Opera Scotland

Cavalleria Rusticana 1926Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Cavalleria Rusticana

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 promotional flyer, taken from the OperaScotland archive,  for the 3rd and 4th weeks of the Glasgow season is shown below.  An advertised performance of Fidelio, to be given on 26 March, was replaced by a further performance of Barber of Seville, according to the Glasgow Herald of 27 March. 

Dundee King's Th., w/c Monday 29 March:  Mon 29  Cav & Pag; Tue 30: Barber, Wed 1 Apr Rigoletto; Thu 2 Bo Girl,; Fri 3  Bohème; Sat 4 m  Butterfly and Sat 4 e  Maritana.

 

Cast details for 26 February are from the following morning's Scotsman, with 29 March details as reviewed in the Courier & Argus.

 

A Dundee Preview

Dundee Advertiser: Friday, 26 March 1926

Week of Opera in Dundee - Visit of the Carl Rosa Company

'The Carl Rosa Opera Company pay their ever-welcome annual visit to Dundee next week opening at the King's Theatre on Monday.  With the exception of the productions of the highly capable body of amateur players in the city, the Carl Rosa Company have provided the only operatic feast of recent years, and it is extremely satisfactory that they are so varying their repertoire, for some of the operas to be played during their brief season could almost be described as novelties., so seldom have they been heard.

'Here is the week's programme: Mon Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci; Tue The Barber of Seville; Wed Rigoletto; Thu The Bohemian Girl; Fri La Boheme; Sat mat Madam Butterfly; Sat eve Maritana.

It is years since Rigoletto was played here and the adventures of Figaro in Rossini's Barber of Seville will attract with all the freshness of a new work. Its story owes its origin to Beaumarchais, and deals with a period earlier than that of Mozart's in The Marriage of Figaro.  Puccini had all the effectiveness of Verdi for skilful stage presentations and La Boheme is full of the graceful melodies, of the fluent form, and original orchestration that make his work so delightful to listen to.

'The Italian inseparables are certain to attract their usual following, for both, apart from their attractive music, are gripping in the intensity of their drama.  A particular feature is the inclusion of the Ballet from Faust on Wednesday, with Miss Ailne Phillips as principal dancer, and should attract many of the devotees of the sister art.  With the evergreen works of Balfe and Wallace included, and Puccini again at the matinee, the bill is as varied and attractive as could be wished.

'There is little change in the personnel of the company, the sopranos including Miss Eda Bennie, an Australian who has toured with the British National; Miss Ethel Austen and Miss Jennie Bleasdale, who has already won favour here.  Miss Doris Woodall is a delight at all times to listen to, and Miss IOlive Gilbert is a Welsh contralto who has been earning high praise.

'Excellent records lie behind most of the men, and names like Horace Vincent, Ben Williams, Frederick Clendon, Flintoff Moore, and John Kelly will awaken a host of memories. A new baritone is Mr Leslie Jones.  Mr Thomas McGuire and Mr Guthrie Foote are the conductor, and with the increased care for perfection of detail in stagecraft that has marked the Phillips regime, the performances are certain to be as meritorious as any in the long and honourable career of the Company.  Excellent records lie behind most of the men.'

 

A Second Preview

Dundee Courier & Argus: Saturday, 27 March 1926

Dundee's Week of Grand Opera - Visit of Carl Rosa Company

'A visit from the Carl Rosa Opera Company is always welcome, and they will no doubt be accorded a warm reception when they appear at the King's Theatre, Dundee, next week.  Since the company last visited the city some important changes have taken place, both as regards its management and its personnel.  The new managing-director Mr H B Phillips, has, besides reorganising the company in general, revived many operas that seemed destined never to be heard again in the provinces, and has also turned his attention to what used to be a rather neglected feature, the feature.

'His efforts have met with gret success, and we look forward with much interest to seeing for ourselves the result of his enthusiastic labours.  The repertoire for the week is interesting, old favourites and comparative novelties being included.  On Monday we are to have those twin thrillers, Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci.

Courier & Argus: