Opera Scotland

H M S Pinafore 1967D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

Read more about the opera H M S Pinafore

This production of Pinafore was dominated by its beautiful set designed by Peter Goffin, who had provided sets and costumes for several D'Oyly Carte productions in the 1950s. The vintage backcloth of Portsmouth Harbour, designed and painted by Joseph and Phil Harker, was particularly impressive. The lighting with its changes of mood was also effective in this staging, and the conducting of the veteran Isidore Godfrey, who had been with the company forty years, was remarkably fresh.

The cast was led by the beautiful young soprano of Valerie Masterson, whose operatic career would soon take off, via Sadler's Wells, enjoying particular success with French repertoire, where her clear but sweet tone was a huge advantage. She was supported by a team of seasoned company members including John Reed, Donald Adams, Alan Styler and the ageless George Cook. The young tenor Ralph Mason also spent a few seasons with the company, though he later is more associated with Welsh National.