The Haddo House programme became more ambitious over the years, but 1965 was definitely a breakthrough year by any standards. They had not previously performed serious opera - plenty of Gilbert and Sullivan, Messager's Véronique in 1959 and Die Fledermaus in 1963.
If Carmen was a landmark on the operatic side, this period was perhaps even more important for the choral performances. On the Sunday afternoon, 9 May at 2.45 in the Hall, the Society, along with forces from the Turriff Choral Society, performed The Dream of Gerontius, in which the soloists were Janet Baker, Richard Lewis and John Lawrenson.
A year later, in St Andrew's Cathedral on 17 April 1966, they were advertising a performance of Britten's War Requiem, conducted by the composer, with the assistance of Alexander Gibson. The soloists included two from the first performance in Coventry Cathedral - Heather Harper and Peter Pears - as well as Thomas Hemsley.
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