Joseph Urban was made artistic director of the Boston Opera Company beginning with the 1912-1913 season. The previous season, he had designed four operas for the Boston Opera while working in Vienna with Heinrich Lefler. This series contains files on all the productions from the repertory in chronological order. Each production is listed by title, opening date and production information. The production information is based on contemporary reviews taken from microfilm readings of the Boston Transcript and the Boston Herald. Those sets that Urban redesigned or retouched are so noted in parentheses after the title information. In addition to the drawings, plans, and photographs, the files contain production records--light plots, cast lists, set lists, line drops, etc
La Scala invoice for operas Mefistofele, Faust, Lakmé, Manon and Roméo et Juliette :
Pelléas et Mélisande, January 10, 1912 (New)
Opera in 5 acts by Claude Debussy, adapted from the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, conducted by André Caplet with Vanni Marcoux as Golaud, Georgette LeBlanc as Mélisande and Jean Riddez as Pelléas.
Hänsel und Gretel, January 27,1912 (New)
Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck, libretto by Adelheid Wette, after a fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers, conducted by Wallace Goodrich with Bernice Fisher as Gretel, Jeska Swartz as Hänsel, Maria Claessens as the Witch, Otto Goritz as Peter and Florence De Courcy as the Sandman.
6 drawings, watercolor & ink:
Box 5 Folder 9
--5 details of shoes and head pieces
Box B2 Folder 11
--Details of wigs and head pieces
[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 5, 1927]
Tristan und Isolde, February 12, 1912 (New)
Opera in 3 acts by Richard Wagner, conducted by Felix Weingartner, with Johanna Gadski as Isolde, Jacques Urlus as Tristan, Pasquale Amato as Kurvenal and Edward Lankow as King Marke
Box 5 Folder 10
Libretto
Box 5 Folder 10
Set notes in German
Set drawing, watercolor and pencil:
Box 5 Folder 10
--Act I: boat scene
Box 5 Folder 10
2 elevations of Act I and II
Box D1 Folder 6
2 technical drawings
Box 5 Folder 10
Electrical plot
Box 5 Folder 10
5 photographs of sets
[See also Vienna, 1909-11; Theater, Interstate Opera 1916; Metropolitan Opera, November 20, 1920]
Werther, March 1, 1912
Opera by Jules Massenet, conducted by André Caplet
Box 5 Folder 11
Production notes, 3 p.
Germania, March 9, 1912
Opera by Alberto Franchetti, conducted by Arnaldo Conti with Bernice Fisher as Jane, Ramon Blanchart as Crisogono, Madeleine D'Olige as Jebbel, Pasquale Amato as Carlo Worms, Carmen Melis as Ricke and Giovanni Zenatello as Loewe.
Box 5 Folder 12
Production notes, 2 p.
Le Martyre de Sebastien, March 30, 1912
Music by Claude Debussy, conducted by André Caplet with Evelyn Scotney and Jeska Swartz.
Box 5 Folder 13
2 set notes
Box 5 Folder 13
2 set sketches
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, November 25, 1912 (New)
Opera by Jacques Offenbach, libretto & book by Jules Barbier, after a play by Barbier & Michel Carré based on the stories of the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann, conducted by André Caplet with Edmond Clément as Hoffmann, Vanni Marcoux as Lindorf, Coppélius, Dappertutto and Dr. Miracle, Elvira Leveroni as Niklausse, Bernice Fisher as Olympia and Louise Edvina as Antonia.
Box 6 Folder 1
Libretto
Box 6 Folder 1
Clipping from German magazine
Box 6 Folder 1
3 set sketches, Opéra Comique production
Box 6 Folder 1
Set notes, 31 p.
Box 6 Folder 1
Production notes, 11 p.
17 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink:
Box 6 Folder 1
--7 costume drawings
Box B2 Folder 12 & 13
--2 costume drawings, Giulietta
Box 6 Folder 1
--6 set details
Box B2 Folder 14
--2 set details
Box 6 Folder 1
1/2 detail of elevation, photostat
Box B2 Folder 14
5 ground plans
Box 6 Folder 1
6 photographs of costume drawings
Box 6 Folder 2
26 photographs of sets
Box 6 Folder 2
Note to Deems Taylor, 1934, ts.
[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 13, 1924]
La Bohême, November 27,1912 (retouched)
Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Signori Giocosa and Illica, adapted from a novel by Henri Murger, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Lucrezia Bori as Mimì, Léon Laffitte as Rodolfo, Giovanni Polese as Marcello and Fely Dereyne as Musetta.
