Opera Scotland

Don Giovanni 1971Scottish Opera

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A further revival by Ian Watt-Smith saw the return of Peter van der Bilt, Stafford Dean, Pat Hay and John Graham. Luisa Bosabalian also returned to the company for the last time, switching back from Elvira to her more natural role of Anna (which she had sung in the 1965 Festival Giulini staging). Bryden Thomson here made his debut with Scottish Opera, as did the young soprano Yvonne Fuller, well known from Glyndebourne.

For the first time, the SNO was not available, but the Scottish Baroque Ensemble, derived from a small group formed at Ledlanet in 1969, and which was already playing for the Britten chamber works, was on this tour expanded to chamber orchestra dimensions.

This autumn tour included a new staging by novice director David Pountney of The Rake's Progress, and further performances of the recent summer production of The Barber of Seville.

The company provided the first performances at the newly-built McRobert Centre (University of Stirling) and also made its first visit to Belfast.