Opera Scotland

Trovatore 1895Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Trovatore

The cast is taken from the review in the Scotsman on Monday 20 May.

'In view of the funeral of Mr Howard, the usual matinee performance at the Lyceum Theatre was abandoned on Saturday.  In the evening the Carl Rosa Company brought their visit to a conclusion by presenting Verdi's "Il Trovatore".  It is a sign of the times that during a fortnight's stay this is the only opera of the older Italian school which has been produced.  With the education of the public in higher ideals as to the coiherency of the plot and fitness of the music to situation, it is inevitable that the operas on which Verdi's earlier fame was based should slip into the background.'

'"Trovatore", however, has claims to popular favour which cannot be ignored.  It abounds in beautiful and haunting melodies which a past generation of great singers has endeared to all the older opera-goers.  The audience on Saturday night, though far from crowding the theatre, was encouragingly large.  Much greater renderings of the individual parts have often been heard in Edinburgh; but as a whole the level of performance was fairly well maintained.  Miss Pauline L'Allemand took the part of Leonora.  In the florid music she was exceedingly good; but her top notes were somewhat weak and (as in the "A che la morte" scene) gave the impressions of strain.  Mr Barton MCGuckin, who has been in capital voice throughout this visit, made a fine appearance as Manrico, and excelled himself in the last two acts, when he has much important work to do.  In the absence of Mr Max Eugene, the part  of Count di Luna fell to Mr Wilson Sheffield.  Nr Sheffield is a decided acquisition to the company. His tone is clear and full, and he speaks his words admirably.  "The Tempest of the Heart" was greeted with the customary outburst of applause.  Another altogether praiseworthy part was the Ferrando of Mr G. A. Fox.  Miss Mary Linck, who had hitherto been confined to the part of Hansel in Humperdinck's new opera, had scarcely weight enough for an ideal Azucena, but she nevertheless gave evidence of her ability and versatility by a remarkabley good rendering of the role of the gipsy woman.  it remains to mention Miss Lily Heenan's Inez and Mr P. Somers's Ruiz.  The audience throughout was enthusiastic, and the "Misereere" scena had to be repeated.  At the fall of the curtain the orchestra paid a tribute to the memory of Mr Howard (of Howard and Wyndham's) by playing Chopin's "Funeral March," the audience remaining standing the while.'

Carl Rosa Opera’s spring tour consisted of a week in Glasgow, a week in Aberdeen and then two weeks in Edinburgh.  Over the four week period, the company gave 36 performances of eleven operas as follows:-

Royalty Theatre, Glasgow.  w/c 22 April Mon Tannhauser; Tue Ivanhoe; Wed Hansel and Gretel & Pagliacci; Thu m Hansel and Gretel; Thu evg Ivanhoe; Fri Hansel and Gretel & Bastien and Bastienne; Sat m Ivanhoe; Sat evg Bohemian Girl.

Her Majesty’s, Aberdeen.  w/c 29 April Mon Tannhauser, Tue Faust; Wed Bastien and Bastienne & Hansel and Gretel; Thu Carmen; Fri Ivanhoe; Sat m Bastien and Bastienne & Hansel and Gretel; Sat evg Lohengrin.

Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh w/c 6 May Mon Tannhauser; Tue Jeanie Deans; Wed Pagliacci & Hansel and Gretel; Thu Carmen; Fri Ivanhoe; Sat m Bastien and Bastienne & Hansel and Gretel; evg Bohemian Girl.

Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh w/c Mon 13 May Lohengrin; Tue Bastien and Bastienne & Hansel and Gretel; Wed Tannhauser; Thu Ivanhoe; Fri Pagliacci & Hansel and Gretel; Sat e Trovatore.

Carl Rosa Opera returned in November 1893 for two weeks in Glasgow.