Opera Scotland

Cavalleria Rusticana 1972Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Cavalleria Rusticana

John Blatchley’s staging of the once familiar double bill (not performed professionally in Scotland since Carl Rosa stopped touring) opened at the London Coliseum on 29 September 1971. It was updated to the post- World War Two period, which caused a bit of a fuss at the time, although it worked well – Turiddu was in khaki battle-dress. and in Pagliacci, the touring players travelled by army surplus truck, using its headlights for illumination.

The schedule for the fortnight was:

Week commencing 24 April: Mon Cav & Pag; Tue Seraglio; Wed Carmen; Thu Duke Bluebeard's Castle & Oedipus Rex; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat Twilight of the Gods.

Week commencing 1 May: Mon Carmen; Tue Duke Bluebeard & Oedipus; Wed Cav & Pag; Thu Seraglio; Fri Carmen; Sat Twilight.

Cast details from a programme in the OperaScotland collection.