Opera Scotland

Missa Solemnis 1975Scottish National Orchestra

Read more about the opera Missa Solemnis

This was the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Orchestra's change of name, with the introduction of 'National'. The celebrations extended to travel by the entire orchestra and chorus (of 165), for whom such a northern journey was unheard of. Beethoven's Missa Solemnis was a large and complex undertaking. Israeli conductor Gary Bertini spent several seasons in the seventies as the SNO's principal guest conductor, delivering a wide-ranging concert repertoire. He also worked with Scottish Opera, and in 1974 had conducted a particularly impressive revival of Boris Godunov.

Eileen Davis made her career mainly in America, but for one season her husband, Michael D Davis, was leader of the SNO, so she was available to work in Scotland. She also appeared successfully with Scottish Opera. The mezzo Alfreda Hodgson was essentially a concert performer, rarely venturing on to the operatic stage. In Scotland she worked with the SNO in the central belt and frequently at the Edinburgh Festival. This may be her only appearance further north. Sadly, her early death prevented further appearances.

Neil Jenkins had a successful career as a lyric tenor. On this occasion he was a late replacement for the more heroic-voiced John Mitchinson, who had spent much of his career to this point in Germany.  John Barrow's appearance was also announced at a fairly late stage, but he had previously been a successful visitor to the region, performing at Ledlanet Nights.