Opera Scotland

Cavalleria Rusticana 1973Tayside Opera

Read more about the opera Cavalleria Rusticana

After the great success of Rigoletto in January, it is hardly surprising that Tayside Opera should stretch to a second big production in the autumn, with the choice falling on Cav & Pag. Again the Whitehall did good business and a band of over thirty filled the pit.

There was a new director, this time, in the familiar form of leading baritone William Dewar. He was singing Tonio after the interval, but the company's younger baritone, singing Alfio, was Donald Maxwell in confident form. There was a new leading lady as Santuzza - again, Gelda Bell would be seen in the second opera. Singing here as Mary McMahon, this excellent soprano went on to sing leading roles for the company over several seasons, under the name Mary Timmons.