A review in the Scotsman (29 March), from which cast details are taken, states "It would be difficult to recall an occasion upon which the Carl Rosa Company has shown to better advantage than in last night's performance of Aïda. Verdi's opera imposed very severe demands upon the resources of any operatic organisation, no matter how good it may be... Last night's performance satisfied all demands."
After commenting in favourable terms on the principals, the reviewer notes, "what was best of all, however, was the manner in which all the principals seemed to rise above themselves, thereby giving the performance the point and freshness of a special occasion. The chorus did very well, and the orchestra was brilliant, without being too loud ... the mounting was very handsome, although it might be improved in one or two details. The trophies carried on in the scene of Radames's triumphant return were rather a blot on an otherwise fine picture, and in all performances of Aïda it seems to escape the producer's attention that the interior of the tomb in the last act is much too definite, and much too light.
Aïda is supposed to have hidden herself in the tomb, so that she may perish with her lover. There is, however, no corner in which she could have shielded herself from detection, and her entry, apparently through a doorway, destroys all the illusion of hopeless inprisonment. These, however, are merely details in a performance which was at all points fine, and which roused the audience to real enthusiasm."
Performances by Carl Rosa Opera in Scotland during 1917 consisted of four weeks at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal then two at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum. The full schedule was as follows:-
w/c Mon 19 Feb Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Madam Butterfly; Wed Lily of Killarney; Thu Faust; Fri Magic Flute; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Maritana.
w/c Mon 26 Feb Aida; Tue Tales of Hoffmann; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Trovatore; Fri Marriage of Figaro; Sat m Cav and Pag; Sat e Bohemian Girl.
w/c Mon 5 Mar Carmen; Tue Trovatore; Wed Magic Flute; Thu Aida; Fri Madam Butterfly; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Faust.
w/c Mon 12 Mar Cav and Pag; Tue Marriage of Figaro; Wed Rigoletto; Thu Madam Butterfly; Fri Carmen; Sat m Faust; Sat e Trovatore.
w/c Mon 19 Mar Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Faust; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Carmen; Fri Marriage of Figaro; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Trovatore
w/c Mon 26 Mar Rigoletto; Tue Lily of Killarney; Wed Aida; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Attack on the Mill; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Maritana.
Six Tales of Hoffmann; Madam Butterfly
Four Faust; Trovatore; Carmen
Three Aida; Marriage of Figaro
Two Cav and Pag; Lily of Killarney; Magic Flute; Maritana; Rigoletto.
One Attack on the Mill
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