Opera Scotland

Aïda 1952Covent Garden Opera

Read more about the opera Aïda

This two week visit to Glasgow by the Covent Garden company gave Scottish audiences their first opportunity to see two new works - not just the Festival of Britain commission, Billy Budd, but also a fascinating late work by Vaughan Williams, The Pilgrim's Progress.

The schedule for the fortnight was:

Week commencing 17 March:  Mon 17 Turandot;  Tue 18 Pilgrim's Progress;  Wed 19 Salome;  Thu 20 Magic Flute;  Fri 21 Aïda;  Sat 22 mat Bohème;  Sat 22 eve Tosca.

Week commencing 24 March:  Mon 24 Aïda;  Tue 25 Salome;  Wed 26 Magic Flute;  Thu 27 Bohème;  Fri 27 Billy Budd;  Sat 28 mat Tosca;  Sat 28  eve Turandot.

Hilde Zadek had already appeared at the Edinburgh Festival with the Glyndebourne company, but was now working regularly at Covent Garden.  The Irish tenor James Johnston was a useful heroic tenor for several seasons at the Royal Opera House.

Cast details are from our copy of the programme for 21 March.