Opera Scotland

Rigoletto 1954Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Rigoletto

The reviewer of the Glasgow Herald (16 March) was disappointed in the performance.

"Joseph Satariano in the name part and Charles Craig as the Duke may shoulder the chief blame. They rarely saw fit to vary their vocal tone or the intensity of their acting, an attitude which made for boredom before they had properly got under way.  Stanislav Pieczora's Sparafucile was lugubrious enough if hardly sinister - another contribution at least to the gloomy side of Verdi's piece.

The appearance of Esther Martin as Giovanna confirmed my suspicion that the work was being sung in English and, indeed, the ladies throughout covered themselves with the greater glory. Gwen Catley was the Gilda, and although she made frequent use of a hard and steely tone and a wobble, she sang the highest altitudes of 'Caro nome' sreadily and with artistry.  Alice Gange made a good Maddalena, warm vocally and convincingly acted.  

The orchestral playing under Arthur Hammond was varied in quality and in ensemble and, while Mr Hammmond was obviously resolved to let solo voices be heard, he threw caution to the winds in concerted items, and drowned even the very creditable male voices in a rough orchestral sea."

Carl Rosa Opera's six-week 1954 Scottish tour began on 8 March with a three week stay in Glasgow, always one of its favourite dates. This was followed by a week in Aberdeen (the last visit by the company), from 29 March, and two in Edinburgh from 5 April

The tour schedule was as follows:-

Glasgow w/c 8 Mar: Mon Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Bohème; Wed Barber of Seville; Thu Traviata; Fri Carmen; Sat m Butterfly; Sat e Cav & Pag.

Glasgow w/c 15 Mar: Mon Rigoletto; Tue Tales of Hoffmann; WEd Bohème; Thu Barber of Seville; Fri Traviata; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Butterfly.

Glasgow w/c 22 Mar: Mon Cav & Pag; Tue Traviata; Wed Tales of Hoffmann; Thu Tannhäuser; Fri Faust; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Carmen.

Aberdeen w/c 29 Mar 7.30: Mon Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Carmen; Wed Cav & Pag; Thu Faust; Fri 7.00 Tannhäuser; Sat m 2,30 Butterfly; Sat e Trovatore.

Edinburgh w/c 5 Apr 7.30: Mon Traviata; Tue Bohème; Wed Traviata; Thu Rigoletto; Fri Tannhäuser; Sat m 2.30 Butterfly; Sat e Cav & Pag.

Edinburgh w/c 12 Apr: Mon Carmen; Tue Faust; Wed Trovatore; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Cav & Pag; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Traviata.