Opera continued to be one of the main features of the Edinburgh International Festival in the second decade.
The tradition of inviting one or more guest companies each year to bring productions to the festival continued with La Scala (Piccola Scala), the Stuttgart State Opera, Royal Opera Stockholm, Glyndebourne Opera, Covent Garden Opera, Belgrade Opera, the English Opera Group, Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Budapest Opera and Ballet, National Theatre, Prague, the Holland Festival and the Bavarian State Opera.
Distinguished conductors included the large Italian contingent of Antonino Votto, Nino Sanzogno, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Vittorio Gui, Carlo Maria Giulini, Alberto Erede and Oliviero De Fabritiis, the Hungarians Georg Solti and János Ferencsik, the British John Pritchard and Benjamin Britten, as well as the German Ferdinand Leitner, the Austrian Carlos Kleiber, and the Croatian Lovro von Matačić.
Major opera directors included Luchino Visconti, Giorgio Strehler, Franco Zeffirelli, Wieland Wagner, Günther Rennert and Carl Ebert.
Star female singers included Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Magda Olivero, Renata Scotto, Fiorenza Cossotto, Inge Borkh, Irmgard Seefried, Victoria de los Ángeles, Birgit Nilsson, Anja Silja, Kerstin Meyer, and Elisabeth Söderström, while male singers included Luigi Alva, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, Fritz Wunderlich, Wolfgang Windgassen, Peter Pears, Fernando Corena, Sesto Bruscantini, Geraint Evans and Boris Christoff.
1957 (four productions)
Orchestra, Choir, ConductorDirector, Set DesignerFemale singerMale singer La Scala (Piccola Scala) production of La sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini, August 19, 21, 26, 29, and September 3, 1957 (five performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra and Chorus of La Scala, MilanAntonino VottoLuchino ViscontiPiero Tosi settingsMaria Callas AminaRenata Scotto AminaFiorenza Cossotto TeresaGreta Rapisardi LisaDino Mantovani AlessioFranco Ricciardi NotaryNicola Monti ElvinoNicola Zaccaria Count Rodolfo La Scala (Piccola Scala) production of Il matrimonio segreto by Domenico Cimarosa, August 20, 22, 24, 28 1957 (four performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra and Chorus of La Scala, MilanNino SanzognoGiorgio StrehlerLuciano Damiani settingsEugenia Ratti ElissetaGraziella Sciutti CarolinaGabriella Carturan FidalmaCarlo Badioli GeronimoFranco Calabrese Count Robinson Luigi Alva Paolino La Scala (Piccola Scala) production of L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti, August 23, 27, 31 and September 5, 7 1957 (five performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra and Chorus of La Scala, MilanNino SanzognoFranco EnriquezMario Velani Marchi settingsRosanna Carteri AdinaGreta Rapisardi GiannettaGiuseppe Di Stefano NemorinoGiulio Fioravanti BelcoreFernando Corena Dulcamara La Scala (Piccola Scala) production of Il Turco in Italia by Gioachino Rossini, August 30 and September 2, 4, 6 September 1957 (four performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra and Chorus of La Scala, MilanGianandrea GavazzeniFranco ZeffirelliFranco Zeffirelli settingsFiorenza Cossotto ZaidaEugenia Ratti Donna FiorillaAngelo Mercuriali AlbazarSesto Bruscantini Prosdocimo Franco Calabrese Don GeronioFernando Corena SelimLuigi Alva Don Narciso