Box 6 Folder 3
2 librettos
Box 6 Folder 3
1 p. from Met program, 1913-14
Box 6 Folder 3
2 costume drawings, watercolor and pencil
Box 6 Folder 3
3 ground plans
Box 6 Folder 3
1 cast list from December 6 performance
Box 6 Folder 3
5 production notes, 6 p.
Box 6 Folder 3
2 photographs of sets
Madama Butterfly, November 29, 1912 (New)
Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica, after a play by David Belasco, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Riccardo Martin as Pinkerton, Emmy Destinn as Cio-Cio-San and Giovanni Polese as Sharpless.
Il Trovatore, November 30, 1912
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Gertrude Rennyson as Leonora, Léon Laffitte as Manrico, Ramon Blanchart as Di Luna and Maria Claessens as Azucena.
Tosca, December 2, 1912 (retouched)
Opera by Giacomo Puccini, book by V. Sardou, L. Illica and G. Giacosa, after Victorien Sardou's play La Tosca, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Mary Garden as Tosca, Vanni Marcoux as Scarpia, Charles Dalmorès as Cavaradossi, and Aristodemo Sillich as Angelotti.
Box 6 Folder 6
Libretto in German
Box 6 Folder 6
2 clippings from program
Box 6 Folder 6
Watercolor drawing of Act III: Castle Terrace
Box 6 Folder 6
Set notes, 8 p.
Box 6 Folder 6
2 ground plans
Box 6 Folder 6
Production notes, 16 p.
Box 6 Folder 6
3 photographs of set
Thaïs, December 7, 1912 (retouched)
Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Louis Gallet, after a novel by Anatole France, conducted by André Caplet with Mary Garden as Thaïs, Vanni Marcoux as Athanael and Charles Dalmorés as Nicias.
Box 6 Folder 7
Set notes, 7 p.
Box 6 Folder 7
Production notes,18 p.
Box 6 Folder 7
2 photographs of set
[See also Metropolitan Opera, December 14, 1922]
Lucia di Lammermoor, December 14, 1912
Opera by Gaetano Donizetti, conducted by Ralph Lyford with Evelyn Scotney as Lucia, Umberto Sacchetti as Edgardo, Rodolfo Fornari as Enrico and Ernesto Giaccone as Arturo.
Box 6 Folder 8
Production notes, 20 p.
Box 6 Folder 8
Photograph of set
Louise, December 18,1912 (New)
Opera by Gustave Charpentier, conducted by André Caplet with Louise Edvina as Louise, Edmond Clément as Julien, Maria Gay as La Mère and Vanni Marcoux as Le Père.
La Traviata, December 21, 1912
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on the story by Alexandre Dumas La Dame Aux Camelias, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Evelyn Scotney as Violetta, Alfredo Ramella as Alfredo, Ramon Blanchart as Germont and Attilio Pulcini as Baron Douphol.
Box 6 Folder 10
3 ground plans
Box 6 Folder 10
Production notes, 11 p.
Box 6 Folder 10
Photograph of set
[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 14, 1921]
Aïda, December 27, 1912 (Retouched)
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, after a scenario by Auguste Mariette, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Giovanni Zenatello as Radames, Anafesto Rossi as Amonasro, Maria Gay as Amneris and Carmen Melis as Aïda.
Coppélia, December 28, 1912
Ballet by Léo Delibes, conducted by Charles Strony with Dolores Galli as Swanilda. Attilio Pulcini as Burgomaster and Cronan as Frantz.
Cavalleria Rusticana, December 30, 1912
Opera by Pietro Mascagni, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Maria Gay as Santuzza, Umberto Sacchetti as Turiddu, Anafesto Rossi as Alfio.
Box 7 Folder 3
Libretto
Box 7 Folder 3
Production notes, 3 p.
Box 7 Folder 3
Photograph of set
Curtain and Concerts, 1912-13
Box 7 Folder 4
Curtain and Concerts
Box B4 Folder 4
2 ground plans, 1912
Box B4 Folder 5
2 drawings of drapery ornament, watercolor, Feb 1913
I Pagliacci, January 4, 1913
Opera by Leoncavallo, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edith Barnes as Nedda, Ramon Blanchart as Tonio, Giuseppe Gaudenzi as Canio and George Everett as Silvio.
Box 7 Folder 5
Libretto
Box 7 Folder 5
Village, watercolor, sig.
