Opera Scotland

Faust 1909Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Faust

A review in the Greenock Telegraph (15 February) gave the principal cast members.

"Gounod's great work is well known to opera lovers, and its tragic and stirring elements were depicted with adequate power by the principals who filled the dominating parts.... Most of the popular airs, such as the 'Soldiers' Chorus' , had to be repeated in reponse to the enthusiasm of a well-filled house.

The Era (20 February) has a short entry for Ayr, giving an alternative Marguerite, Ina Hill.

The Scottish Referee (22 March) reviewed the Saturday matinee (20 March) in the Glasgow Grand in fsvourable terms, giving further cast information.  "..the theatre was well filled in every part.  the performance was excellent in every sense, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed througout.  The Soldier's Chorus was rendered in a very effective manner, and encores were demanded."

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