Opera Scotland

Faust 1964Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Faust

When Scottish Opera announced a new production of Faust there was a widely-held sense of surprise that they should choose a piece which had been a perennial mainstay of the Carl Rosa repertoire.  It had now become deeply unfashionable, at least with critics, though it was only four years since it had last been given by Glasgow Grand.

However Anthony Besch’s uncluttered production was well received, and seen as taking a fresh view of the work - even described in some quarters as 'Brechtian'.  The company also took the opportunity to experiment with playing Saturday afternoons for the first time, and these were conducted by Roderick Brydon, who had acted as répétiteur with the company in its first two seasons.

André Turp, as with the familiar Joseph Rouleau, was a French-Canadian singing regularly at Covent Garden.  Andréa Guiot was an excellent newcomer, best known now for her appearance as Micaëla on the famous Maria Callas recording of Carmen, made around this time.

The young Scottish mezzo Johanna Peters here made her company debut, playing one of the eccentric elderly ladies in which she would specialise.

 

Schedule of Scottish Opera Performances (3rd Season) - 1964

There were sixteen performances in the season as a whole - six of Don Giovanni, and five each of Faust and Otello.  The first performances were in Glasgow, and then the company performed in Edinburgh.

Glasgow, w/c 11 May:  Thu 14 Faust;  Sat 16 Don Giovanni.

Glasgow, w/c 18 May:  Tue 19 Otello;  Wed 20 Faust;  Thu 21 m Don Giovanni:  Thu 21 e Otello:  Fri 22 Don Giovanni; Sat 23 m Faust;  Sat 23 e Otello.

Edinburgh, w/c 25 May:  Mon np; Tue 26 e Don Giovanni;  Wed 27 Otello;  Thu 28 Faust;  Fri 29 m Don Giovanni; Fri 29 e Otello; Sat 30 m Faust; Sat 30 e Don Giovanni.