Box 7 Folder 5
Ground plan
Box 7 Folder 5
5 p. production notes
Box 7 Folder 5
Photograph of set
[See also Theater, Interstate Opera Company 1916]
Carmen, January 15, 1913 (retouched)
Opera by Georges Bizet, libretto by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy, after a novel by Prosper Mérimée, conducted by Charles Strony with Giovanni Zenatello as Don Jose, Maria Gay as Carmen and José Mardones as Escamillo.
Box 7 Folder 6
Libretto
Box 7 Folder 6
Clipping of Met stage sets
Box 7 Folder 6
8 ground plans
Box B4 Folder 6
4 ground plans
Box 7 Folder 6
28 production notes
Box 7 Folder 6
2 photographs of set
[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 22, 1923]]
I Gioielli della Madonna, January 17, 1913 (New)
Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, libretto by Carlo Zangarini & Enrico Golisciani, with Giovanni Zenatello as Gennaro, Maria Gay as Carmela, Louise Edvina as Maliella and Vanni Marcoux as Raffaele.
Rigoletto, January 25, 1913
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, after the play by Victor Hugo Le roi s'amuse, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Evelyn Scotney as Gilda, Michele Sampieri as Monterone, Rodolfo Fornari as Rigoletto and Alfredo Ramella as the Duke.
Box 7 Folder 8
1 cast list
Box 7 Folder 8
1 set of production notes, 17 p.
Box 7 Folder 8
1 set photo
Don Giovanni, February 7, 1913 (New)
Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Vanni Marcoux as Don Giovanni, Adamo Didur as Leporello, John McCormack as Don Ottavio, Emmy Destinn as Donna Anna and Elizabet Amsden as Donna Elvira.
Box 7 Folder 9
Cast list
Box 7 Folder 9
Libretto
1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:
Box 7 Folder 9
--Act I: Garden scene, signed by Errol
Box 7 Folder 9
3 ground plans
Box B4 Folder 8
3 technical drawings
Box 7 Folder 9
Production notes, 6 p.
Box 7 Folder 9
13 retouched photos of sets
Box 7 Folder 10
22 photographs of sets and set drawings
[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 29, 1929]
La Fanciulla del West, February 21, 1913
Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Guelfo Civinini & Carlo Zangorini, based on the play by David Belasco The Girl of the Golden West, with Carmen Melis as Minnie, Giovanni Polese as Jack Rance and Giovanni Zenatello as Dick Johnson.
Djamileh, February 24, 1913 (New)
American premiere of opera by Georges Bizet, libretto by Louis Gallet, after the story by Alfred de Musset Namouna, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Lucille Marcel as Djamileh, Léon Laffitte as Haroun and Ernesto Giaccone as Spendiano.
Box 7 Folder 12
Libretto
Box 7 Folder 12
Set notes in German, 34 p.
Box 7 Folder 12
3 rough set sketches:
1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:
Box B4 Folder 9
--wall elevation, 22x29 (22x23) cm., sig.
Box 7 Folder 12
Production notes, 2 p.
Box 7 Folder 12
3 photographs of set
Faust, February 26,1913 (redesigned costumes, retouched)
Opera by Charles Gounod, libretto by Jules Barbier & Michel Carré, adapted from the dramatic poem by Goethe, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Giovanni Zenatello as Faust, Lucille Marcel as Marguerite and Vanni Marcoux as Méphistophélès.
Box 7 Folder 13
2 librettos
Box 7 Folder 13
1 costume drawing, watercolor
Box B4 Folder 10
4 ground plans
Box 7 Folder 13
Production notes, 18 p.
Box 7 Folder 13
12 photographs of costume and set drawings
[See also Vienna 1906-07 and Metropolitan Opera, 1917 and 1923]
La Forêt Bleue, March 8, 1913 (American premiere) (New)
Opera by Louis Aubert, conducted by André Caplet with Fernand De Potter as Prince Charming, Jean Riddez as the Orge, Carmen Melis as the Princess, Jeska Swartz as Tom Thumb and Bernice Fisher as Little Red Riding -Hood.
Box 7 Folder 14
Libretto
Box 7 Folder 14
Synopsis, 5 p.
Box 7 Folder 14
Production notes, 9 p.
Box 7 Folder 14
4 photographs of sets
Samson et Dalila, March 12, 1913 (retouched)
Opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire, conducted by André Caplet with Maria Gay as Dalila, Giovanni Zenatello as Samson and Jean Riddez as the High Priest.
