The reviewer of the Aberdeen Evening Express (7 April) argued "contrasting performances marked the last day of the Carl Rosa Opera Company's week at His Majesty's Theatre. In the afternoon, Puccini's La bohème charmed in practically every phase. At night, Verdi's Il Trovatore fell flat in comparison. One was all life; the other listless....it was rather remarkable that the week opened and ended on the least impressive notes."
"Of course, there was good singing by Ruth Parker as Leonora, by Julia Bouttel as Azucena, and Ronald Jackson as the Count in Il Trovatore, but despite all the striving of Arthur Hammond, the opera had few moments that really gripped."
The Carl Rosa tour of Scotland in 1952 was notable for its introduction of the new George Lloyd opera John Socman. However this was not brought to Aberdeen.
The full Scottish schedule was as follows:
Aberdeen (His Majesty's) - Week commencing 31 March: Mon Carmen, Tue Rigoletto, Wed Traviata, Thu Faust, Fri Barber of Seville, Sat mat Bohème, Sat eve Trovatore.
Edinburgh (King's) - Week commencing 7 April: Mon Flying Dutchman, Tue Bohème, Wed Barber of Seville, Thu Rigoletto, Fri John Socman, Sat mat Butterfly, Sar eve Faust.
Week commencing Monday 14 April: Mon Cav & Pag, Tue Traviata, Wed Trovatore, Thu Butterfly, Fri Tosca, Sat mat Bohème, Sat eve Carmen.
Glasgow (Theatre Royal) - Week commencing Monday 21 April: Mon Traviata, Tue Bohème, Wed Barber, Thu Dutchman, Fri Rigoletto, Sat mat Butterfly, Sat eve Faust.
W/c Monday 28 April: Mon Barber, Tue Hoffmann, Wed Butterfly, Thu Cav & Pag, Fri Carmen, Sat mat Bohème, Sat eve Trovatore.
Wk/c Monday 5 May: Mon Carmen, Tue Dutchman, Wed Rigoletto, Thu Faust, Fri John Socman, Sat mat Carmen, Sat eve Bohème.
Week commencing Monday 12 May: Mon Butterfly, Tue Tosca, Wed Hoffmann, Thu Trovatore, Fri Traviata, Sat mat Barber, Sat eve Cav & Pag.
Sources
Cast details are from a programme in Aberdeen City Library.
An abbreviated cast is also mentioned in a brief review in the Aberdeen Evening Express of Monday 7 April.
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