1958 (five productions) Orchestra, Choir, ConductorDirector, Set DesignerFemale singerMale singer Stuttgart State Opera production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, August 25, 27, 29, and September 4, 10, 12 1958 (six performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Stuttgart State OperaChorus of the Stuttgart State OperaFerdinand Leitner, Lovro von MatačićKurt PuhlmannLeni Bauer-Ecsy settingsWilma Lipp ConstanzeRuth-Margaret Putz ConstanzeErika Köth ConstanzeLotte Schädle BlondeJosef Traxel BelmonteFritz Wunderlich BelmonteFritz Linke OsminOtto von Rohr OsminAlfred Pfeifle PedrilloGerhard Unger PedrilloHeinz Cramer Bassa Selim Stuttgart State Opera production of Euryanthe by Carl Maria von Weber, August 26, September 3, 8, 1958 (three performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Stuttgart State OperaChorus of the Stuttgart State OperaLovro von MatačićKurt PuhlmannGerd Richter settingsLore Wissmann EuryantheInge Borkh EglantineAlexander Welitsch Louis VIJosef Traxel AdolarGustav Neidlinger Lysiart Stuttgart State Opera production of Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner, August 28, 30, September 1, 5, 1958 (four performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Stuttgart State OperaChorus of the Stuttgart State OperaFerdinand LeitnerWieland Wagner direction and settingsMartha Mödl IsoldeAstrid Varnay IsoldeGrace Hoffman BrangäneWolfgang Windgassen TristanOtto von Rohr King MarkGustav Neidlinger KurvenalHans Günther Nöcker MelotAlfred Pfeifle ShepherdAlfred Wohlgemuth SteersmanJosef Traxel Young sailorFritz Wunderlich Young sailor Stuttgart State Opera production of Der Wildschütz by Albert Lortzing, September 1, 6, 1958 (two performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Stuttgart State OperaChorus of the Stuttgart State OperaFerdinand LeitnerGünther Rennert Alfred Siercke settingsHetty Plümacher CountessLore Wissmann Baroness FreimannSieglinde Kahmann NanetteFriederike Sailer GretchenKarl Schmitt-Walter CountFritz Wunderlich Baron KronthalFritz Linke BaculusHubert Buchta Pancratius Edinburgh Festival Society production of La vida breve, accompanied by the ballet El sombrero de tres picos, both with music by Manuel de Falla, September 9, 11, 13, 1958 (three performances) at the Kings TheatreCantores de MadridEduard ToldràJosé Caballero settingsLeo Anchóriz costumesRosario Gomez CountessVictoria de los Ángeles SaludJulita Bermejo CarmelaBernabé Martínez PacoJoaquín Deus Uncle SarvaorManuel Ausensi PepeManuel Albalat Manuel
1959 (five productions) Orchestra, Choir, ConductorDirector, Set DesignerFemale singerMale singer Royal Opera, Stockholm production of Un ballo in maschera by Giuseppe Verdi, in a Swedish-language version translated by Erik Lindgren August 24, 29, and September 4, 12, 1959 (four performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Royal Opera, StockholmChorus of the Royal Opera, StockholmRoyal Swedish BalletSixten EhrlingGöran GenteleSven Erik Skawonius settingsBirgit Nilsson AmeliaAase Nordmo-Lövberg AmeliaKerstin Meyer UlricaBarbro Ericson UlricaBirgit Nordin OttoRagnar Ulfung Gustav IIIErik Saedén HolbergHugo Hasslo HolbergBo Lundgren HornArne Tyrén AnckarströmIngvar Wixell MattsArne Ohlson BishopSven Erik Vikström Servant Royal Opera, Stockholm production of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi August 25, 27, and September 1, 9, 11, 1959 (five performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Royal Opera, StockholmChorus of the Royal Opera, StockholmRoyal Swedish BalletFausto ClevaBengt PetersonBerger Bergling settingsMargareta Hallin GildaKerstin Meyer MaddalenaBarbro Ericson Maddalena/GiovannaMargit Sehlmark GiovannaIngeborg Kjellgren Countess CepranoBirgit Nordin PageNicolai Gedda DukeUno Stjernqvist DukeHugo Hasslo RigolettoArne Tyrén SparafucileSigurd Björling