[Ephemera and theatre programmes for performances of opera and light musicals in New Zealand in the 1880s].

Includes programmes or flyers for the following performances:

1880s:

Williamson, Garner & Musgrove's celebrated Royal Comic Opera Company. Audran's charming opera "La Mascotte". Opera House Wellington. Magnificent scenery by Gordon and Brunton.

Williamson, Garner & Musgrove's celebrated Royal Comic Opera Company. "Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride". Opera House Wellington. Magnificent scenery by Gordon & Brunton. Bock & Co printers.

Libretto of "Olivette!", comic opera in 3 acts, by H B Farnie; music composed by Audran. Published for use in Australian and NZ colonies by Musgrove's London Opera Comique Company. [1880s?] (donation PR-03-0058)

1880:

Lyster's Royal Italian & English Opera. "Aida" and "Rose of Castile". Theatre Royal [Wellington], 24 February 1880.

Lyster's Royal Italian & English Opera. "La favorita" and "La traviata". Theatre Royal Wellington, 26 February [1880]. Flier / programme.

1881:

R W Cary's "Pirates of Penzance!" on their piratical tour of New Zealand. [Libretto]. Wellington, James Hughes, steam printer, engraver, etc, Lambton Quay, 1881.

Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Troupe in the extraordinary opera of "The Lass that loved a sailor", or HMS Pinafore. Conductor and musical director Mr J J Pollard, Leader of the orchestra Mr C Pollard. [n.p., 1881?]

Williamson's Royal Opera Company. "Patience or Bunthorne's bride". New aesthetic scenery painted by Mr Alfred Clint. Costumier Mr W Ford. 1881.

Williamson's Royal Opera Company. "HMS Pinafore". Entirely new ship scenery by George Gordon. Post print, Wellington.

1882:

Abbott's Opera House (Auckland). "La fille du Tambour Major", with notice of forthcoming productions of "Billee Taylor", "Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride" [1882?]

Montague-Turner Grand English Opera. "Lucia de Lammermoor". Theatre Royal Wellington. 23 January [1882].

Theatre Royal (Wellington?). Last week of the Montague-Turner Grand English Opera. "Mignon!" this Monday 6 February. On Wednesday "Lucrezia Borgia"; on Thursday Benefit of Miss Annis Montague, a grand gala night; Friday and Saturday "The Royal Middy". Printed at the New Zealand Times, Wellington [Flier. 1882]

Theatre Royal [Auckland]. "Guy Mannering". Amateur dramatic performance in aid of the Masonic Hall building fund. 29 August 1882. Printed by H Brett, "Evening star" office, Wyndham Street.

1884?:

Comic opera "Rip van Winkle" in three acts. [Libretto with Wellington advertisements; no cover. Assumed to have been used during 1884 season performed by A T Dunning's London Comic Opera Company]

Dunning's Opera Company. John Crook's spectacular military opera comique in 3 acts. "The King's dragoons". Auckland, H Brett, theatrical printer, Star Office. Libretto [This opera is known to have been performed in Napier in June 1884]

1885:

Leading amateurs of New Plymouth under the direction of Mr G Garry. Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera "Trial by jury!" (With L Humphries, Miss Hempton, Mr Holdsworth, Mr Rennell, F Humphries, Miss White, Miss Cliff, Mr Downes). Alexandra Hall, Wednesday July 29 [1885]. Programme. Printed at the "Daily news" Office, New Plymouth

1887 :

Messr's Williamson, Garner & Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company. "The Mikado". General manager Mr R S Smythe. Scenery by Mr George Gordon. Bock & Cousins, Printers, Brandon Street. [1887?]

1888-1889:

"Marjorie", comic opera in three acts. Libretto by Lewis Clifton & J J Dilley; music by Walter Slaughter. Prince of Wales Theatre [ca 1888-1889]. Liretto (2 slightly differing)

1889:

Martin Simonsen's New Royal English and Italian Opera Company. "Il trovatore". [Theatre Royal Wellington, September 1889]. Libretto. Haggett & Percy, Printers, Lambton Quay.

St John Ambulance Association. Grand costume concert; selections from popular operas: Favart, Iolanthe, Mikado, Patience, Sorcerer. Conductor F M Wallace, Hon Manager J J Kinsey, Hon Secretary F Notley meadows. Christchurch Theatre Royal, 19-20 July 1889. Programme and book of words.

Quantity: 20 programmes / flyers.

Physical Description: Programmes and flyers, sizes ranging under 250 mm.

Provenance: One programme donated in 2002 by Paul Orsman, Holmes estate; two libretti by Mrs Margaret Hancock, Tokoroa, in 2009.