New York City Opera records, 1924-2019, bulk 1965-1991

After clicking 'Submit Request', users will login with their UNI and password (Columbia affiliates) or their special collections account (external users). Appointments are required and will be arranged according to each individual repository's policy.


Series IX: Oversized and Memorabilia, 1945-2012

Series consists of oversized materials such as scenery and ground plans, posters, as well as memorabilia such as signed scrapbooks, awards, mounted materials, and costumes, dating from 1945 to 2012.


Subseries IX.1: Other Scenery Plans and Ground Plans, 1945-1995



Box 201 Folder 1 Scenery Plan: Animalen, 1984 Fall, 1 sheet

Possibly for Minnesota Opera.



Box 202 Folder 1 Scenery Plan: Billy Budd (Britten), 1981, 2 Sheets

For Solvang Theatrefest. Scenic Designer: Richard L. Hay. Director: Donovan Marley.



Box 208 Folder 3 Scenery Plan: Passion of Josef D. (Chayefsky), 1963, 1 sheet

For Arthur Cantor. Scenic Designer: Will Steven Armstrong.



Box 211 Folder 2 Scenery Plan: Verbena de la Paloma, La (Zarzuela by Bretón), 1969, 1 oversize folders

Director: Tito Capobianco. Scenic Designer: David Mitchell.



Box 213 Folder 1 Scenery Plans, Designed by H.A. Condell, Drawn by J. Primm, 1945-1957, 1 oversize folders

Pencil on translucent vellum paper.

Carmen, Fall 1945, Spring 1950, Spring 1955; Tales of Hoffman, designed 1948 (H. Brodkin), drawn Fall 1949, Spring 1950, Spring 1955; La Boheme, Fall 1949, Spring 1950; CAV/PAG, Spring 1950; Don Giovanni, Fall 1949, Spring 1951; Marriage of Figaro, Fall 1948, revised Fall 1949, Spring 1950; Faust, Fall 1950; Der Rosenkavalier, Spring 1950; Dybbuk, Fall 1951; The Four Ruffians, Fall 1951; Don Pasquale, Spring 1955; Merry Wives of Windsor, Spring 1955; Macbeth, Fall 1957; Old Maid, Spring 1948; La Traviata, Spring 1950; Die Fledermaus, Spring 1955; Troilus and Cressida, circa Fall 1955; The Love for Three Oranges, Spring 1950; Rigoletto, Fall 1951; Madame Butterfly, Spring 1950; Aida, Fall 1948; Manon, Spring 1951; Chicago Civic Opera House Stage, November 1950; La Cenerentola, Spring 1955.


Box 213 Folder 2 Education: Babes in the Woods, Scenery Plans, 1983, 1 oversize folders

For NYCO Education Department. Director: James Billings. Designer: Frank R. Kelly.


Box 213 Folder 3 New York State Theater, Plans and Seats, 1982, 1 oversize folders


Box 213 Folder 4 Wolf Trap Farm Park, Plans, 1971, 1 oversize folders


Box 213 Folder 5 Theater an der Wien, Plans, 1977, 1 oversize folders


Box 213 Folder 6 English National Opera (ENO): Anna Karenina, Scenery Plans, 1979, 1981, 1 oversize folders

Coliseum Theatre, London. Surveyed and Drawn by Tim Foster.


Box 213 Folder 7 Royal House Opera: Anna Bolena, Scenery Plans, 1988, 1 oversize folders

Scenic Designer: John Pascoe.


Box 213 Folder 8 Theater des Westens: Dreigroschenoper, Die/Three Penny Opera, Scenery Plans, 1987, 1 oversize folders

Weyermann.


Box 213 Folder 9 Greater Miami Opera Association: Simon Boccanegra, Scenery Plans, 1981, 1984, 1 oversize folders

Scenic Designer: Toni Businger. Drawn by Jeep Jeffries.


Box 213 Folder 10 Welsh National Opera: Cardiff New Theatre, Scenery Plans, 1984, 1 oversize folders


Box 213 Folder 11 Australian Opera: Pearl Fishers, Ground Plans, Photographs, 1988, 1 oversize folders

Producer: L. Hume. Designer: K. Rowell. LX Designer: R. Barratt. Drawn: K. Jensen.


Box 213 Folder 12 Los Angeles Music Center Opera: Abduction from the Seraglio, Scenery Plans, Production Records, 1995-1996, 1 oversize folders

Direct & Design: M. Hampe. Lighting: H. Toelstede. Drawn by A. Jones.