Box 7 Folder 15
Libretto
Box 7 Folder 15
Postcard of set
Box 7 Folder 15
Set rendering, watercolor
Box 7 Folder 15
Production notes, 11 p.
Box 7 Folder 15
2 photographs of costume and set
Il Segreto di Susanna, March 17,1913 (New)
Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, libretto by Max Kalbeck, adapted from a book by Enrico Golisciani, conducted by André Caplet with Antonio Scotti as Count Gil, Alice Nielsen as Countess Gil and Luigi Tavecchia as Sante.
Martha, March 24, 1913
Opera by Friedrich von Flotow, libretto W. Friedrich, after an idea by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Alice Nielsen as Lady Harriet, Maria Gay as Nancy, Max Lipmann as Lionel and Edward Lankow as Plunkett.
Monna Vanna, December 5, 1913 (New)
Opera by Henri Février, based on a play by Maurice Maeterlinck, conducted by André Caplet with Vanni Marcoux as Guido, Mary Garden as Monna Vanna and Lucien Muratore as Prinzivalle.
Box 8 Folder 3
Libretto, German
Box 8 Folder 3
Production notes, 31 p.
Box 8 Folder 3
3 working photographs
3 set renderings, watercolor on board:
Box 8 Folder 3
--Act I: Interior
Box 8 Folder 3
--Act II: Tent (painted photo)
Box 8 Folder 3
--Act III: Terrace
Box 8 Folder 3
2 watercolor sketches with plan
Box 8 Folder 3
2 detail drawings, watercolor, 1 sig.
Mapcase 14-E-12 Folder 1
5 technical drawings
Box 8 Folder 3
11 photographs of sets and scenes
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), December 13, 1913
Opera by Gioachino Rossini, libretto by Cesare Sterbini, adapted from the play by Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais, conducted by Arnaldo Schiavoni with Hazel Sanborn as Rosina, Rodolfo Fornari as Figaro, Luigi Tavecchia as Dr. Bartolo and Alfredo Ramella as Il Conte D'Almaviva.
Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, January 23, 1914 (New)
Opera by Richard Wagner, conducted by André Caplet with Johanna Gadski as Eva, Robert Leonhardt as Beckmesser, Paolo Ludikar as Hans Sachs and Carl Jörn as Walther.
Box 8 Folder 5
Reference material
Mapcase 14-E-12 Folder 2
Reference material
7 drawings, watercolor and pencil on board:
Box 8 Folder 5
--Act I: Church , 19x26 cm.
Box 8 Folder 5
--Property elevations, 19x27 cm., sig.
Box B4 Folder 13
--Act II: Costumes, night scene, 18x26 cm., sig.
Box B4 Folder 14
--Act III: Costumes, open meadow, sig.
Box B4 Folder 15
--Act III.2: details, 29x19.5 cm., sig.
Box B4 Folder 16
--Act III.2: platform elevation, 22x26 cm., sig.
Box B4 Folder 17
--Property details, 28.5x19 cm., sig.
Box 14-E-12 Folder 2
2 technical drawings
Box 8 Folder 5
Production notes, 15 p.
Box 8 Folder 5
17 photographs of sets and set drawings
[See also Vienna, 1908, 1909-11]
La Gioconda, February 6, 1914
Opera by Amilcare Ponchielli, libretto by Tobia Gorrio, after the play by Victor Hugo Angélo, tyran de Padoue, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Emmy Destinn as La Gioconda, Florencio Constantino as Enzo, Marguerite D'Alvarez as Laura and Mario Ancona as Barnaba.
L'Amore dei Tre Re, February 9, 1914 (New)
Opera in three acts by Italo Montemezzi, adapted from poem by Sem Benelli, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana as Avito, Lucrezia Bori as Fiora and Pasquale Amato as Manfredo.
Manon, March 18, 1914
Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille, after the novel by Antoine-Francois Prevost, L'histoire du chevalier de Grieux et de Manon Lescaut, conducted by Edouard Tournon with Jenny Dufau as Manon, Lucien Muratore as Des Grieux and Alban Grand as De Brétigny.
Box 8 Folder 8
3 p. from Met program
Box 8 Folder 8
5 photographs of set
[See also Metropolitan Opera December 22, 1928]
Otello, Paris Tour, May 5, 1914 (New)
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Berio di Salsa, based on the play by William Shakespeare, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana as Otello, Vanni Marcoux as Iago and Nellie Melba as Desdemona.
