Opera Scotland

Freischütz 1965Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Freischütz

The programme included the first local appearance of a famous Wagner staging, a fresh look at Figaro, and a very rare sighting of Weber's Freischütz.

This was the only performance in Scotland of a short-lived Sadler's Wells production launched at the New Theatre, Oxford on 19 August 1963. It came at a time when the opera was deeply unfashionable outside Germany. It was not appreciated as the foundation of romantic opera that makes it so effective in a good staging. Clearly the company's musical director, Colin Davis, believed in it, as he also brought it into the Royal Opera's repertoire a few years later.

Cast details from a copy of the programme in the Opera Scotland collection.

 

Sadler's Wells in Scotland - Autumn 1965

A single week at the Glasgow Alhambra was the only Scottish venue visit by Sadler's Wells in the autumn of 1965.  The full schedule was:

W/c 1 November: Mon 1 Flying Dutchman, Tue 2 Marriage of Figaro, Wed 3 Madam Butterfly, Thu 4 Der Freischütz, Fri 5 Marriage of figaro, Sat 6 mat & eve Orpheus in the Underworld.