Opera Scotland

Hansel and Gretel 1930Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Hansel and Gretel

The Glasgow Herald (7 Apr) referred to there being only two changes from the cast on 27 March.

"Humperdinck's opera was chosen as the matinee piece, and it drew a a full attendance, which included a large percentage of young folk, to whom, doubtless, the fairy story appeals as well as the delightful music to which it is wedded. The cast showed two changes from that which appeared on 27 March, Miss Rispah Goodacre taking the part of Hansel and Miss Diana Manners that of the Sandman.  The singing and acting were alike pleasing, and delighted the large audience, which was also charmed by the graceful ballet that preceded the opera and in which Miss Ailne, the producer, was premiere danseuse, Mr Richard Austin conducted."

The Scotsman reviewer on 21 April welcomed the return of the work after an absence of some years. 'Not the least enjoyable feature of Saturday's performance was the presence in the audience of a large number of children, obviously as delighted with the opera as their elders. Two of the Company's latest recruits, the Misses Myrtle Stewart and Audrey Mildmay were Hansel and Gretel respectively. They were very convincing and engaging children - it was strange to recall that on previous evenings they had been equally satisfactory as Siebel and Micaela respectively - and they sang the music with an ingenuous charm.'

According to the Scotsman of 28 March, reviewing the performance at the Theatre Royal, "the opera was preceded by a ballet, with the music from Casse-Noisette suite (Tchaikowsky), and the solo efforts by the principal dancer, Miss Ailne Phillips, were well received".

 

During the Scottish leg of the tour, two performances of Cav & Pag were given. The remaining performances involved fourteen different operas.

 

The 1930 Carl Rosa Tour

The 1930 season in Scotland consisted of three weeks in Glasgow at the Theatre Royal followed by one in Edinburgh at the Lyceum. the performances were as follows:-

Glasgow, w/c 24 March: Mon 24 Trovatore; Tue 25 Cav & Pag; Wed 26 Flying Dutchman; Thu 27 Hansel and Gretel; Fri 28 Messalina; Sat 29 mat Butterfly: Sat 29 eve Faust.

Glasgow, w/c 31 March: Mon 31 Flying Dutchman; Tue 1 Apr Carmen; Wed 2 Rhinegold; Thu 3 Tales of Hoffmann; Fri 4 Bohème; Sat 5 mat Hansel and Gretel; Sat 5 eve Maritana.

Glasgow, w/c 7 April: Mon 7 Tannhäuser; Tue 8 Butterfly; Wed 9 Siegfried; Thu 10 Cav & Pag; Fri 11 Rigoletto; Sat 12 mat Flying Dutchman; Sat 12 eve Carmen.

Edinburgh, w/c 14 April: Mon 14 Butterfly; Tue 15 Rigoletto; Wed 16 Carmen; Thu 17 Faust; Fri 18 Flying Dutchman; Sat 19 mat Hansel and Gretel; Sat 19 eve Trovatore.