Dame Kiri Te Kanawa did not perform frequently in Scotland. Soon after her emergence as a star, following her appearance as Countess Almaviva at Covent Garden, she sang with Scottish Opera in 1972, in a memorable role debut as Desdemona.
A return as Mimì had to be cancelled due to illness, but she eventually appeared at the 1980 Edinburgh International Festival singing the Strauss Four Last Songs with Andrew Davis and the Philharmonia.
Another long gap ensued before a hugely enjoyable pair of Gala Concerts took place. Both were completely sold out - hardly surprising at Glasgow Theatre Royal, but very reassuring in the comparatively vast, but acoustically ideal, Caird Hall in Dundee.
At that event the chorus and orchestra were in superb form. Gibson himself, not accustomed to the hall being packed, was also at his best, with a programme that contained some unusual items.
Dame Kiri herself was in magnificent voice. The centrepiece was a reminder of that wonderful final scene from Otello. The opening sequence reminded us of her appearance at the Royal Wedding in 1981, with a florid excerpt from Samson. And her accomplishment as a great singer of Mozart and Puccini was also on show.
This made for a hugely enjoyable evening, received with delight by the capacity audience.
The entire programme was:
Handel Overture Samson.
'Let their celestial concerts all unite' Samson.
'Lascia ch’io pianga' Rinaldo.
'Let the bright seraphim' Samson.
Mozart Overture Le nozze di Figaro.
Priests’ Chorus Die Zauberflöte.
'Vado, ma dove' - Concert Aria, K583.
'Ave Verum Corpus', K618.
'Laudate Dominum' & 'Magnificat' - Vesperae, K339.
Verdi Prelude, Willow Song and Ave Maria Otello.
'Va, pensiero' Nabucco.
Mascagni Intermezzo & Easter Hymn Cavalleria Rusticana.
Bizet Chorus Act 4 Carmen.
Puccini Intermezzo Manon Lescaut.
'O mio babbino caro' Gianni Schicchi.
'Vissi d’arte' Tosca.
'Che bel sogno di Doretta' La Rondine (encore).
Maori song (encore).
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