Opera Scotland

Carmen 1891Carl Rosa Carmen Company

Read more about the opera Carmen

The Carmen Company was a second touring group assembled by the Carl Rosa organisation just for the 1891 season, for their star soprano Marie Roze. She performed the title role three times a week, for the last time before her retirement. The repertoire also included Faust, Il Trovatore and The Bohemian Girl.

For the Glasgow week, the routine was: Carmen on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Faust on Tuesday, Bohemian Girl Thursday and Saturday matinee; Trovatore Saturday evening. Marie Roze appeared as Leonora as well as Carmen. The main Carl Rosa company moved into the Theatre Royal the following week, while the Carmen company took its place at the Edinburgh Lyceum. Neither company travelled north of the central belt, though the main company would return to Dundee on the autumn tour.

The casts are as advertised in Glasgow. Elizabeth Burgess was, at this extremely early stage of her career, singing as Lizzie Burgess.