Of the first Edinburgh performance, the Scotsman (30 March) argued there were too many 'stock' figures in the opera "and stock figures are apt to be represented by singers making 'stock' gestures. Last night's performance could hardly be said to have risen toany great heights." There was plenty of vocal power.
"The staging of the opera was on conventional lines and the chorus was apt to indulge in too many of those obvious gestures which do not really contribute anything to the atmosphere. Once more, however, the singing as such was often admirable and the orchestral playing under Vilem Tausky was particularly good. but the opera, for its full effect, seems to cry out for a new English translation, a cast that is quite as intent on the drama as on the singing, and a production that will, whenever possible, discard all the old over-worked gestures."
The full cast is taken from a programme for 16 April in Aberdeen City Library.
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.
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