Opera Scotland

Aïda 1955Glasgow Grand Opera Society

Read more about the opera Aïda

Glasgow Grand had mounted Aïda twice before, but not since the war, and this staging was rather upstaged, at least in anticipation, by the other work on show. The rarity this year was the Scottish premiere of Verdi's equally monumental French grand opera, The Sicilian Vespers, celebrating its centenary. Of this cast, George McClements was the only one to sing in both operas, singing the leading bass part of Procida on the other evenings. Winifried Busfield was a reputable teacher at the RSAMD in Glasgow.