Only six years after its premiere, Donizetti's great comedy reached Scotland. However its quality seems not to have been universally recognised. The Caledonian Mercury review says simply 'The music by Donizetti has some very clever points, though these are few and far between'.
The advertising for this performance insisted that in Nemorino's great aria, 'Una furtiva lagrima' Signor Catone would be accompanied by solo harp. This was already seen as one of the most important highlights of the evening, and Catone's 'eminently beautiful' rendering was encored.
As with every performance by this company, the audience was offered a couple of extras, in this case two overtures, Rossini's Semiramide and Hérold's Zampa.
The cast details are as advertised in the Caledonian Mercury on the day, confirmed by the review on 17 May.
Itinerary
The performances were: Tue 8 May L'Italiana in Algeri and Betly; Thu 10 May Un' Avventura Di Scaramuccia; Fri 11 May L'Elisir d'Amore; Sat 12 May L'Italiana in Algeri & Betly; Mon 14 May repeat of Un' Avventura Di Scaramuccia; Wed 16 May Marriage of Figaro.
On Thu 17 May Elisir d'Amore was given, and the visit finished on Sat 19 May with a double Bill of L'Elisir d'Amore and Betly.
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