The Makropulos Affair in Scotland
The Makropulos Affair received its first performance in Scotland on 3 September 1970 at the King's Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. The National Theatre from Prague was making its second visit to the Festival, and during their two-week stay performed three works by Janácek, also giving first Scottish performances of The Cunning Little Vixen as well as the UK premiere of The Excursions of Mr Broucek. They also performed two works by Smetana, The Bartered Bride and...
Posted 1 Nov 2024 | Comments
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Albert Herring in Scotland
Albert Herring was first performed in Scotland on 31 August 1965 at the King's Theatre Edinburgh. The English Opera Group championed the works of Britten and were regular visitors to the Edinburgh Festival.
Colin Graham's production, in designs by John Piper, was conducted by Vilém Tausky. The role of Albert was taken by the Iona-born character tenor Kenneth Macdonald. Two more prominent Scottish singers had leading roles, contralto Johanna Peters (Florence Pike) and Harold Blackburn...
Posted 15 Aug 2024 | Comments
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Don Pasquale in Scotland
The first performance in Scotland of Don Pasquale took place on 26 September 1849 at the old Glasgow Theatre Royal in Dunlop Street. It was given by a visiting Italian company with Signor Bailini in the title role. It reached Edinburgh on 8 February 1856 at the Theatre Royal, Shakespeare Square (at the top of Leith Walk) where it was given by Mr Beale's Italian touring company.
By then some of the music was quite widely known. Earlier, on 10 September 1847, Ernesto's Act III Serenade had...
Posted 15 Aug 2024 | Comments
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Oedipus Rex in Scotland
Oedipus Rex was first presented in Scotland on 21 August 1956 by the Hamburg State Opera during its second Edinburgh Festival visit. The second element of the double bill was Stravinsky's farcical comedy Mavra.
The staging by the great German director Günther Rennert was conducted by Leopold Ludwig, with a cast of prominent international soloists. These included Helmut Melchert (Oedipus), Maria von Ilosvay (Jocasta), James Pease (Creon) and Arnold van Mill (Tiresias).
More recent...
Posted 2 Aug 2024 | Comments
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