Lustige Witwe 1974Scottish Opera
Read more about the opera Merry Widow
From the time of its first visit to Newcastle in 1968, the north of England became more and more important as a source of touring dates for Scottish Opera. Here, the first section of the spring tour, after the premiere of Catiline in Stirling, involved weeks in York, Sunderland and Oxford, before the company moved back north to Perth. They played The Merry Widow, The Catiline Conspiracy and The Magic Flute. The main dates then followed in Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, where the "big" works were added, in this case revivals of Fidelio, Traviata and Boris Godunov. The establishment of Opera North in Leeds in 1979, and the gradual expansion of its own touring base, would eventually have a catastrophic effect on Scottish Opera's finances as its sphere of activity shrank.
This production by the established team of Anthony Besch and John Stoddart was hugely popular, and never left the repertoire from its opening in mid-1973. During that run, the casting was also very consistent, the first change at this stage being the introdction of David Frame, from the music staff, showing he had an excellent instinct for Viennese style.
The performance in Glasgow on 7 May was a Royal Gala Performance in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Performance Cast
- Baron Mirko Zeta Pontevedrian Ambassador in Paris
- Valencienne Zeta's wife
- Count Danilo Danilowitsch Secretary to the legation, reserve cavalry lieutenant
- Hanna Glawari a wealthy young widow
- Camille de Rosillon
- Vicomte Cascada
- Raoul de St Brioche
- Bogdanowitsch Pontevedrian Consul
- Sylviane wife of Bogdanowitsch
- Kromow Counsellor to the Pontevedrian legation
- Olga wife of Kromow
- Pritschitsch retired Pontevedrian colonel, Military Attaché
- Praskowia wife of Pritschitsch
- Njegus Chancery Clerk at the Embassy