Opera Scotland

Faust 1908Moody-Manners Opera Company

Read more about the opera Faust

The Moody-Manners Opera Company, established in 1901, began touring to Edinburgh and Glasgow immediately on its formation.

With the exception of three performances in Dunfermline in 1903, they did not venture north of the central belt until 1908, when they reached Aberdeen and Dundee for the first time. They returned for a further three years. While Tannhäuser had launched the Aberdeen week, Faust was their opening performance on Tayside, and the top-notch cast was clearly intended to make a big impression, even if the first local performances of Aïda and Madam Butterfly were held back for later in the week.

Only Marion Broom appears to have sung on every evening, though Charles Manners, John Coates and Lewys James clearly gave the majority of performances, along with conductor Sapio. However, with a touring body of this size, the management no doubt thought it prudent to ensure that there were experienced 'covers' able to take over at any time in the event of illness.

Casts for 24 February and 3 March appear in programmes in the Mitchell Library collection, and that for 10 March in a programme held by Aberdeen City Library. That for 16 March is assembled from reviews in the Dundee Advertiser and Dundee Courier & Argus. The cast for 17 February is from a programme in the Weir collection of the National Library of Scotland.

 

Dundee Courier & Argus: Friday, 28 February 1908

Her Majesty's Theatre - English Opera Season

'The most important engagement of the season is now close at hand, for the Moody-Manners Opera Company are announced to appear during the week commencing 16th prox.  The programme has already been issued, and contains appropriate and enjoyable fare for all classes of opera-goers. On Monday Gounod's immortal Faust - with, we hope and expect, Mr Manners himself as Mephistopheles - will be given.  On Tuesday Wagnerians may enjoy Tannhauser, and on Wednesday Maritana will delight the admirers of the ballad school of opera. Verdi's grand opera Aida will on Thursday be played for the first time in Dundee, and on Friday in Puccini's Madame Butterfly Dundonians will see Madame Fanny Moody in her great tragic role of the hapless little Japanese wife.  At Saturday's matinee Lohengrin will be given, and the engagement will finish with the performance on Saturday evening of the evergreen Bohemian Girl.

'In addition to Madame Fanny Moody, the prime donne of the Company include Madame De Vere Sapio and Miss Kate Anderson, the principal contralti are Miss Toni Seiter and Miss Marion Broom, the tenors are Mr John Coates, Mr Joseph O'Mara, and Mr Seth Hughes; and the chief basses, besides Mr Manners, are Mr Charles M'Grath and Mr William Dever.

'Special privileges are offered to subscribers.  Forms of subscription can be had from Messrs Paterson, Sons & Co., or Mr Karpe, and subscribers only can book seats as early as Monday, 2nd prox.'