Box 213 Folder 13 Canadian Opera: Elektra/Salome, Ground Plans, Photographs, 1982-1983, 1 oversize folders

Direct: Lotfi Mansouri. Design: Wolfram Skalicki. Drawn by B. McMullan.



Box 212 Folder 3 National Theater, Taipei: Chung Cheng Memorial Project, Chinese Opera and Concert Hall (國家劇院), Plans, 1984, 1987, 1994, 1 oversize folders

C.C. Yang & Associates Architects and Engineers 和睦建築師事務所.


Subseries IX.2: Signed Scrapbooks, 1986-1995

Donated to the NYC Opera archives by long time NYCO Board member and production sponsor Sanfurd Bluestein on September 20, 2013. Scrapbooks include signed playbills, photographs, and reviews.



Box 199 Don Quichotte, 1986 Fall


Box 199 Cavalleria Rusticana, 1987 Fall


Box 199 La Fanciulla Del West, 1990 Fall


Box 199 Maurice Ravel Double Bill, 1990 Fall



Box 200 The Most Happy Fella, 1991 Fall


Box 200 Madame Butterfly, 1993 July

50th Anniversary Season


Box 200 La Traviata, 1995 Spring

1994-1995 Season


Subseries IX.3: Other Memorabilia, circa 2000s-2012



Box 198 Folder 3 La Traviata, Mounted Photograph and Signed Program, 2012 February

"New York City Opera expresses deppest gratitude to Charles R. Wall for his generous support of Verdi's La Traviata presented at BAM"


Box 198 Folder 3 "New York City Opera", Calligraphy writing style, circa 2010s


Box 198 Folder 3 Mounted: "New York City Opera Salutes the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, Inc. for its longtime leadership support and generous sponsorship of the Ballad of Baby Doe", circa 2000s

With signatures.


Box 198 Folder 3 Das Veilchen vom Montmartre, Crescendo Theaterverlag Berlin, undated


Box 198 Folder 3 InterSchool Orchestras of New York Award, 2010 March 04

Prince George Ballroom, New York City.


Subseries IX.4: Posters, 1989-2013

Also see poster negatives in Photographs Series.



Mapcase 15-L-10 World Premiere Festival, City Opera 50, 1993


Mapcase 15-L-10 New York City Opera Season, 1989


Mapcase 15-L-10 La Boheme, 1990

Richard Hess


Mapcase 15-L-10 Moses and Aaron, 1990

Richard Hess


Mapcase 15-L-10 Lucia di Lammermoor, 1990

Richard Hess


Mapcase 15-L-10 A Little Night Music, 1990

Richard Hess


Mapcase 15-L-10 Figaro, 1990

Richard Hess


Mapcase 15-L-10 Unidentified Venue, circa 1990s


Mapcase 15-L-10 Opera Season, 2010-2011

Image: Kehinde Wiley, Portrait of Andries Stilte


Mapcase 15-L-10 La Perichole, 2013

Small poster


Mapcase 15-L-10 Monodramas, 2011

Photo: Carol Rosegg


Mapcase 15-L-10 Cosi Fan Tutte, 2012

Photo: Carol Rosegg


Mapcase 15-L-10 Orpheus, 2012

Photo: Carol Rosegg


Mapcase 15-L-10 Moses in Egypt, 2013

Photo: Carol Rosegg


Mapcase 15-L-10 Powder Her Face, 2013

Photo: Carol Rosegg


Mapcase 15-L-10 La Perichole, 2013

Photo: Carol Rosegg


Standing Mounted: Pirates of Penzance, Photograph, circa 2007

Location: Stack 15 Standing. Please email rbml@columbia.edu for access.


Standing Mounted: Don Giovanni, 2009

Photo: Carol Rosegg.

Location: Stack 15 Standing. Please email rbml@columbia.edu for access.


Standing Mounted: A Quiet Place, 2010

Photo: Carol Rosegg.

Location: Stack 15 Standing. Please email rbml@columbia.edu for access.


Standing Mounted: Turn of the Screw, 2013

Photo: Carol Rosegg.

Location: Stack 15 Standing. Please email rbml@columbia.edu for access.


Subseries IX.5: Costumes

Please email rbml@columbia.edu to access.


Costume 1, Guilio Cesare

Worn by Beverly Sills.


Costume 2


Costume 3