Opera Scotland

Rigoletto 1939Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Rigoletto

The week commencing Monday, 3 April, saw the Carl Rosa's final visit to Edinburgh before the outbreak of World War Two.  The Scotsman review (7 April) stated throughout the opera there was singing of consistently fine artistic quality.

The leading trio of Dennis Noble, Ivor John and Luella Paikin looks strong. The basses include Howell Glynne, now moving into the field of major roles, and the veteran Philip Bertram as Monterone. He had sung the same part opposite Dennis Noble back in the twenties with BNOC.

The cast details for this Thursday evening performance of Rigoletto are from a programme in the A M Gardiner collection (Mitchell Library).

The week's programme in Edinburgh was: Mon Cav & Pag; Tue Barber of Seville; Wed Gipsy Baron; Thu Rigoletto; Fri Madam Butterfly; Sat mat Fledermaus; Sat eve Faust.

The Glasgow schedule, including two Johann Strauss operettas, was as follows: 

W/c 10 April: Mon Fledermaus; Tue Butterfly; Wed Faust; Thurs Rigoletto; Fri Masked Ball; Sat mat Gipsy Baron; Sat eve Barber of Seville.

W/c 17 April: Mon Cav & Pag; Tue Fledermaus; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Gipsy Baron; Fri Traviata; Sat mat Fledermaus; Sat eve Faust.

During this period, the Carl Rosa were including an extensive sequence of the ballet music.

Performance Cast

Duke of Mantua

Ivor John

Matteo Borsa a courtier

Gwilym Jones

Marullo a courtier

Norman Jones

Count Ceprano a courtier

Cecil Lloyd

Countess Ceprano

Ann Sholes

Rigoletto a jester

Dennis Noble

Count Monterone

Philip Bertram

Sparafucile a professional assassin

Howell Glynne

Gilda Rigoletto's daughter

Luella Paikin

Giovanna Gilda's duenna

Ann Sholes

Page to the Duchess

Nanette Quin

Maddalena sister of Sparafucile

Olga Haley

Performance DatesRigoletto 1939

Map List

King's Theatre, Edinburgh | Edinburgh

6 Apr, 19.45

King's Theatre, Glasgow | Glasgow

13 Apr, 19.45

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