Opera Scotland

Don Pasquale 1963Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Don Pasquale

The three-city Scottish autumn tour began in Edinburgh on 4 November. The schedule for this Aberdeen week, commencing 11 November was: Mon Magic Flute; Tue Carmen; Wed Don Pasquale; Thu Magic Flute; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat mat & eve Belle Hélène. At the other two venues the order changed slightly over the first three days, but the content was the same. Pasquale appeared on Monday in Glasgow and Tuesday in Edinburgh.

This production is well cast, with the veteran Howell Glynne in the title role and patter expert John Heddle Nash as Malatesta. Jenifer Eddy was an excellent performer of the soubrette repertoire, whether by Mozart, Rossini or Donizetti, and worked with Scottish Opera as well as Sadler's Wells. Louis Browne, a young lyric tenor, is here emerging from the chorus - he would take on several roles in the coming seasons.

 

Sadler's Wells Opera in Scotland - 1963.

The first Scottish visit consisted of a single week in February at the Glasgow Empire.  The company returned for three weeks in November, one each at Edinburgh (King's), Aberdeen (His Majesty's) and Glsgow (King's).

The nine operas performed were by Mozart (Magic Flute); Donizetti (Don Pasquale);  Verdi (Traviata); Offenbach (Belle Hélène);  Bizet (Carmen);  Sullivan (Mikado);  Leoncavallo (Pagliacci);  Puccini (Girl of the Golden West); Mascagni (Cavalleria Rusticana).

The Scottish tour schedule was as follows:

Glasgow, w/c 19 February:  Mon 18 Carmen;  Tue 19 Cav & Pag;   Wed 20 Traviata;  Thu 21 Girl of the Golden West;  Fri 22 Carmen;  Sat 23 m Mikado;  Sat 23 e Mikado.

Edinburgh, w/c 4 November:  Mon 4 Magic Flute;  Tue 5 Don Pasquale;  Wed 6 Carmen;  Thu 7 Magic Flute;  Fri 8 Cav & Pag;   Sat 9 m Belle Hélène;  Sat 9 e Belle Hélène. 

Aberdeen,  w/c 11 November:  Mon 11 Magic Flute;  Tue 12 Carmen;  Wed 13 Don Pasquale;  Thu 14 Cav & Pag; Fri 15 Magic Flute;  Sat 16 m Belle Hélène;  Sat 16 e Belle Hélène.

Glasgow, w/c 18 November: Mon 18 Don Pasquale;  Tue 19 Magic Flute;  Wed 20 Carmen;  Thu 21 Magic Flute;  Fri 22 Cav & Pag;  Sat 23 m Belle Hélène;  Sat 23 e Belle Hélène.

 

Cast details are from a programme in Aberdeen City Library.