Box 8 Folder 9
Libretto
Box 8 Folder 9
Playbook
4 drawings, watercolor and pencil:
Box 8 Folder 9
--Iago
Box B4 Folder 20
--Act II: Garden
Box 8 Folder 9
--Act III: Castle interior, sig.
Box 8 Folder 9
--Act III: Castle detail
Box 8 Folder 9
Article on Verdi, 1 p.
Box 8 Folder 9
3 technical drawings
Mapcase 14-E-11 Folder A.8
7 ground plans
Box 8 Folder 9
Production notes, 6 p.
Box 8 Folder 9
15 photographs of sets and set drawings
Parsifal, Paris Tour, June 3, 1914 (New)
Opera by Richard Wagner, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Johannes Sembach as Parsifal, Margarete Matzenauer as Kundry and August Kiess as Klingsor.
Box 8 Folder 10
2 librettos in German, pamphlets
Box 8 Folder 10
1 libretto in German, hardback
Box 8 Folder 10
Clipping of scenes
Box 9 Folder 1
4 German post cards
Box 9 Folder 1
Act I.1: Spring, painted photograph
Box 9 Folder 1
Sketch, Klingsor tower
Box 9 Folder 1
Drawing, watercolor and pencil: --Klingsor tower detail
Box 9 Folder 1
6 photographs of set drawings
Box 9 Folder 1
1 newspaper article, German
[See also Metropolitan Opera, February 19, 1920]
Francesca Da Rimini, 1914
Louse Edvina, Musical America, 1/29/16
La Muette de Portici, (Dumb Girl of Portici) November 23, 1915 (New)
Opera by Daniel Auber, libretto by Eugene Scribe, conducted by Agide Jacchia with Anna Pavlowa as Fenella, Giovanni Zenatello as Masaniello and Giori Michailoff as Alfonso.
Box 9 Folder 3
Notes and sketches, 6 p.
3 drawings, watercolor :
Box 9 Folder 3
--Act II: island
Box 9 Folder 3
--Act IV: fountain, stone lion
Box 9 Folder 3
--Act V: interior
Box 9 Folder 3
5 technical drawings
Box B4 Folder 22
Ground plan, Act I
Undated Articles
Boston Office
Box 9 Folder 5
2 photographs of studio office
Don Pasquale, Donizetti
Performed in the 1909-10, 1910-11 seasons
Box 9 Folder 6
1 clipping of set design
Box 9 Folder 6
1 libretto
Box 9 Folder 6
3 production notes
Box 9 Folder 6
1 photograph of set
Elijah, Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn
Box 9 Folder 7
Drawing, Rocky landscape, sig.
Erste Walpurgisnacht, Die, Mendelssohn
2 drawings, watercolor, sig. :
Box 9 Folder 8
--Costume, 20 furies, 20x17 cm.
Box 9 Folder 8
--Costume, druids, detail 13, 20x16 cm.
Box 9 Folder 8
Notes and sketches, 17 p.
Box 9 Folder 8
11 photographs of sets & costumes
Habañera, Raoul La Parra
Performed in the 1909-1910, 1911-12 season
Hippodamia, Andre Campra
Box 9 Folder 10
Set notes, 6 p.
Box 9 Folder 10
Notes and sketches, 15 p.
Box B4 Folder 23
Plan
Lakmé, Léo Delibes
Performed in the 1909-10 season
Librettos
Box 9 Folder 12
--Ballo in Maschera
Box 9 Folder 12
--Boris Godunov
Box 9 Folder 12
--Conchita
Box 9 Folder 12
--Forza del Destino overture
Box 9 Folder 12
--Nozze de Figaro
Box 9 Folder 12
--Orfeo ed Euridice libretto, piano score
Box 9 Folder 12
--Siegfried, 2 librettos
Loeffler's Opera, Charles Martin Loeffler
Box 9 Folder 13
Notes, German, 7 p.
Mignon, Abroise Thomas
Performed in the 1911-12 season.
Box 9 Folder 14
Libretto
Box 9 Folder 14
Production notes, 3 p.
Parisina, Pietro Mascagni
Box 9 Folder 15
Newspaper clipping, 1913
Pipe of Desire, Frank S. Converse
Box 9 Folder 16
Libretto
Box 9 Folder 16
Script, Italian, 15 p.
Box 9 Folder 16
Line Drops, 1 p.
Box 9 Folder 16
2 photographs of scenes
Sacrifice, Frank S. Converse
Performed in the 1910-11 season
Box 9 Folder 17
Production notes, 3 p.
Box 9 Folder 17
3 photographs of sets