Opera Scotland

Tosca 1948Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Tosca

The Tosca cast is taken from a programme for 12 April in Aberdeen City Library. Cast details for Tosca in Glasgow are taken from a programme for Tuesday 11 May in the Gardiner Collection (Mitchell Library). This also has information on the following evening's Butterfly performance.

The Scotsman (1 April) welcomes back Joan Hammond. "...she gave a performance that was intensely moving from beginning to end. Vocally and musically there is nothing she cannot do, and her singing is always a joy. But last night, by the truth and subtlety of her dramatic gesture, she seemed to transcend all he previous appearances in this famous role."

"Mr Fear was less sinister than some Scarpias, but his study of the part was completely convincing. The requisite dignity was matched with singing or real quality, and also a lively sense of the lechorous aspect of the role. John Myrrdin's cavaradossi, too, was an excellently sustained piece of work, and his duet with Miss Hammond in the first act was particularly effective.

"Any moments of attention one can spare from the drama should be spent listening to the orchestra in this masterpiece of Puccini's art. Last night, thanks to the alertness and spirit of the players and to Mr vilem Tausky's expert conducting, such moments were also well rewarded."

The Carl Rosa 1948 tour involved two weeks in Edinburgh, then one in Aberdeen and four Glasgow; seven weeks of seven performances each week. The repertoire consisted of works by Rossini (Barber of Seville); Verdi (Trovatore, Traviata); Puccini (Bohème, Tosca, Butterfly) and Bizet (Carmen)

w/c Mon 29 Mar Carmen; Tue Traviata; Wed Tosca; Thu Butterfly; Fri Barber; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Carmen

w/c Mon 5 Apr Butterfly; Tue Carmen; Wed Bohème; Thu Barber; Fri Trovatore; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Traviata.

w/c Mon 12 Apr Tosca; Tue Bohème; Wed Traviata; Thu Butterfly; Fri Carmen; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Trovatore.

w/c Mon 19 Apr Tosca; Tue Butterfly; Wed Traviata; Thu Carmen; Fri Barber; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Traviata.

w/c Mon 26 Apr Traviata; Tue Carmen; Wed Bohème; Thu Barber; Fri Tosca; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Traviata.

w/c Mon 3 May Butterfly; Tue Traviata; Wed Barber; Thu Tosca; Fri Traviata; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Barber.

w/c Mon 10 May Bohème; Tue Tosca; Wed Butterfly; Thu Carmen; Fri Barber; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Traviata.