Opera Scotland

Pepita 1895Mr Horace Lingard's Comic Opera Company

Read more about the opera Pepita

Horace Lingard's company toured for several seasons with a repertoire of French operettas by Offenbach's successors.  Here we have a two week Dundee run - three performances of Pepita (by Lecocq), alternating with six of Falka (by Chassaigne) and three of the Fife-born librettist Henry Farnie's adaptation of Planquette's Old Guard.

The playing order was:

First week: Mon 09/12 Old Guard, Tue 10 Falka; Wed 11 Old Guard; Thu 12 Falka; Fri 13 Old Guard; Sat 14 Falka.

Second week: Mon 16/12 Pepita; Tue 17/12 Pepita. Wed 18/12 Falka; Thu 19 Falka; Fri 20 Pepita; Sat 21 Falka.

Further Scottish dates to be confirmed.

 

The Bellman: Friday, December 20 1895    p8

Dramatic Notes - Her Majesty’s Theatre - The Horace Lingard Comic Opera Company

            The successful engagement of the Horace Lingard Comic Opera Company is now drawing to a close, and the Management of Her Majesty’s are to be commended for the excellent opportunity this extended engagement has afforded the music and mirth-loving portion of Dundonians of witnessing such splendid performances of favourite comic operas.  There is a change in the bill for this week, Pepita being substituted for The Old Guard, while the popularity of Falka has decided its continuance.  Lecocq’s masterpiece Pepita was produced on Monday night, when it was received by an enthusiastically demonstrative audience.  Miss Rita Presano appeared in the title role, and again charmed the audience by her exquisite singing and natural acting, and in all her efforts, whether in solo or in concerted pieces, she amply sustained her high reputation as an operatic artiste.  Ines was undertaken by Miss Olive Marston, whose winsome grace and charming style has all along made her a prime favourite.  The Gomez of Miss Jessie Corrie was characterised by that “go” and military dash which the part demands.  The brothers Pedrillo and Inigo were in the capable hands of Mr Fred Parr and Mr Horace Lingard respectively.  They have the major part of the “business” to do, and they do it to the great amusement of the audience.  Mr Frank Sutton and Mr George Ascot appeared as Bombardos and Pataques respectively, and they hit off these worthies in fine style, their duet being doubly encored.  The chorus did its work very well, the dresses were pretty and the staging effective, and the production all through was received with great favour.

            Pepita is repeated to-night and Falka to-morrow evening.  The orchestration of the operas has been much admired.