Agrippina 1965Ledlanet Nights
Read more about the opera Agrippina
The supporting cast for Agrippina included Angela Hickey, Bettina Jonic, Elizabeth Langford, Paul Statham and Richard Passmore. This information is available in subsequent programmes for later years, but assignment of roles is unclear. The image below is captioned Patricia Briginshaw, Philip May and Alice Robiczek (foreground) and Paul Statham, Bettina Jonic and Angela Hickey (background)
The review in the Scotsman (30 September) said it was 'seductively sung'. It is also "very handsome to look at, neatly directed by Ande Anderson and and sumptuously costumed by Oliver Messel. Peter Gellhorn conducts deftly and stylishly....although the Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra's response tends to be variable in quality, and somewhat damped by coming from off-stage, the general impression is good enough to convey the warmth of feeling, and the vitality of Handel's writing."
Ande Anderson was a hugely experienced director, for many years on the staff at Covent Garden, tasked with rehearsing revivals of 'routine' stagings. As a result of this he worked regularly with international stars of the calibre of Maria Callas, Kirsten Flagstad and Hans Hotter.
Oliver Messel designed several outstanding productions both of opera and ballet at the Royal Opera House (ROH) during the post-war years, most famously The Sleeping Beauty. It therefore seems probable that appropriate costumes would have been borrowed or hired from the extensive ROH wardrobe for this occasion.
Our archivist has been unable to find a programme to enable a complete cast to be entered. We have tried John Calder himself, the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Theatre Archive and others but have had to do what we can with reviews. Does anyone know of a surviving programme? We'd appreciate your help!
