Opera Scotland

Falstaff 1966Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Falstaff

Scottish Opera’s first Verdi production in 1963 was Otello, rarely performed in Scotland before. The choice of a second one fell on Falstaff. Perhaps this was less of a rarity – after all, Geraint Evans had played the role with the Glyndebourne company at a previous Edinburgh Festival in 1960. However, in avoiding the obviously popular Verdi works the company again showed some flair in choice of repertoire. The other three operas in this spring 1966 season were a revival of the 1964 Faust and new productions of a first Wagner piece (Die Walküre) and a first by Britten (Albert Herring).

Alexander Gibson again led the SNO in a sparkling account of the score. Peter Ebert's production was given an Elizabethan setting, with Peter Rice's set featuring much Tudor red brick.

This cast was beautifully balanced, with the merry wives led by the creamy voiced sopranos Luisa Bosabalian and Elizabeth Robson as mother and daughter. Geraint Evans was by now recognised as one of the great Falstaffs. Elizabeth Bainbridge and John Shaw were based at Covent Garden, where they sang these roles regularly. Francis Egerton and Ian Wallace made an irrepressible comic duo. And Ryland Davies, in a Scottish debut at the start of his long career, was an excellently acted and sweet-toned interpreter of Fenton, as he would remain at the Royal Opera House for the next decade.

 

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), Valkyrie (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 full schedule for the season was:

Perth, w/c Mon 11 Apr: Mon 11 Apr 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/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.

 Edinburgh, w/c 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.