Opera Scotland

Tales of Hoffmann 1926British National Opera Company

Read more about the opera Tales of Hoffmann

The first week in Glasgow ended with the sole performance of Tales of Hoffmann, a highly popular work that would be expected to sell out.

 

A Glasgow Verdict

The Glasgow Herald of Monday, 4 October (p11) reviewed the Saturday evening Tales of Hoffmann (very briefly), as well as the matinee performance of Hansel and Gretel, preceded by Les Petits Riens:

'In the evening a good performance of Tales of Hoffmann delighted a large audience. The production was on the company's usual lines, and included the specially fine setting for the second tale, Giulietta's Palace, Venice. 

The elaborate musical ensemble in this scene was very well rendered, and in addition there was excellent solo singing throughout the evening, the cast of principals including Mr Tudor Davies as Hoffmann, and Miss Eda Bennie, Miss Marjorie Parry, and Miss Kathlyn Hilliard as the respective Beloveds.

Miss Hilliard was specially good as Antonia. Mr Dennis Noble sang very well as Dapertutto, and another noteworthy impersonation was by Mr William Michael as Dr Mirakel. 

Mr Eugene Goossens, sen, conducted.' 

 

BNOC in Scotland 1926

The company spent three weeks in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh - 1927 would see them venturing further north than the central belt. Wagner and Puccini led the field, with four operas each. There were a total of four works by three composers of the French school. Verdi was represented by one middle-period and two late masterpieces. Notably there were two recently composed British works - something BNOC would never achieve again.

The 20 operas performed in Scotland on this tour were:

Mozart (Marriage of Figaro);  Wagner (Tannhäuser,  Tristan and Isolde, Mastersingers,  Parsifal);  Verdi (Rigoletto,  Aïda,  Otello);  Gounod (Faust,  Romeo and Juliet);  Offenbach (Tales of Hoffmann);  Bizet (Carmen);  Leoncavallo (Pagliacci);  Puccini (Bohème,  Tosca, Madam Butterfly,  Gianni Schicchi);  Humperdinck (Hansel and Gretel);  Vaughan Williams (Hugh the Drover);  Bryson (Leper's Flute).

 

The performance schedule was as follows:

Glasgow, w/c 27 September:  Mon 27  Aïda;  Tue 28  Carmen;  Wed 29 m Faust;  Wed 29 e Madam Butterfly;  Thu 30  Parsifal;  Fri Oct 01  Tosca;  Sat 02 m  Hansel and Gretel;  Sat 02 e  Tales of Hoffmann.

Glasgow, w/c 04 October:  Mon 04 Romeo and Juliet;  Tue 05 Otello;  Wed 06 m  No Perf;  Wed 06 e Bohème;  Thu 07 Marriage of Figaro;  Fri 08 Mastersingers;  Sat 09 m Aïda;  Sat 09 e Rigoletto.

Glasgow, w/c 11 October:  Mon 11 Parsifal;  Tue 12  Gianni Schicchi & Pagliacci; Wed 13 m Romeo and Juliet;  Wed 13 e Hansel and Gretel;  Thu 14  Tristan and Isolde;  Fri 15 Leper's Flute;  Sat 16 m Madam Butterfly;  Sat 16 e Tannhäuser.

Edinburgh, w/c 18 October:  Mon 18 Romeo and Juliet;  Tue 19 Leper's Flute;  Wed 20 m Hansel and Gretel;  Wed 20 e  Otello;  Thu 21  Parsifal;  Fri 22  Aïda;  Sat 23 m Hugh the Drover;  Sat 23 e Tannhäuser.

Edinburgh, w/c 25 October:  Mon 25 Rigoletto;  Tue 26 Gianni Schicchi & Pagliacci;  Wed 27 m Madam Butterfly;  Wed 27 e Tosca;  Thu 28 Tristan and Isolde;  Fri 29 Hansel and Gretel;  Sat 30 m Parsifal;  Sat 30 e Bohème.