Opera Scotland

Tannhäuser 1957Carl Rosa Opera Company

Read more about the opera Tannhäuser

The performance was reviewed in the Glasgow Herald of Thursday, 20 June, tucked away on p.13, and from which cast details are drawn.

''Of George Chitty in the title role, the attempt to match the weighty orchestra had an adverse effect on tone quality. "More disturbing was his inablity to pin down notes accurately; one could seldom distinguish a clear melodic line in his work. Steadier singing came from the Landgraf of Donald Campbell and the minstrels. Ruth Packer's Elisabeth, a little precious at first, later became completely sympathetic and Glenice Halliday's Venus was equally effective and both provided beautifully smooth tone and lovely quality.

''But the success of a production that has become one of the company's best was not with individuals but with the company as a whole. It had its roots in the orchestra's fine account of Wagner's score in terms of (blurred) and dynamics that built up and maintained dramatic tension. The staging too was most effective, the Hall of Song scene in particular providing a splendid spectacle and virile chorus work,   Arthur Hammond conducted.'' 

Carl Rosa Opera's last performances in Scotland were as follows:-

Week commencing 10 June: Mon Carmen; Tue Cav & Pag; Wed Bohème; Thu Hoffmann; Fri Benvenuto Cellini; Sat m Barber of Seville; Sat e Trovatore.

Week commencing 17 June: Mon Don Giovanni; Tue Rigoletto; Wed Tannhäuser; Thu Manon Lescaut; Fri Barber of Seville; Sat m Carmen; Sat e Faust.

Given twice were Barber of Seville and Carmen, with one performance each for Cav & Pag and the other nine operas.