Opera Scotland

Orphée aux Enfers 1965Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Orpheus in the Underworld

A single week at the Glasgow Alhambra was the only Scottish visit by Sadler's Wells in the autumn of 1965. The programme included the first local viewing of a famous Wagner staging, a fresh look at Figaro, and a very rare sighting of Weber's Freischütz. The full schedule was: Mon Flying Dutchman, Tue Marriage of Figaro, Wed Madam Butterfly, Thu Der Freischütz, Fri Figaro, Sat mat & eve Orpheus in the Underworld.

The hugely popular Orpheus staging, which had opened at Sadler's Wells on 17 May 1960, had not been seen in Scotland since its first tour in 1961.

At this period, Sadler's Wells usually played an operetta at both Saturday performances, either Sullivan or Offenbach. Confirming cast details can be a problem, because critics seldom attend them. They are likely to be given little space to fill in the newspaper, and the company is unlikely to give away free seats when they might hope to sell out, and, in any case, they are moving on the next day to open somewhere else on Monday. A review therefore has little promotional benefit.

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