Opera Scotland

Orphée aux Enfers 1961Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Orpheus in the Underworld

Wendy Toye's hugely energetic production opened at Sadler's Wells Theatre on 17 May 1960 and stayed in the company's repertoire for the best part of two decades. It initiated an exploration of Offenbach's leading comic works, four of which would be seen in the sixties, the others being La belle Hélène, La vie parisienne and Bluebeard.

Sets and costumes by Malcolm Pride were bright and cheerful, to put it mildly. The packed tube train in the first act finale as the company all set off for Hades was typical of the production's high spirits. Its brash vulgarity remained hugely enjoyable for audiences, though the seemingly interminable encores of the infernal galop (or Can-Can) in the final Hades scene must surely have become a bit wearing.

Many of the chorus were given identifiable little cameos which they would repeat year after year. Eric Shilling's Jupiter also remained a fixture at most performances. The Australian tenor Jon Weaving spent the next decade in Germany, and when he returned he was singing the big Wagner roles.

The part of Euridice, a none-too-bright platinum blonde trollop in a mini-skirt, remained attractive for several sopranos following Iris Kells, and in the seventies the part would be taken by two superb performers in Valerie Masterson and Norma Burrowes, long after the company had stopped touring.

 

Sadler's Wells Opera in Scotland - 1961

There were two Scottish visits, with Aberdeen omitted altogether.  The Spring tour of three weeks began on 17 April and visited Glasgow (Empire), Edinburgh (King's) and Dundee (Gaument). This was the final visit to Dundee before the Gaumont's closure. In Autumn the company returned on 13 November to the Glasgow Empire followed by a week in Edinburgh.

The ten operas on the tour were:  Mozart (Marriage of Figaro);  Rossini (Barber of Seville, Cinderella);  Wagner (Tannhäuser);  Verdi (Traviata);  Offenbach (Orpheus in the Underworld);  J Strauss (Fledermaus); Puccini (Bohème, Tosca);  Lehár (Land of Smiles).

The Scottish tour schedule was:

Glasgow, w/c 17 April:  Mon 17 Traviata;  Tue 18 Barber of Seville;  Wed 19 Marriage of Figaro;  Thu 20 Fledermaus;  Fri 21 Tosca;  Sat 22 m Fledermaus;  Sat 22 e Barber of Seville.

Edinburgh, w/c 24 April:  Mon 24 Traviata;  Tue 25 Barber of Seville;  Wed 26 Tosca;  Thu 27 Land of Smiles;  Fri 28 Marriage of Figaro;  Sat 29 m Land of Smiles;  Sat 29 e Barber of Seville.

Dundee, w/c  1 May:  Mon 1 Tosca;  Tue 2 Traviata;  Wed 3 Marriage of Figaro;  Thu 4 Barber of Seville;  Fri 5 Land of Smiles;  Sat 6 m Land of Smiles;  Sat 6 e Barber of Seville.

Edinburgh, w/c 6 November:  Mon 6 Orpheus in the Underworld;  Tue 7 Bohème;  Wed 8 Cinderella;  Thu 9 Traviata;  Fri 10 Tannhäuser;  Sat 11 m Orpheus in the Underworld;  Sat 11 e Bohème.

Glasgow, w/c 13 November:  Mon 13 Orpheus in the Underworld;  Tue 14 Tannhäuser;  Wed 15 Bohème;  Thu 16 Traviata;  Fri 17 Cinderella;  Sat 18 m Orpheus in the Underworld;  Sat 18 e Bohème. 

Cast details for Glasgow are from a programme in the Opera Scotland collection.