Opera Scotland

Cenerentola 1965Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Cenerentola

Rossini's work was going through a good examination at Sadler's Wells in the sixties. There were well-established stagings of Cinderella, The Barber, Count Ory and The Thieving Magpie, with The Italian Girl waiting in the wings.

This production, opening in 1959, had already toured to Scotland in 1960 and 1961, and even this was not its final visit, though still with some excellent performers. Central to the success of all these Rossini works was the mezzo Patricia Kern, who soon became equally popular with Scottish Opera audiences.

We also note an early appearance by Stafford Dean, who would continue to sing regularly on Scottish stages up to the end of the century. Dandini seems to be the last new role taken by John Heddle Nash, a great comic stylist with wonderfully clear diction.

Cast details are from programmes in both the NLS and Edinburgh City libraries.