Opera Scotland

Susanna's Secret 1960Glyndebourne Opera

Read more about the opera Segreto di Susanna

Susanna's Secret is a delightful piece of froth which is unaccountably neglected by professional companies, but Wolf-Ferrari's other works also seem to be largely ignored nowadays. This production, revived from the 1958 Glyndebourne season with an entirely new cast, was the opening item of a triple-bill which was followed by Poulenc's recently composed Voix Humaine, starring Denise Duval, who created the part, and a revival of the 1954 staging of Busoni's Arlecchino.

This cast looks ideal, with Sesto Bruscantini a master of Italian comic style, and Mariella Adani not far behind him. The surprise element in the cast is to see the principal baritone Heinz Blankenburg as the manservant, a silent 'mime' role as seen in Pergolesi's Serva padrona and other similar 18th century intermezzi. But at least it gave this excellent artist something to do before finishing the evening in the title role of the Busoni.

 

Glyndebourne Opera at the Edinburgh Festival 1960

On its final Festival visit, Glyndebourne brought three programmes - a proven favourite by Verdi, a rare example of bel canto and a varied triple bill of twentieth century one-acters.

The five operas were:  Bellini (I puritani);  Verdi (Falstaff);  Busoni (Arlecchino);  Wolf-Ferrari (Susanna's Secret);  Poulenc (La Voix Humaine).

The three week performance schedule was as follows:

First Week, w/c 22 August:   Mon 22 np;   Tue 23 Falstaff;   Wed 24 Puritani;   Thu 25 Falstaff;   Fri 26 Puritani;    Sat 27 Falstaff.

Second Week, w/c 29 August:   Mon 29 Falstaff;   Tue 30 Triple Bill;   Wed 31 Puritani;   Thu 1 Sep Triple Bill;   Fri 2 Falstaff;   Sat 3 Puritani.

Third Week, w/c 5 September:   Mon 5 Triple Bill,   Tue 6 Falstaff;   Wed 7 Triple Bill;  Thu 8 Puritani;   Fri 9 Falstaff;   Sat 10 Puritani.