The quality of this Magic Flute cast is quite remarkable, led by John Wakefield and Elizabeth Harwood. Don Garrard kept Sarastro in his repertoire for many years, eventually returning to Scotland in the Jonathan Miller production for Scottish Opera in 1983. Catherine Wilson and Gregory Dempsey both spent large sections of their careers with Scottish Opera as exciting singing actors. Donald McIntyre takes all the subsidiary bass roles, while Tom Swift, in the tenor parts, spent several years based in Germany before returning to the company as an excellent Verdian. Note, too, the young Dundee soprano Elizabeth Robson, at the start of her career, leading the three boys.
The three-week Scottish tour began on 1 October at the Edinburgh King's, followed by Aberdeen then Glasgow - that week unusually being at the Glasgow Empire. The schedule for the Aberdeen week was: Mon Bartered Bride; Tue Tosca; Wed Rigoletto; Thu Bartered Bride; Fri Magic Flute; Sat mat & eve Iolanthe. The other venues saw the same operas, usually in a slightly different order (the Flute on Monday in both cases).
Cast details are from a programme in Aberdeen City Library.
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