Opera Scotland

Don Giovanni 1915Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni was still by no means a regular fixture in the repertoire, even though it was recognised as a masterpiece.

 

The Edinburgh View

Scotsman, Saturday 27 March 1915, (p8)

Carl Rosa Opera Company - Mozart's Don Giovanni

'Time was when Mozart's Don Giovanni was a stock piece in the repertory of Italian opera companies.  Latterly it has had to take its place in the ever-increasing struggle of operatic competition with works less addicted to the music drama of pure intrigue, and more attuned to the realism of the modern lyric stage.  Its presentation by the Carl Rosa company last night drew out to the Lyceum Theatre a large attendance, and with Mr Eugene Goossens in the conductor's chair, everything went admirably.

'The part of the amorous nobleman who fills the title-rôle was taken by Mr Frank Clarke with remarkable distinction, both vocally and dramatically;  while Leporello was represented by Mr Arthur Winckworth,  Donna Elvira by Miss Elizabeth Burgess,  Zerlina by Miss Pauline Donnan,  Donna Anna by Miss Dora Gibson,  Don Ottavio by Mr Edward Davies,  Masetto by Mr Frederick Clendon, and the Commandant by Mr Walter Underwood.

'Although the opera was originally written in two acts,  being produced in its earliest form in Prague towards the end of 1787,  it lends itself readily to a more modern scenario, and last night there were four acts and ten scenes.  There was an all-round excellence in the performance, that extended not merely to the singing, but to the dressing and the staging.

'It is only justice to say that Mr Frank Clarke had his opportunity of the fortnight, and that he seized it, his singing and diction being throughout on a high level, and his carriage in accord with the manner of the gay cavalier.  Miss Burgess, who played Elvira, also distinguished herself. ''Wretched Elvira'' in the first act being rendered with great feeling.  The Donna Anna of Dora Gibson was a finely studied part, excellent in intonation and dramatic force; and it was regrettable that Mr Edward Davies, as Don Ottavio, the lover, did not back up his fine ringing voice with something more of stage action.  As Zerlina, Miss Pauline Donnan sang sweetly and acted with much charm in her somewhat ambiguous position as between her true lover and the too attentive Don Juan.

'There were some changes in the scenic presentations which were not in accord with historic tradition, but which were doubtless in pace with the times.  The chorus were exceedingly well drilled; and the orchestra co-operated skilfully in the many familiar duets, trios, and quartets which have made Don Giovanni one of the immortal things in opera.'

 

The Carl Rosa Scottish tour - 1915

The Carl Rosa Scottish tour in spring 1915 consisted of three weeks in Glasgow (Theatre Royal), followed by two weeks in Edinburgh (Lyceum).

The fifteen operas performed were by Mozart (Don Giovanni, Magic Flute);  Wagner (Tannhäuser);  Verdi (Trovatore,  Aïda); Balfe (Bohemian Girl);  Wallace (Maritana);  Nicolai (Merry Wives of Windsor);  Gounod (Faust);  Thomas (Mignon);  Offenbach (Tales of Hoffmann);  Bizet (Carmen);  Leoncavallo (Pagliacci);  Mascagni (Cavalleria Rusticana);  Wolf-Ferrari (Jewels of the Madonna).

The performance schedule was as follows:

Glasgow, w/c 22 February: Mon 22 Tales of Hoffmann; Tue 23 Faust;  Wed 24 Aïda;  Thu 25 Jewels of the Madonna;  Fri 26 Carmen;  Sat 27 m Tales of Hoffmann;  Sat 27 e Bohemian Girl.

Glasgow, w/c  1 March: Mon 1 Mar Cav & Pag; Tue 2 Magic Flute;  Wed 3 Tannhäuser;  Thu 4 Mignon;  Fri 5 Tales of Hoffmann;  Sat 6 m Aïda;  Sat 6 e Maritana.

Glasgow, w/c 8 March: Mon 8 Mar Don Giovanni;  Tue 9 Faust;  Wed 10 Trovatore;  Thu 11 Merry Wives of Windsor;  Fri 12 Aïda;  Sat 13 m Carmen;  Sat 13 e Tales of Hoffmann.

Edinburgh, w/c 15 March: Mon 15 Tales of Hoffmann;  Tue 16 Tannhäuser;  Wed 17 Faust;  Thu 18  Magic Flute;  Fri 19 Aïda;  Sat 20 m Carmen;  Sat 20 e Trovatore.

Edinburgh, w/c 22 March: Mon 22 Cav & Pag;  Tue 23 Tales of Hoffmann;  Wed 24 Mignon;  Thu 25 Merry Wives of Windsor;  Fri 26 Don Giovanni;  Sat 27 m Aïda;  Sat 27 e Tales of Hoffmann.