MonteroneAnders Näslund Monterone/MarulloErik Saedén Marulloingvar Wixell Count CepranoBo Lundborg Officer Royal Opera, Stockholm production of Die Walküre by Richard Wagner August 26, 28, 31, and September 2, 7, 1959 (five performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Royal Opera, StockholmSixten EhrlingBengt PetersonTor Hörlin settingsAase Nordmo-Lövberg SieglindeBirgit Nilsson BrünnhildeKerstin Meyer Fricka/RossweiseMargareta Bergström Fricka/GrimgerdeAnna-Greta Söderholm GerhildeElisabeth Söderström OrlindeIngeborg Kjellgren WaltrauteMargit Sehlmark SchwerteiteKjerstin Dellert HelmwigeBarbro Ericson SiegruneSet Svanholm SiegmundLeon Björker HundingSigurd Björling Wotan Royal Opera, Stockholm production of Aniara by Karl-Birger Blomdahl September 3, 5, 1959 (two performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Royal Opera, StockholmChorus of the Royal Opera, StockholmRoyal Swedish BalletSixten EhrlingGöran GenteleSven Erixson settingsMargareta Hallin Blind PoetessKjerstin Dellert Daisy Doody/La GarçonneMariane Orlando IsagelAnders Näslund MimarobeErik Saedén MimarobeArne Tyrén Chefone I and IISven-Erik Vikström Chief Engineer 1/Blind OneArne Ohlson Chief Engineer IIBo Lundborg Chief Engineer IIIOlle Sivall SandonRagnar Ulfung Stone-mute Deaf Royal Opera, Stockholm production of Wozzeck by Alban Berg September 8, 10, 1959 (two performances) at the Kings TheatreOrchestra of the Royal Opera, StockholmChorus of the Royal Opera, StockholmSixten EhrlingGöran GenteleSven Erixson settingsElisabeth Söderström MarieMargareta Bergström MargretMichel Rhodin Marie's childAnders Näslund WozzeckErik Saedén WozzeckConny Söderström Drum-MajorArne Ohlson AndresSven-Erik Vikström CaptainArne Tyrén DoctorBo Lundborg First ApprenticeIngvar Wixell Second ApprenticeOlle Sivall IdiotTore Persson Soldier
1960 (three productions) Orchestra, Choir, ConductorDirector, Set DesignerFemale singerMale singer Glyndebourne Opera production of Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi, August 23, 25, 27, 29, and September 2, 6, 9, 1960 (7 performances) at the Kings TheatreRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraVittorio GuiCarl EbertOsbert Lancaster settingsAnna Maria Rota MegIlva Ligabue AliceMariella Adani NannettaOralia Dominguez QuicklyGeraint Evans FalstaffMarco Stefanoni PistolMario Carlin BardolphHugues Cuénod Dr CaiusSesto Bruscantini FordJuan Oncina FentonHarold Williams Innkeeper Glyndebourne Opera production of I puritani by Vincenzo Bellini, August 24, 26, 31, and September 3, 8, 10, 1960 (6 performances) at the Kings TheatreRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraVittorio GuiBryan BalkwillFranco Enriquez Desmond Heeley settingsMonica Sinclair Queen HenriettaJoan Sutherland ElviraDavid Ward Lord WaltonGiuseppe Modesti Sir George WaltonNicola Filacuridi Lord Arthur TalbotErnest Blanc ForthJohn Kentish Robertson Glyndebourne Opera productions of Il segreto di Susanna by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, Arlecchino by Ferruccio Busoni, and La voix humaine by Francis Poulenc, August 30, and September 1, 5, 7, 1960 (4 performances) at the Kings TheatreRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraJohn PritchardPeter EbertCarl Toms settings for Il segreto di SusannaPeter Rice settings for ArlecchinoJean Cocteau productions and settings for La voix humaineMariella Adani CountessHelga Pilarczyk ColombinaSilvia Ashmole AnnunziataDenise Duval ElleSesto Bruscantini GilHeinz Blankenburg SanteIan Wallace Ser MatteoHeinz Blankenburg ArlecchinoGwyn Griffiths CospicuoCarlos Feller BombastoDermot Troy Leandro
1961 (four productions)