Opera Scotland

Madam Butterfly 1966Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Madama Butterfly

The Sadler's Wells company had already toured Scotland in the spring of 1966, but here they were back in the autumn, again for three weeks, starting 19 September. The tour order was reversed - Glasgow, Aberdeen, then Edinburgh. The performance schedule, identical in each city, was Mon Così fan tutte; Tue Thieving Magpie; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Samson and Delilah; Fri Bluebeard; Sat mat Bluebeard; Sat eve Madam Butterfly. Rossini's almost unknown piece was therefore given a second viewing within months, and an unknown Offenbach comedy was brought out for good measure.

This production was first created in 1964, and had visited Glasgow the previous autumn. The cast is largely new. Laura Sarti had already sung Suzuki with Scottish Opera. Jon Andrew's voice would later develop a heroic sound while he worked in Germany. Elizabeth Robinson was a new recruit to the company.

Cast details are from a programme in Aberdeen City Library.