Opera Scotland

Pagliacci 1989Scottish Opera-Go-Round

Read more about the opera Pagliacci

Scottish Opera's first attempt at staging the classic pairing of Cav and Pag came in 1989, with 38 performances on the Opera-Go-Round tour. On this occasion, 11 performances were with a sixteen piece band, re-orchestrated by John Parr, while piano alone was used for the central group of 27 (Sep 10 to Nov 11), mostly in venues that were distinctly remote, even by the usual standards of this enterprising body.  interestingly, the pairing was performed in reverse of the usual order, with Pagliacci first.

Mike Ashman took an unusual view, treating the two works in completely different style. Pag emphasised the realistic  theatrical element, with the singers in among the audience and bringing out the humour as they prepared for the later seriousness of the performance. Cav was a complete contrast, played in stygian gloom throughout, with a minimum of acting or dramatic involvement.

Several of the singers doubled roles - Nedda appeared also as Lola, Beppe as Turiddu, and perhaps more conventionally, Silvio also as Alfio. Canio was sung by Alexander Morrison. A veteran of some twenty years experience with the company, he had started with Opera for All singing light lyric roles such as Ernesto in Don Pasquale and Lionel in Martha. By now his voice had grown to the extent that he could (and did) comfortably sing Manrico with the main company.

 

Scottish Opera's Season -1989/90

The 1989/90 season of Scottish Opera included new productions of Salome,  La forza del destinoCosì fan tutte,  The Merry WidowThe Threepenny Opera and Duke Bluebeard's Castle.  The revivals were Oedipux Rex (partnering Bluebeard),  Madam Butterfly,  Die Fledermaus and Jenůfa.  There was an Opera-Go-Round tour of Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana (in that order).

Performance Cast

Tonio a player

Winton Thomson

Canio leader of the players

Alexander Morrison

Nedda Canio's wife

Sylvia Mitton

Michelle Hedge (Aug 31 voice)

Beppe a player

Colin McKerracher

Silvio a villager

Adrian Clarke

Performance DatesPagliacci 1989

Map List

New Athenaeum Theatre | Glasgow

26 Aug, 19.15 29 Aug, 19.15

Town Hall, Portobello | Edinburgh

31 Aug, 20.00

Craigie College Theatre | Ayr

2 Sep, 19.30

Town Hall, Falkirk | Falkirk

5 Sep, 19.30

Volunteer Hall, Galashiels | Galashiels

7 Sep, 19.30

Festival Theatre, Pitlochry | Pitlochry

9 Sep, 19.30

Campbeltown Grammar School | Campbeltown

12 Sep, 19.30

Community Centre, Beith | Beith

14 Sep, 19.30

Village Hall, Whiting Bay | Arran

16 Sep, 19.30

Village Hall, Ballachulish | Ballachulish, Argyll

19 Sep, 19.30

Village Hall, North Connel | North Connel, Argyll

21 Sep, 19.30

Aros Hall, Tobermory | Tobermory

23 Sep, 19.30 26 Sep, 19.30

Shielbridge Hall | Acharacle

28 Sep, 19.30

Sabhal Mor Ostaig | Armadale, Isle of Skye

30 Sep, 19.30

Village Hall, Dunvegan | Dunvegan, Isle of Skye

3 Oct, 19.30

Village Hall, Kinlochewe | Kinlochewe, Ross-shire

5 Oct, 19.30

Village Hall, Lochcarron | Lochcarron, Ross-shire

7 Oct, 19.30

Community Centre, Lochbroom | Ullapool

10 Oct, 19.30

Village Hall, Lochinver | Lochinver

12 Oct, 19.30

Village Hall, Scourie | Lairg, Sutherland

14 Oct, 19.30

Orkney Arts Centre | Kirkwall, Orkney

19 Oct, 19.30

Victoria Hall, Cromarty | Cromarty

21 Oct, 19.30

Kingussie High School | Kingussie

24 Oct, 19.30

Village Hall, Poolewe | Poolewe

26 Oct, 19.30

Village Hall, Dornie | Kyle of Lochalsh

28 Oct, 19.30

Public Hall, Fort Augustus | Fort Augustus

31 Oct, 19.30

Deeside Theatre | Aboyne, Aberdeenshire

1 Nov, 19.30

Victoria Halls, Helensburgh | Helensburgh

4 Nov, 19.30

Peebles High School | Peebles

7 Nov, 19.30

Town Hall, Paisley | Paisley

9 Nov, 19.30

Theatre Royal, Dumfries | Dumfries

11 Nov, 19.30

Lochaber High School | Fort William

21 Nov, 19.30

Gardyne Theatre | Dundee

23 Nov, 19.30

Haddo House Hall | Ellon, Aberdeenshire

25 Nov, 19.30

Community Centre & School | Brora

30 Nov, 20.00

Thurso High School | Thurso, Caithness

2 Dec, 20.00

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