Opera Scotland

Madam Butterfly 1949Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Madama Butterfly

A review in the Scotsman (5 April) argued that Laelia Finneberg, the Butterfly, was rather too old to represent a girl in her teens (a common problem with this opera).  She sang beautifully, though.

The full cast details are from a programme for 16 April in Aberdeen City 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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