Opera Scotland

Huguenots 1859Edmund Glover's Italian Opera Company

Read more about the opera Huguenots

This  two week long visit by an Italian Opera Company from Drury Lane, under the management of Edmund Glover, introduced the great dramatic soprano Therese Tietjens (whose surname was generally spelt as Titiens) to Scotland. It is perhaps no surprise that the visit was restricted to the central belt. However the opening night was not in Edinburgh nor in Glasgow, but in Greenock - a thriving seaport a few miles closer to the mouth of the Clyde, where a new Theatre Royal had just opened.

The single performance in Greenock was followed by five in Glasgow and three in Edinburgh. The final day in Glasgow also featured a matinee concert.

The schedule of operas was:-

Greenock Theatre Royal - Mon 24 Oct Il trovatore.

Glasgow Theatre Royal - Tue 25 Oct Il trovatore; Wed 26 Oct Martha; Fri 28 Oct Lucrezia Borgia; Sat 29 Oct Norma; Mon 31 Oct Les Huguenots.

Edinburgh Queen's Theatre - Tue 1 Nov Lucrezia Borgia; Thu 3 Nov Martha; Fri 4 Nov Les Huguenots.

Of the Glasgow performance of Les Huguenots, the Herald reported in brief - 'Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, a brilliant and crowded audience thronged the theatre. The opera went off with great spirit throughout; but such was the impression created by the efforts of Titiens and Giuglini, in the famous scene between Valentina and Raoul, in the third act, that one might have almost thought they had reserved their energies for this great triumph of the dramatic muse. During this impassioned struggle, as so vividly pourtrayed, the audience were stilled, if we may so speak, in the most intense interest, and gave relief to their feelings at the conclusion by enthusiastic plaudits, which Titiens and Giuglini acknowledged by appearing before the curtain.'

The following week, the Edinburgh Evening Courant of Saturday, 5 November, took rather more space. - 'The opera selected for the closing performance was Meyerbeer's impressive and masterly composition - Les Huguenots - the Italian version, which differs considerably from the French, being presented. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the thrilling interest and grand orchestral effects of a work so well known and so deservedly popular.'

'The first two acts were somewhat heavy, but in the third act the powerful, yet tender, acting of Signor Giuglini (Raoul) and Mlle Titiens (Valentina), who absorb the interest almost throughout, raised the enthusiasm of the audience to the highest pitch.'

'Great praise is also due to Mlle Vaneri, who (in consequence of the continued indisposition of Mme Borchardt) personated Margherita de Valois.'