Opera Scotland

Tales of Hoffmann 1916Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Tales of Hoffmann

Context

The final week of the 1916 Lyceum visit began on Monday 28 February, and the Saturday matinee of Hoffmann, still a fairly recent addition to the Carl Rosa repertoire, was followed by a traditionally popular favourite, Wallace's Maritana.

Casts for both operas are drawn from the OperaScotland copy of the programme for 4 March.

The conductor of both operas, Ronald Mackenzie, had not previously been listed on our website. However he appeared in the company's staff the previous year (March 1915) described as 'Leader and Assistant Conductor.'

The soprano Julia Caroli had sung Olympia, a spectacular coloratura role, on the 1911 tour. Five years having passed. her voice had clearly grown to the point where, as well as singing that role, she added the lyric part of Antonia (and had also taken on Micaëla in Carmen). 

A review of the performance

A review of the first performance in Glasgow's Theatre Royal appeared in the Daily Record on 7 March - "it was very excellently performed. The cast generally, if it has suffered a little, as was inevitable on account of the national crisis, was well worthy of the high reputation of the company.

Mr Hebden Foster was outstandingly effective both as Dapertutto and Dr Miracle...

Both band and chorus, under the capable supervision of Mr de la Fuente, left nothing to be desired. 

One may always rely on the Carl Rosa Company to get the appropriate atmosphere of any work they include in their repertoire...the large audience that welcomed the initial performance last evening was enthusiastically appreciative."

The 1916 Scottish Tour

The Scottish circuit that year consisted of two weeks at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum, followed by three at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. Advertisements state the orchestra included fifty performers.

Edinburgh w/c 21 Feb: Mon Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Aïda; Wed Tannhäuser; Thu Trovatore; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat m Faust; Sat e Bohemian Girl.

Edinburgh w/c 28 Feb: Mon Carmen; Tue Tales of Hoffmann; Wed Mignon; Thu Magic Flute; Fri Faust*; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Maritana.

Glasgow w/c 6 Mar: Mon Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Carmen; Wed Faust; Thu Trovatore; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat m Aïda; Sat e Maritana.

Glasgow w/c 13 Mar: Mon Tannhâuser; Tue Tales of Hoffmann; Wed Aïda; Thu Magic Flute; Fri Faust; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Bohemian Girl.

w/c Mon 20 March Carmen; Tue Mignon; Wed Cav & Pag; Thu Attack on the Mill; Fri Tales of Hoffmann; Sat m Faust; Sat e Trovatore.

The whole viisit totalled seven performances of Tales of Hoffmann; five of Faust; three of Aïda, Cav & Pag, Carmen, and Trovatore; two of Tannhäuser, Bohemian Girl, Mignon, Maritana, and Magic Flute; with just one of Attack on the Mill.

• The advertised performance on 3 March in Edinburgh of Bruneau's Attack on the Mill was replaced by one of Faust. The latter performance was seemingly not reviewed.