Glasgow Grand Opera Society
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow Grand Opera Society was an opera company based in Glasgow
, Scotland. It was founded in 1906 and was wound up in the 1960s.
Charles Manners
used profits from a successful season of his Moody-Manners Opera Company in Glasgow in 1906 to help create the Glasgow Grand Opera Society, under its first conductor R Hutton Malcolm.
For all of the 1930s Erik Chisholm
, who had newly founded the Active Society for the Propagation of Contemporary Music, became its musical director and conductor, giving many premieres of opera. 1934 saw the British premiere of Mozart's Idomeneo
, for which the scenery and costumes were designed and made by the Glasgow School of Art
, which also provided the ballet, and in 1935 Berlioz's huge opera The Trojans was premiered for the first time outside France. Another premiere the next year was Beatrice and Benedict also by Berlioz and translated by the novelist Guy McCrone. In 1948 the Glasgow Grand Opera presented Eugene Onegin
, which was then only rarely performed in Britain. In its Bizet Festival 1951, the Society included The Pearl Fishers, the first time in Britain that the opera had been performed in English. It performed principally in the city's Theatre Royal
, followed by the Alhambra
and the Kings
, usually accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
. Its producers included Peter Ebert, Anthony Besch and Jack Notman.
The Society ceased performances in the late 1960s once the new Scottish Opera
company was firmly established by Sir Alexander Gibson
, who had conducted the Society in 1954.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland. It was founded in 1906 and was wound up in the 1960s.
Charles Manners
Charles Manners
Charles Manners was a British bass singer and opera company manager. His earliest performances were with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, first as a chorus member and then as a principal, creating the role of Private Willis in Iolanthe in 1882...
used profits from a successful season of his Moody-Manners Opera Company in Glasgow in 1906 to help create the Glasgow Grand Opera Society, under its first conductor R Hutton Malcolm.
For all of the 1930s Erik Chisholm
Erik Chisholm
Professor Erik William Chisholm was a Scottish composer and conductor often known as "Scotland’s forgotten composer"...
, who had newly founded the Active Society for the Propagation of Contemporary Music, became its musical director and conductor, giving many premieres of opera. 1934 saw the British premiere of Mozart's Idomeneo
Idomeneo
Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante is an Italian language opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which had been set to music by André Campra as Idoménée in 1712...
, for which the scenery and costumes were designed and made by the Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
, which also provided the ballet, and in 1935 Berlioz's huge opera The Trojans was premiered for the first time outside France. Another premiere the next year was Beatrice and Benedict also by Berlioz and translated by the novelist Guy McCrone. In 1948 the Glasgow Grand Opera presented Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin.It is a classic of Russian literature, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of Russian literary heroes . It was published in serial form between 1825 and 1832...
, which was then only rarely performed in Britain. In its Bizet Festival 1951, the Society included The Pearl Fishers, the first time in Britain that the opera had been performed in English. It performed principally in the city's Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in Glasgow, located at 282 Hope Street in Cowcaddens. The theatre originally opened in 1867, changing its name to the Theatre Royal in 1869, and is the longest running theatre in Scotland...
, followed by the Alhambra
Alhambra Theatre Glasgow
The Alhambra Theatre Glasgow opened on 19 December 1910 at the corner of Waterloo Street and Wellington Street, Glasgow under the direction of Sir Alfred Butt and was acknowledged as one of the best equipped theatres in Britain, planned to accommodate 2,800 people.The Theatre was designed by...
and the Kings
King's Theatre, Glasgow
The King's Theatre is located in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built for Howard & Wyndham Ltd under its chairman Baillie Michael Simons as a sister theatre of their Theatre Royal in the city and was designed by Frank Matcham, opening in 1904. The theatre is primarily a receiving house for touring...
, usually accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
. Its producers included Peter Ebert, Anthony Besch and Jack Notman.
The Society ceased performances in the late 1960s once the new Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
company was firmly established by Sir Alexander Gibson
Alexander Gibson (conductor)
Sir Alexander Gibson, CBE was a Scottish conductor and opera intendant.Gibson was born in Motherwell and studied music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, as well as in London, Salzburg and Siena, Italy...
, who had conducted the Society in 1954.