Opera Scotland

Pagliacci 1958Touring Opera 58

Read more about the opera Pagliacci

This little documented organisation was formed "in association with the Arts Council of Great Britain" and toured for a season with artists from the defunct Carl Rosa company, which had always been refused significant Arts Council support. It claimed a company of 130 - eighty artists  and fifty musicians. Sadler's Wells were also visiting Scotland by now, though usually in the spring.

The Scottish tour, starting on 22 September, consisted of only two weeks, one in Glasgow and one in Aberdeen. The repertoire held few surprises:

Scenery and costumes were also by Powell Lloyd, and used by courtesy of Sadler's Wells Opera.

Glasgow Mon, Barber; Tue Bartered Bride; Wed Cav & Pag; Thu Carmen; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat mat Barber; Sat eve Bartered Bride.

Aberdeen Mon Bartered Bride; Tue Carmen; Wed Barber; Thu Butterfly; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat mat Carmen; Sat eve Cav & Pag.

In this cast of Pagliacci, the Maltese baritone Joseph Satariano was a familiar figure, following his years with Carl Rosa. The Canio was also Maltese, but Paul Asciak was less well known. Joseph Ward started his career as a baritone, switching to tenor in the mid-sixties, and sang Loge and the high tenor role of Flute with Scottish Opera.

The Glasgow cast is from a programme in the OperaScotland collection.  Aberdeen details are from a programme in Aberdeen City Library.