Opera Scotland

Faust 1949Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Faust

The reviewer in the Scotsman (30 March) wrote " by the time all the principal singers had appeared it was a trifle disppointing; one thought at first to reflect there was among them no really outstanding voice, and that the chorus and orchestra were not quite on the best of terms rhythmically. As with the previous evening's performance, however, the opera improved as time went on, and before the end a really artistic blend had been achieved."

"The lighting and costumes were excellent, and the production on the whole being carefully thought out and good...Mr Arthur Hammond conducted with commendable elasticity and sincerity."

A copy of the programme for 2 April survives in the archives of Edinburgh Central Library.

In 1949, Carl Rosa Opera toured Scotland for seven weeks, giving seven performances each week; two weeks in Edinburgh, one Aberdeen, four Glasgow.  Nine different operas were performed. The programme included familiar works by Rossini (Barber); Verdi (Trovatore, Traviata); Puccini (Bohème, Tosca, Butterfly); Gounod (Faust) and Bizet (Carmen). There was one extremely enterprising novelty in the delightful form of The Kiss by Smetana, receiving its Scottish premiere.

w/c Mon 28 Mar Traviata; Tue Faust; Wed Bohème; Thu Carmen; Fri Barber; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Faust

w/c Mon 4 Apr Butterfly; Tue Kiss; Wed Carmen; Thu Bohème; Fri Faust; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Faust

w/c Mon 11 Apr Faust; Tue Bohème; Wed Barber; Thu Carmen; Fri Kiss; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Trovatore.

w/c Mon 18 Apr Carmen; Tue Faust; wed Traviata; Thu Tosca; Fri Barber; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Trovatore

W/c Mon 25 Apr Faust; Tue Butterfly; Wed Kiss; Thu Bohème; Fri Carmen; Sat m Barber; Sat e Butterfly

W/c Mon 2 May Bohème; Tue Carmen; Wed Tosca; Thu Faust; Fri Traviata; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Barber.

W/c Mon 9 May Butterfly; Tue Trovatore; Wed Faust; Thu Carmen; Fri Kiss; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Traviata.