Opera Scotland

Barbiere di Siviglia 1950Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Barber of Seville

Cast details are taken from contemporary editions of the Scotsman and Glasgow Herald.

The score had been 'adapted' for a mezzo - returning Rosina to the original pitch, which was almost unheard of until the appearance of the wonderful Rossini singer Conchita Supervia in the thirties.

According to the Scotsman reviewer (3 April) the performance "had a vivacity and an impetus that made the most of this sparkling opera. Some of this was undoubtedly due to the use of accompanied recitatives, which kept the action constantly on the move, instead of the usual slight psychological jolting caused by a mixture of speech and song.  Credit for this should go to Arthur Hammond, the conductor, for his researches, and to the pianist for the crispness of his playing."

The review spoke of the advantages of lively acting, backed by careful and imaginative producing.

The 1950 tour of Scotland by Carl Rosa consisted of two weeks in Edinburgh and four in Glasgow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Six weeks of seven performances.