Opera Scotland

Carmen 1926Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Carmen

Cast details for Carmen on Saturday matinee 20 February are from a programme archived in Edinburgh Central Library; there is a review of that performance in the Scotsman (22 February).

This seven week long Scottish tour, from 15 February to 3 April 1926, visited Edinburgh (two weeks), Glasgow (four) and Dundee (one). A highly unusual feature of the repertoire is the complete absence of operas by Wagner, still being given by the larger BNOC company that was also touring at this time. The Barber of Seville and La bohème, which would be a mainstay of the Carl Rosa company for the rest of its existence, now make a prominent appearance.

The Edinburgh schedule was:

First week (commencing 15 Feb): Mon Madam Butterfly, Tue Samson and Delilah, Wed Barber of Seville, Thu Faust, Fri Bohème, Sat mat Carmen, Sat eve Bohemian Girl.

Second week (commencing 22 Feb): Mon Cav & Pag, Tue Rigoletto, Wed Butterfly, Thu Maritana, Fri Trovatore, Sat mat Bohème, Sat eve Carmen.

Glasgow saw all of the above, plus a single performance of The Marriage of Figaro. A proposed performance of Fidelio on 26 March was replaced by Barber of Seville according to the Glasgow Herald of 27 March.

Dundee's programme was equally popular - Cav & Pag, Barber, Rigoletto, Bo Girl, Bohème, Butterfly and Maritana.