Opera Scotland

Faust 1950Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Faust

The Scotsman review (30 March) argued the four principals were all in good form "and sang most eloquently, with the casting vote going to the men. Arthur Copley was a manly Valentine, and Arthur Wallington played the part of the gentleman from the nether regions as to the manor born. He was not so bereft of a spark of decency as to be unable to allow an occasional malignant gleam to soften to a humorous if sardonic twinkle, as when he was temporarily keeping compamy with Martha, sung by Stella Phillips."

"The chorus was very good except for occasional rhythmic lapses that may happen to the best at times. The soldiers, it is true, looked strangely subdued after returning from the war, but, like true soldiers, therefore, they perked up when they rejoined their lady friends. The orchestral playing had more elasticity about it than on the previous evening. This freedom was not invariably wisely used, but apart from an odd bit of too heavy accompaniment to a climax, there was little amiss, thanks to Mr Arthur Hammond."

Cast details for Wednesday, 29 March are from a programme in the OperaScotland collection.

The 1950 tour of Scotland by Carl Rosa consisted of two weeks in Edinburgh and four in Glasgow, details as follows:-

Edinburgh w/c 27 Mar: Mon Cav & Pag; Tue Traviata; Wed Faust; Thu Tosca; Fri Rigoletto; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Barber of Seville

Edinburgh w/c 4 Apr: Mon Bohème; Tue Butterfly; Wed Carmen; Thu Barber; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Barber.

Glasgow w/c 10 Apr: Mon Cav & Pag; Tue Bohème; Wed Carmen; Thu Traviata; Fri Rigoletto; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Faust.

Glasgow w/c 17 Apr: Mon Butterfly; Tue Barber; Wed Bohème; Thu Faust; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Butterfly.

Glasgow w/c 24 Apr: Mon Carmen; Tue Traviata; Wed Rigoletto; Thu Tosca; Fri Faust; Sat m Barber; Sat e Bohème;

Glasgow w/c 1 May: Mon Rigoletto; Tue Water Carrier; Wed Butterfly; Thu Cav & Pag; Fri Water Carrier; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Carmen.

 Six weeks of seven performances, 42 in all.