Opera at the Edinburgh International Festival: history and repertoire, 1947–1956

Opera was an important feature of the Edinburgh International Festival from its inception.

All the early productions were at the King's Theatre, a variety touring house with a capacity of 1,350 seats, which had hosted the Carl Rosa Opera and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Edinburgh did not have an opera house, and only limited creative resources to originate productions, in a way that was possible at festivals such as Salzburg from the 1960s onwards.

The Glyndebourne Festival Opera was an key partner who brought two productions to the festival each year from 1947 to 1951. In 1952, their place was taken by the Hamburg State Opera who brought six productions that year. However, in 1953, 1954 and 1955 Glyndebourne returned each time with three productions. Hamburg State Opera made their second visit in 1956, this time with five productions.