p6)

Il Trovatore

'The week's engagement concluded with the popular Il Trovatore and Verdi's work drew out a crowded audience.   A strong cast gave a delightful rendering of the work, in which Mr Hebden Foster, as the villain of the story, and Miss de Kleno gave specially note-worthy performances.  ''Home to our mountains'' received the inevitable encore, and the Anvil Chorus merited the full applause given to it.   Mr Neville, in the prison scene, was dramatically strong, and vocally he was heard to better advantage than in his previous performance.'

 

And Edinburgh

Scotsman: Thursday, 15 February 1912  (p6)

Carl Rosa Opera Company in Edinburgh

'Il Trovatore, was the opera submitted at the King's Theatre last night by the Carl Rosa Company.  Though belonging to the earlier style of Verdi, it continues to hold an honoured place in the repertories of the leading operatic companies, and its haunting and fascinating themes provide an irresistible attraction for musicians.  Evidence of this was afforded not only by the good attendance last night, but by the cordiality with which the principal numbers were received.

'The cast showed some changes from that of last year, and Miss Elizabeth Burgess was the Leonora. The part is one which her cultured voice and dramatic gifts enable her to fulfil with satisfaction, and in the last act especially  her singing was highly meritorious.  There was also a newcomer - Miss Claude Albright - as Azucena.  The dramatic fervour necessary for the complete success of the part was by no means lacking in her case, and she brought to her aid a contralto voice of agreeable tone and good range.

'Mr Charles Neville's Manrico was a pleasing, though not an outstanding performance.   As the Count di Luna, Mr Hebden Foster was one of the successes of the evening, clearness of artiulation distinguishing his excellent singing.

'Lohengrin is set down for to-night.'

 

The Carl Rosa Scottish Tour - 1912

The tour lasted seven weeks:  Aberdeen 1 week (His Majesty's);  Dundee 1 week (Her Majesty's); Edinburgh 2 weeks (King's);  Greenock 1 week (King's);  Glasgow 2 weeks (Theatre Royal).

The thirteen operas performed were: Benedict (Lily of Killarney);  Nicolai (Merry Wives of Windsor); Thomas (Mignon);  Wallace (Maritana); Wagner (Tannhäuser,  Lohengrin);  Verdi (Trovatore); Gounod (Faust);  Goldmark (Queen of Sheba);  Bizet (Carmen);  Boito (Mefistofele); Leoncavallo (Pagliacci);  Mascagni (Cavalleria Rusticana).

The performance schedule was as follows

Aberdeen, w/c 29 January:  Mon 29 Mignon;  Tue 30 Tannhäuser; Wed 31 The Merry Wives of Windsor; Thu 1 Feb Faust; Fri 2 The Queen of Sheba; Sat 3 m Carmen;  Sat 3 e Il trovatore.

Dundee, w/c  5 February:  Mon 5 Mignon;  Tue 6 Faust;  Wed 7 Carmen;  Thu 8 Cav & Pag;  Fri 9 Queen of Sheba;  Sat 10 m Tannhäuser;  Sat 10 e Trovatore. 

Edinburgh, w/c 12 February:  Mon 12 Mignon;  Tue 13 Carmen;  Wed 14 Trovatore;  Thu 15 Lohengrin;  Fri 16 Queen of Sheba;  Sat 17 m Tannhäuser;  Sat 17 e Faust.

Edinburgh, w/c 19 February:  Mon 19 Cav & Pag;  Tue 20 Mefistofele;  Wed 21 Lily of Killarney;  Thu 22 Merry Wives of Windsor;  Fri 23 Mignon;  Sat 24 m Mefistofele;  Sat 24 e Maritana.

Greenock, w/c 26 February: Mon 26 tbc; Tue 27 tbc;  Wed 28 Trovatore;  Thu 29 Mignon;  Fri 1 March Mefistofele;  Sat 2 m tbc;  Sat 2 e Carmen.

Glasgow, w/c 4 March:  Mon 4 Tannhäuser;  Tue 5 Mefistofele;  Wed 6 Mignon;  Thu 7 Merry Wives of Windsor;  Fri 8 Lohengrin;  Sat 9 m Mefistofele;  Say 9 e Maritana.

Glasgow, w/c 11 March:  Mon 11 Cav & Pag;  Tue 12 Faust;  Wed 13  Queen of Sheba;  Thu 14 Mignon;  Fri 15 Mefistofele;  Sat 16 m Carmen;  Sat 16 e  Trovatore.