The Carl Rosa's Scottish tour at the beginning of 1922 was an unusually long one with 21 different operas on display. If the seven renderings of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci are regarded as fourteen shows, that totals 105 performances (instead of 98) over the fourteen weeks from 16 January to 22 April embracing five venues. It began in the north-east, with one week in Perth, two in Aberdeen and one in Dundee. There followed an eight week stay in Glasgow, almost a northern headquarters for the company, and two final weeks in Edinburgh.
The most frequently performed operas in the season were Samson and Delilah (11), Carmen (9) and Madam Butterfly (9). Four works received only a single outing - The Valkyrie (in Aberdeen) and Lily of Killarney, Bohème and Tosca in Glasgow.
The first week commencing Monday, 16 January, in Perth's delightfully intimate Edwardian auditorium, ran in this order: Mon Carmen; Tue Tales of Hoffmann, Wed Maritana, Thu Samson and Delilah, Fri Cav & Pag, Sat mat Madam Butterfly, Sat eve Il Trovatore.
In Aberdeen there were changes. Cav & Pag were dropped briefly, but the expanded repertoire saw the introduction of Bohemian Girl, Faust and Mignon, as well as some larger-scale works by Verdi (Aïda) and Wagner (Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Valkyrie).
Dundee had not been visited since 1919 when Her Majesty's became a cinema, but the King's was now available, at least until 1928, when it, too, was acquired by a cinema company. The schedule for the week in Dundee was a fairly standard digest of the existing repertoire - Mon Faust, Tue Carmen, Wed Cav & Pag, Thu Samson and Delilah, Fri Tannhäuser, Sat Mat Madam Butterfly, and Sat Eve Trovatore.
With eight weeks to fill, it was inevitable that as well as nearly all of the above, a number of works would appear that were not seen elsewhere. These included Lily of Killarney, Rigoletto, Mastersingers, Bohème and Tosca.
This highly abbreviated cast is from a brief review of the first performance on Monday, 20 February in the following morning's Scotsman:
'The second week of the Carl Rosa Company's engagement at the Theatre-Royal, Glasgow, opened with a capital performance of that popular opera The Mastersingers. Prominent among the principals was Mr Kingsley Lark, who gave a convincing portrayal of Hans Sachs. His vocalism was pleasing, and created a good impression.
'Miss Gladys Cranston brought exceptional dramatic power into play in her personation of Eva, and her vocal rendering of the part was also deserving of praise. Mr John Perry made an excellent Von Stolzing, while Mr Harry Brindle sustained the role of Veit Pogner in a capable manner. Mr Frederick Clendon and Mr Booth Hitchen were also noteworthy in a talented cast. An attractive Magdalene was provided by Miss Gladys Parr.
'A large audience enjoyed the performance, which was of a high standard and thoroughly entertaining throughout. The orchestra again fully shared in the honours, and Mr Charles Webber conducted with his usual ability.'
A further brief note in the Scotsman of Friday 10 March lists the same soloists, with the addition of Horace Vincent as David.
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