Opera Scotland

Two Widows 1979Scottish Opera

Read more about the opera Two Widows

None of the British companies had performed this charming comedy when David Pountney was invited to return to mount it at Wexford, where he had previously directed Kátya Kabanová and The Gambler. The Two Widows was just as successful in 1978, so, since Wexford never repeats a show, it was an obvious next stage for Scottish Opera to take over the production for a couple of performances at the Perth Festival - any set that fitted the old Theatre Royal at Wexford would also fit the tiny theatre at Perth.

Albert Rosen had conducted the run in Wexford, and here made his only visit to Scottish Opera, with a completely idiomatic performance. Patricia Hay and Marie Slorach were ideally cast as the well-differentiated widows, the first cheerful, the second still mournful. Peter Jeffes was an excellent light tenor, while Bill McCue was in typical comic form as the gamekeeper. The two young singers making early appearances in the subsidiary parts would have substantial careers, both with Scottish Opera and ENO.

Unexpectedly, the production was revived the following season at the Glasgow Theatre Royal (with a change of lead tenor and conductor), because it was much cheaper than the scheduled Makropulos Case, which was postponed until 1981.