Dalibor 1998Scottish Opera
Read more about the opera Dalibor
There are not many operas that have appeared at three separate Edinburgh Festivals, but Dalibor was given its successful British premiere by the Prague National Theatre on its first visit in 1964, and that production was brought back in 1970. It was thirty years before Scottish Opera staged it themselves at the 1998 Festival. Better late than never. It is a super piece, its obvious drawback being the similarities of plot with Beethoven’s Fidelio. That should not prevent its being performed more often. David Pountney’s production was excellent, with a wonderful symbolic design by Ralph Koltai (some kind of massive stringed instrument) and a couple of excellent imported Czech singers in central roles. Sadly, it has not so far been revived.
