Opera Scotland

Don Giovanni 1919Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Don Giovanni

The 1919season consisted of one week at Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre (AHMT), then one week at Dundee’s Her Majesty’s Theatre (DHMT). There followed four weeks at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal (GTR). After one week at Greenock (King's), there were two weeks at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum (ERL), then later still another two in Glasgow (GTR). Eleven weeks in total, followed by a further three in December to give fourteen. By now, the company were running a number of separate companies, the Phillips section giving the December performances.

Cast details hav e been taken from a Scotsman review (15 March). There is a programme archived in Edinburgh Central Library.  Like many singers in modern times, Ina Hill had previous experience of the opera, having sung Zerlina early in her career.  Her repertoire by 1919 shows that her voice had gained considerable power.

 

An Edinburgh Review

Scotsman: Saturday, 15 March 1919

'With a very few exceptions, there is no opera of which it is so difficult to give a really adequate performance as Don Giovanni. which was performed by the Carl Rosa Company last night.  Mozart's glorious music makes enormous demands upon the singers, and there is a dramatic interest which calls not only for good acting, but also for the creation of an appropriate scenic environment.  Last night's performance did not completely satisfy these requirements, but it nevertheless possessed many good qualities.

'In the title role, Mr Hebden Foster acquitted himself with that excellent artistic sense which he displays in everything he undertakes.  His singing was always true, and hsi acting effective.  Miss Ina Hill's Donna Anna was a good sound interpretation, and the Donna Elvira of Miss Clara Simons was attractive, although her voice was somewhat overweighted by the exacting music of the part.  Mr Edward Davies and Mr Arthur Winckworth were in their now familiar respective roles as Don Ottavio and Leporello, both being as successful as on other occasions. The Zerlina of Miss Florence Barron and the Masetto of Mr Frederick Clendon were both admirable, and Mr Fred Lewis made an impressive Commandant.  Both chorus and orchestra did well.  Mr De la Fuente conducted.'

 

The Carl Rosa Scottish Tour Schedule 1919

w/c Mon Jan 20 Tales of Hoffmann Tue Tosca; Wed Tannhauser; Thu Mignon; Fri Carmen; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Faust. AHMT

w/c Mon Jan 27 Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Faust; Thu Madam Butterfly; Fri Mignon; Sat mTales of Hoffmann; Sat e Trovatore. DHMT 

w/c Mon 3 Feb Tannhauser; Tue Bohème; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Trovatore; Fri Tosca; Sat m Mignon; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann. GTR 

w/c Mon 10 Feb Cav and Pag; Tue Faust; Wed Carmen; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Madam Butterfly; Sat m Tosca; Sat e Maritana. GTR

w/c Mon 17 Feb Bohème; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Mignon; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Trovatore. GTR

w/c Mon 24 Feb Carmen; Tue Rigoletto; Wed Carmen; Thu Faust; Fri Tannhauser; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Bohemian Girl. GTR

w/c Mon 3 Mar Company performing in Liverpool

w/c Mon 10 Mar Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Tosca  ; Wed Faust; Thu Madam Butterfly; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat m Cav and Pag; Sat e Maritana. ERL

w/c Mon 17 Mar Tosca; Tue Tales of Hoffmann; Wed Tannhauser; Thu Bohème; Fri Carmen; Sat m Mignon; Sat e Trovatore; ERL

w/c Mon 30 Jun Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Carmen; Wed Mignon; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Three Masks; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Faust GTR

w/c Mon 7 Jul Three Masks; Tue Trovatore; Wed Daughter of the Regiment; Thu Carmen; Fri Marriage of Figaro; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Maritana GTR

w/c Mon 1 Dec Tales of Hoffmann; Tue Carmen; Wed Faust; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Tannhauser; Sat m Romeo and Juliet; Sat e Rigoletto.

w/c Mon 8 Dec Cav and Pag; Tue Trovatore; Wed Romeo and Juliet; Thu Lily of Killarney; Fri Faust; Sat m Traviata; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann.

w/c Mon 15 Dec Carmen; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Maritana; Thu Rigoletto; Fri Romeo and Juliet; Sat m Cav and Pag; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann.

 

Thirteen weeks @seven performances = ninety-one (excludes the Greenock week tbc).

Thirteen Tales of Hoffmann

Eight Carmen; Tannhauser; Faust

Seven; Madam Butterfly; Cav and Pag

Six Mignon

Five Trovatore; Tosca

Four Cav and Pag; Maritana

Three Bohème; Romeo and Juliet

Two Three Masks; Don Giovanni; Rigoletto

One Marriage of Figaro; Daughter of the Regiment; Bohemian Girl; Traviata; Lily of Killarney