Opera Scotland

Gondoliers 1991D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

Read more about the opera Gondoliers

This was a bright and breezy production of the late G & S piece. The costumes were essentially traditional 18th century, with one or two eccentricities, such as the Duchess's exposed panniers. The sets were essentially postcard-style views of Venice leaning at an angle, and very brightly coloured. Tim Hopkins kept things lively without damaging any sense of the tradition also being kept alive.

Musically it was strong (at the Saturday matinee in Glasgow), with John Pryce-Jones, formerly Head of Music with Scottish Opera, a vigorous conductor. The men were particularly good. David Fieldsend and Alan Oke had started their careers with Scottish Opera, and it was good to see them return. John Rath was an imposing and successful Don Alhambra, while Richard Suart was already a matchless interpreter of the famous comic roles which he continued to sing for the next thirty years.

The new D'Oyly Carte company did not travel with the wide repertoire traditionally carried by its predecessor.  Here two new productions played alternately, with Iolanthe having four performances Monday to Wednesday, with The Gondoliers taking over for the second half of the stay.