Opera Scotland

Carmen 1909Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Carmen

Some details are given in the Greenock Telegraph (13 February) and in Era (20 Feb)

"Carmen packed the Alexandra Theatre last night in all parts of the house. The rendering of Bizet's clever music was a pronounced success from the rise to the fall of the curtain. The principals...were all in capital form and, as on other evenings this week, the chorusing and orchestration were distinct features of the production. The scenery was beautiful and the dresses picturesque.  Recalls were frequent and hearty, and the entire rendering appeared to give every satisfaction to the audience."

A review in the Scotsman (2 March) noted an identical cast as far as the principals were concerned but said that Charles Hedmondt had played Don José on 24 February. 

"Throughout the exacting performance no member of the company fell short of the highest requirements of his or her role.  The story of Carmen and Don José, with its colour and passion, was brought out in an admirable manner.  The value of the production was enhanced by the splendour of the setting.  The Carmen of Miss Doris Woodall was the triumph of the evening. Her impersonation of the gipsy girl was a powerful study, and her vocalism admirable. As Don José, Mr Davies contributed an able representation, stronger on the dramatic than on the vocal side.  All over, however, his work was of a decidedly meritorious character.  Miss Ina Hill, as Micaëla, and Mr Hebden Foster, as Escamillio, were both good.  Mr Foster had to respond to an encore for the popular Toreador number, but indeed the large audience gave many marks of their appreciation in the course of the performance. the minor parts were excellently treated, and the choral side of the production for its strength and harmony was one of the features of the evening."

The company's Scottish performances in 1909 involved one week at the Alexandria, Greenock, one week at the New Gaiety, Ayr followed by two at Edinburgh's King's Theatre and two at the Glasgow Grand. 

The full schedule of 42 performances was:- 

w/c 8 Feb Mon Lohengrin; Tue Merry Wives of Windsor; Wed Maritana; Thu Rigoletto; Fri Carmen; Sat m Tannhauser; Sat e Faust.

w/c 15 Feb Mon Carmen Tue Faust; Wed Lohengrin; Thu Bohemian Girl; Fri Rigoletto; Sat m Tannhauser; Sat e Trovatore.

w/c 22 Feb Mon Lohengrin; Tue Don Giovanni; Wed Carmen; Thu Merry Wives of Windsor; Fri Marriage of Figaro; Sat m Cav and Pag; Sat e Trovatore

w/c 1 Mar Mon Carmen; Tue Marriage of Figaro; Wed Bohemian Girl; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Esmeralda; Sat m Tannhauser; Sat e Faust.

 w/c 8 Mar Mon Lohengrin; Tue Carmen; Wed Marriage of Figaro; Thu Esmeralda; Fri Rigoletto; Sat m Cavand Pag; Sat e Trovatore.

w/c 15 Mar Mon Tannhauser; Tue Merry Wives of Windsor; Wed Bohemian Girl; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Faust.

 Twelve different operas plus Cav and Pag

Six Carmen; Four Cav and Pag; Faust; Lohengrin; Tannhauser

Three Merry Wives of Windsor; Marriage of Figaro; Bohemian Girl; Rigoletto; Trovatore

Two Don Giovanni; Esmeralda.

One Maritana