The Scotsman reviewer (22 March) wrote "Under Mr De La Fuentes' inspiring direction, Bizet's masterpiece last night received an excellent rendering from the Carl Rosa artists. The music throughout was given with an exhilerating freshness and vivacity, and the performance as a whole was a notable illustration of how much, in opera, depends on the conductor. Miss Doris Woodall has attained a high position among interpreters of the title role, and her performance last night was distinguished by all the now familiar good qualities. Mr William Boland was a satisfactory Don Jose, and Mr Kingsley Lark's Escamillo, graceful, spirited and very effective vocally, added materially to the good impression which he has created during the present visit to Edinburgh of the Carl Rosa Company. Miss Florence Barron was an attractive Micaela, and Mr Frederick Clendon and Mr Robert Brookes aacquitted themselves very well as Doncairo and Remendado. Among the remaining characters, special praise is due to the Mercedes of Miss Gladys Parr, and the Morales of Mr Lovat Crosley."
By December, the cast had changed for the Glasgow run. "Paul Kochs conducted, and the performance was greatly appreciated by a well-filled house." The Glasgow Herald (16 December) noted different principals with the Phillips section.
The senior management of the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company during the spring tour was headed by two 'Controlling Directors', Mrs Carl Rosa, widow of the founder and Walter van Noorden, who had conducted them in earlier years. The Artistic Director was the experienced bass Arthur Winckworth, still active on stage, and the General Business Manager was Henry Barrett Brandreth. Conducting duties were divided between Henriquez de la Fuente and Herbert Ferrers. By the time of the winter season, a new General Manager was in place, Mr H B Phillips.
The week commencing 27 January was the last week of opera to be seen in Dundee for several years. Her Majesty's, a beautiful, atmospheric, popular - and profitable - theatre since 1885, was about to be purchased by a London-based cinema company. This event caused widespread outrage, but was a fait accompli, never to be reversed.
Cast details for Aberdeen, Friday 24 January, are from a programme in Aberdeen City Library.
The season consisted one week at Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre (AHMT), then one week at Dundee’s Her Majesty’s Theatre (DHMT). There followed four weeks at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal (GTR). Following a break of one week, there were two weeks at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum (ERL), then later still another two in Glasgow (GTR). Ten weeks, followed by a further three in December to give thirteen. By now, the company were running a number of separate companies, the Phillips section giving the December performances.
w/c Mon Jan 20 Tales of Hoffmann Tue Tosca; Wed Tannhauser; Thu Mignon; Fri Carmen; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Faust. AHMT
w/c Mon Jan 27 Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Faust; Thu Madam Butterfly; Fri Mignon; Sat mTales of Hoffmann; Sat e Trovatore. DHMT
w/c Mon 3 Feb Tannhauser; Tue Bohème; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Trovatore; Fri Tosca; Sat m Mignon; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann. GTR
w/c Mon 10 Feb Cav and Pag; Tue Faust; Wed Carmen; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Madam Butterfly; Sat m Tosca; Sat e Maritana. GTR
w/c Mon 17 Feb Bohème; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Mignon; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Trovatore. GTR
w/c Mon 24 Feb Carmen; Tue Rigoletto; Wed Carmen; Thu Faust; Fri Tannhauser; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Bohemian Girl. GTR
w/c Mon 3 Mar Company performing in Liverpool
w/c Mon 10 Mar Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Tosca ; Wed Faust; Thu Madam Butterfly; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat m Cav and Pag; Sat e Maritana. ERL
w/c Mon 17 Mar Tosca; Tue Tales of Hoffmann; Wed Tannhauser; Thu Bohème; Fri Carmen; Sat m Mignon; Sat e Trovatore; ERL
w/c Mon 30 Jun Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Carmen; Wed Mignon; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Three Masks; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Faust GTR
w/c Mon 7 Jul Three Masks; Tue Trovatore; Wed Daughter of the Regiment; Thu Carmen; Fri Marriage of Figaro; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Maritana GTR
w/c Mon 1 Dec Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Carmen; Wed Faust; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Tannhauser; Sat m Romeo and Juliet; Sat e Rigoletto.
w/c Mon 8 Dec Cav and Pag; Tue Trovatore; Wed Romeo and Juliet; Thu Lily of Killarney; Fri Faust; Sat m Traviata; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann.
w/c Mon 15 Dec Carmen; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Maritana; Thu Rigoletto; Fri Romeo and Juliet; Sat m Cavand Pag; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann
Thirteen weeks @seven performances = ninety-one
Thirteen Tales of Hoffmann
Eight Carmen; Tannhauser; Faust
Seven; Madam Butterfly; Cav and Pag
Six Mignon
Five Trovatore; Tosca
Four Cav and Pag; Maritana
Three Bohème; Romeo and Juliet
Two Three Masks; Don Giovanni; Rigoletto
One Marriage of Figaro; Daughter of the Regiment; Bohemian Girl; Traviata; Lily of Killarney
Enid Cruickshank (15 Dec)
Lewys James (15 Dec)
Parry Jones (15 Dec)
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