Carl Rosa's 1918 Theatre Royal season, that started on 11 March, reached its climax on Friday evening with this revival of La bohème. The company had not toured the work since the season when it had given the British premiere in April 1897 'under the Personal direction of Signor Puccini.' But the opera had meantime proved its growing popularity in performances by Moody-Manners and O'Mara. Carl Rosa followed it the next day with their regular Puccini favourite, Madam Butterfly.
The main points of interest in this cast are the appearance of Eva Turner as Musetta and the return of veteran Arthur Winckworth, now the company's general manager, to a part he had introduced twenty years before. Cast details are from a programme in the A M Gardiner Collection at the Mitchell Library.
The Scotsman (23 February) reviewed a performance at the Lyceum. "As Mimi, Miss Clara Simmons gave an admirable study of the flower girl, her conception and rendering of the character being almost ideal. The Rudolph of Mr Hughes Macklin was another excellent presentation. He sang and acted with distinction. The Colline of Mr Arthur Winckworth, the Marcel of Mr Hebden Foster, the Schaunard of Mr Frederick Clendon were altogether complete and pleasing. Miss Laila Miranda had a part that suited her as Musetta. The opera, indeed, was admirably cast and the singing of it was artistic. The production was under the direction of Mr H de la Fuentes (who conducted) and Mr G. Beale."
The touring schedule for Scotland during the year 1918 was as follows:-
The season consisted two weeks at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum, then four weeks at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. Following a break of two months or so, the company returned to Glasgow for four weeks and finally a week back at the Royal Lyceum.
w/c Mon 18 Feb Tannhauser; Tue Carmen; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Faust; Fri Bohème; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Maritana.
w/c Mon 25 Feb Cav and Pag; Tue Bohème; Wed Merry Wives of Windsor; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Mignon; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Trovatore.
w/c Mon 4 Mar Carmen; Tue Tannhauser; Wed Bohème; Thu Faust; Fri Madam Butterfly; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Trovatore.
w/c Mon 11 Mar Cav and Pag; Tue Mignon; Wed Tales of Hoffmann; Thu Merry Wives of Windsor; Fri Bohème; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Maritana.
w/c Mon 18 Mar Tannhauser; Tue Bohème; Wed Trovatore; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Jeanie Deans; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Faust.
w/c Mon 25 Mar Madam Butterfly; Tue Carmen; Wed Jeanie Deans; Thu Cav and Pag; Fri Mignon; Sat m Tannhauser; Sat e Bohemian Girl.
w/c Mon 24 Jun Tannhauser; Tue Bohème; Wed Tales of Hoffmann; Thu Don Giovanni; Fri Carmen; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Trovatore.
w/c Mon 1 Jul Jeanie Deans; Tue Cav and Pag; Wed Mignon; Thu Madam Butterfly; Fri Marriage of Figaro; Sat m Tales of Hoffmann; Sat e Faust.
w/c Mon 8 Jul Merry Wives of Windsor; Tue Madam Butterfly; Wed Don Giovanni; Thu Dante and Beatriceand Pagliacci; Fri Tannhauser; Sat m Jeanie Deans; Sat e Carmen.
w/c Mon 15 Jul Mignon; Tue Faust; Wed Tannhauser; Thu Rigoletto; Fri Dante and Beatrice and Pagliacci; Sat m Bohème; Sat e Tales of Hoffmann.
w/c Mon 22 Jul Carmen; Tue Dante and Beatrice and Pagliacci; Wed Jeanie Deans; Thu Tales of Hoffmann; Fri Don Giovanni; Sat m Madam Butterfly; Sat e Maritana
Our archivist has been unable to find a programme or review of the single perforamance of Bohemian Girl given on the tour (Saturday 30 March)
Eleven weeks @ seven performances seventy-seven.
Nine Madam Butterfly; Tales of Hoffmann
Seven Carmen; Bohème; Tannhauser.
Five Jeanie Deans; Mignon; Faust
Four Cav and Pag; Trovatore
Three Maritana; Don Giovanni; Dante and Beatrice and Pagliacci; Merry Wives of Windsor
One Rigoletto; Bohemian Girl; Marriage of Figaro
© Copyright Opera Scotland 2024
Site by SiteBuddha