Opera Scotland

Valkyrie 1966Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Walküre

1966 was only Scottish Opera’s fifth season of operations, and no opera by Wagner had yet been produced. To start its Wagner career with what was clearly hoped to be the first instalment of a Ring cycle was rightly interpreted as an indication of the company’s ambition. The singers were mainly based in Britain, but at this stage there was no usable English translation, and singing it in German meant that it was possible to import singers when that was required – not just Anita Välkki as Brünnhilde, but also Hubert Hofman as Wotan in Aberdeen.

The most important Scottish element among the singers was, of course, David Ward, who had already worked at Bayreuth and had recently taken the part of Wotan into his repertoire, under Hans Hotter's guidance.

The general impression was perhaps of promise rather than achievement, and the designs, and particularly lighting, were much improved in the 1971 revival. Gibson's guidance of the Scottish National Orchestra also improved rapidly as he worked his way through the cycle. There was a widely-held view that while Walküre was promising and Rheingold in 1967 rather better, it was not until the Götterdämmerung of 1968 that everything fell into place.

Anita Välkki was a leading Wagnerian of the time, singing Brünnhilde at Bayreuth, Covent Garden and the Met. Anna Reynolds would soon sing Fricka and other parts at Bayreuth, where Donald McIntyre would soon be a fixture in a range of characters, including eventually (from 1976) Wotan. Ann Howard would become a leading member of the ENO Ring team under Reginald Goodall's guidance.

 

Scottish Opera's Fifth Season - 1966

The season involved tours to Glasgow King’s Theatre, HMT Aberdeen, Perth Theatre and Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre. The productions were Albert Herring (9), Falstaff (7), Die Walkűre (8) and Faust (5).  Twenty-nine performances. Perth 2, Aberdeen 5, Glasgow 11, Edinburgh 11.

Albert Herring evening performances were at 1900, matinees 1400; Falstaff performances at 1930; Valkyrie at 1800; Faust at 1900.

The complete schedule for the season was:

Perth, w/c Mon 11 Apr: Mon 11 Albert Herring; Wed 13 Albert Herring.

Glasgow, w/c Mon 2 May: Fri 6 Falstaff; Sat 7 Albert Herring.

Glasgow, w/c Mon 9 May:  Thu 12 Albert Herring;  Fri 13 Valkyrie;  Sat 14 Falstaff.

Glasgow, w/c Mon 16 May:  Tue 17 Valkyrie; Wed 18 Faust; Thu 19 m Albert Herring; Thu 19 e Falstaff; Fri 20 Valkyrie;  Sat 21 Faust.

Edinburgh, w/c Mon 23 May:  Tue 24 Falstaff;  Wed 25 Albert Herring;  Thu 26 Falstaff;  Fri 27 Valkyrie; Sat 28 Faust.

Ednburgh, w/c Mon 30 May:  Tue 31 Albert Herring; Wed 1 Jun Valkyrie; Thu 2 m Albert Herring; Thu 2 e Falstaff;  Fri 3 Faust; Sat 4 Valkyrie.

Aberdeen, w/c Mon 6 Jun:  Tue 7 Valkyrie;  Wed 8 Albert Herring;  Thu 9 Falstaff;  Fri 10 Valkyrie;  Sat 11 Faust.