Opera Scotland

Talisman 1874Her Majesty's Italian Opera

Read more about the opera Talisman

The cast that launched Balfe's swansong in Glasgow is of impressive quality. The hugely popular soprano Therese Tietjens was at the height of her powers, and there were three young singers on the threshold of highly prominent careers. Italo Campanini enjoyed a long international success. Even more outstanding, a great actor as well as singer, was the young Polish baritone, here singing as Giovanni De Reschi. A few years later he restudied, and became one of the greatest tenors of that, or any, age. And Marie Roze would be a hugely popular figure in British operatic life over a couple of decades.

Nor should we forget the successful Scottish bass-baritone who sang Saladin, even if he did use the name Enrico Campobello. Mind you, his name was only mentioned in the advertised cast for the first night, and not in reviews. He did not sing some other roles advertised, such as the Count in Figaro, so it may be that he didn't turn up.

Casts as advertised, modified by reviews as appropriate.