Opera Scotland

Queen of Sheba 1913Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba appeared for it final performance in Scotland, having held its place in the company's repertoire for several seasons.  It has not appeared here since.

 

An Edinburgh Review

Scotsman:  Wednesday, 12 February 1913  (p8)

The Carl Rosa Company in Edinburgh - The Queen of Sheba

'It seems to be rather a difficult task for an impresario to gauge the taste of the musical public of Edinburgh.  Last night so amirable an opera as Goldmark's The Queen of Sheba, one of the newer works presented by the Carl Rosa Company, was staged, and brought out an audience of only modest dimensions.  Those present, however, were not lacking in enthusiasm.  The work, as stated when it was first produced, is one of high merit, and stands repetition.  It has a stately Jewish subject thrilling with interest, the characters are strongly individualised, and the music, whikle it has a distinct Wagnerian bias, is notable for the clever use which has been made of Hebraic themes and airs, and for its eminent dramatic quality.  The musical work also is well divided among the principals, and the chorus, picturesquely attired in costumes of the Orient, has some excellent numbers to sing, the temple music especially at tyhe end of the second act being, with the Jewish marriage ceremonials with which it is linked, particularly impressive.

'But in all the four acts the drama and its musical setting are most appropriately combined.   The story of Assad, the Generalissimo of King Solomon, might not inappropriately be described as that of a Jewish Tannhäuser, who is beguiled from his religion and his duty by the siren wiles of the Queen of Sheba, whom he had been sent to escort to Jerusalem.  The text of Mosenthal has an appropriate dignity, and, as indicated, the music in its variety and brilliancy is of a most enjoyable and arresting character.

'The opera, beautifully staged, was rendered in a thoroughly competent manner by all who took part in it.  The fine bass music of King Solomon was sung with excellent power and effect by Mr Arthur Winckworth.  Miss Ina Hill presented with considerable style the rôle of Sulamith, the daughter of the High Priest, deserted by Assad.  She had a fine scene in the first act, where with a chorus of Jewish maidens she sang in a clear, sympathetic voice the love song ''My Assad will Return.''  Miss Phyllis Archibald acted with fervour as the Queen of Sheba, and did every justice to the seductive music of the garden scene of the second act, for which she was heartily applauded.  Mr William Wegener appeared to advantage in the tenor role of Assad, who is distracted by conflicting emotions.  The recital to King Solomon of the temptation was an excellent and well-sustained musical effort.

'Mr Frederick Clendon as the High Priest, Mr Leslie Austin as Baal-Hannan, and Miss Dorothy Lawson-Taylor were in the smaller parts.  The orchestral music was well played.  Mr Eugene Goossens was conductor.'

 

Carl Rosa Scottish Tour - 1913

This late winter Scottish season conisisted of seven weeks, each with seven performances.  After a week in Aberdeen (w/c 20 Jan) then one in Dundee (w/c 27 Jan), there followed three in Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre (commencing 3 Feb, 10 Feb, 17 Feb) and two in Glasgow’s Theatre Royal (w/c 24 Feb; 3 Mar).  Two performances originally scheduled of Jewels of the Madonna in Edinburgh were cancelled to allow for more rehearsals.  The operas that replaced them were Mefistofele (20 Feb) and Magic Flute (22 Feb mat)

The sixteen operas performed were by:  Mozart (Don Giovanni, Zauberflöte);  Benedict (Lily of Killarney);  Balfe (Bohemian Girl);  Thomas (Mignon);  Wallace (Maritana);  Wagner (Tannhäuser, Lohengrin);  Verdi (Trovatore);  Gounod (Faust);  Goldmark (Queen of Sheba);  Boito (Mefistofele);  Bizet (Carmen);  Leoncavallo (Pagliacci);  Mascagni (Cavalleria Rusticana);  Wolf-Ferrari (Jewels of the Madonna).

The performance schedule was:

Aberdeen, w/c 20 January:  Mon 20 Carmen;  Tue 21 Lohengrin;  Wed 22 Trovatore;  Thu  23 Mefistofele;  Fri 24 Magic Flute;  Sat 25 m Tannhäuser;  Sat 25 e Mignon.

Dundee, w/c  27 January:  Mon 27 Tannhäuser;  Tue 28 Magic Flute;  Wed 29 Mignon;  Thu 30 Trovatore;  Fri 31 Mefistofele;  Sat 1 Feb m Carmen;  Sat 1 Feb e Bohemian Girl.

Edinburgh, w/c 3 February:  Mon 3 Tannhäuser;  Tue 4 Mignon;  Wed 5 Magic Flute;  Thu 6 Trovatore;  Fri 7 Lohengrin;  Sat 8 m Faust;  Sat 8 e Bohemian Girl.

Edinburgh, w/c 10 February:  Mon 10 Magic Flute;  Tue 11 Queen of Sheba;  Wed 12 Carmen;  Thu 13 Maritana;  Fri 14 Magic Flute;  Sat 15 m Mignon;  Sat 15 e Lily of Killarney.

Edinburgh, w/c 17 February:  Mon 17 Cav & Pag;  Tue 18 Don Giovanni;  Wed 19 Faust;  Thu 20 Mefistofele;  Fri 21 Tannhäuser;  Sat 22 m Magic Flute;  Sat 22 e Trovatore.

Glasgow, w/c 24 February:  Mon  24 Magic Flute;  Tue 25 Mignon;  Wed 26 Trovatore;  Thu 27 Cav & Pag;  Fri 28 Jewels of the Madonna;  Sat 1 Mar m Tannhäuser;  Sat 1 Mar e Faust.

Glasgow, w/c  3 March:  Mon 3 Lohengrin;  Tue 4 Jewels of the Madonna;  Wed 5 Magic Flute;  Thu 6 Mignon;  Fri  7 Carmen :  Sat 8 m Jewels of the Madonna;  Sat 8 e Magic Flute.