Opera Scotland

Wozzeck 1959Royal Opera, Stockholm

Read more about the opera Wozzeck

The Swedes brought an excellent team to Edinburgh to give the Scots a first sight of one of the greatest operas of the twentieth century.   it was just one of the five productions they brought on this visit.   The double casting of the title role was always scheduled, but, according to the programme,   Söderström, already an internationally recognized star, was listed to appear both nights.   Rather less well-known at this early phase of his career,  Ingvar Wixell can be seen in the small part of the Second Workman.

Cast details from the programme, with additional data from Opera magazine.

 

Royal Swedish Opera at the Edinburgh Festival 1959

For its first Edinburgh visit, the Royal Opera, Stockholm, brought a typically ambitious programme of Verdi, Wagner, Berg and Blomdahl.  While the Rigoletto and Walküre may have been fairly conventional,  Un ballo in maschera showed a clear attempt by the director to get as close as possible to Swedish history.  Wozzeck was a Scottish premiere, and Aniara saw the British premiere of an interesting new piece only launched in May.

The five operas given were by Wagner (Die Walküre);  Verdi (Rigoletto,  Un ballo in maschera);  Berg (Wozzeck) and Blomdahl (Aniara).

The three week performance schedule was:

Week One, w/c 24 August:  Mon 24  Ballo in maschera;  Tue 25 Rigoletto;  Wed 26 Walküre;  Thu 27  Rigoletto;  Fri 28  Walküre;  Sat 29  Ballo in maschera.

Week Two,  w/c 31 August:  Mon 31 Walküre;  Tue 1 Sep  Rigoletto;  Wed 2 Walküre;  Thu 3  Aniara;  Fri 4  Ballo in maschera;  Sat 5  Aniara.

Week Three, w/c 7 September:  Mon 7 Walküre;  Tue 8  Wozzeck;  Wed 9 Rigoletto;  Thu 10  Wozzeck;  Fri 11  Rigoletto;  Sat 12  Ballo in maschera.