Backdrop to a legend : the scenic design of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company over 100 years / by Raymond Walker and David Skelly
- Bib ID:
- 7544585
- Format:
- Book
- Author:
- Walker, Raymond, author
- Printer:
- Silsoe, Bedfordshire : Print2Demand Ltd
- Description:
-
- [Manchester, England] : Raymond Walker and David Skelly, 2018
- 257 pages : illustrations (some colour), portraits (some colour), maps (some colour), facsimiles ; 35 cm
- ISBN:
- 9780952994312
- Summary:
-
The century-long presentation of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operas by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company is shown in the context of its scenic history over one hundred and ten years.There is much fresh biographical information about the D’Oyly Carte family, key Company personnel, scenic artists, designers and painters, all collated. The book is copiously illustrated with rare photographs of sketches and drawings of scenery, theatrical conditions, scenic workshops, lighting and those responsible for the visual presentation of the Savoy Operas. Never before has such a high level of research from so many sources resulted in the presentation of such a complete a picture of the internal workings of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. —From http://www.victorianoperanorthwest.org/Backdrop_to_a_%20Legend_flyer_5.pdf, viewed
- Full contents:
-
- Introduction, Setting the scene
- Chapter 1 The D’Oyly Carte’s Company: W.S. Gilbert and key members of the company including Gordon, Lloyd, Riley, Heyland.
- Chapter 2 Early theatre design: A history of staging. Theatre lighting from gas to electricity. The Savoy system. The lives and working practices of scenic artists and painters within their profession. The scenic artists’ craft and their working traditions. The Painting Rooms of London. Where the D’Oyly Carte scenery was made. The D’Oyly Carte stores (“the best run theatrical stores in the capital”). Transportation for early touring by rail. Goffin’s Unit Set. The practicalities of touring for 48 weeks a year. What happened to the old scenery.
- Chapter 3 Scenic design: Chronological listing of scenery changes that took place from 1871 to 1982, including the premières. Biographies of the 41 scenic artists and designers who worked for the company.
- Chapter 4 The D’Oyly Carte Opera settings over 100 years: Rare photographs and artwork for each opera over the decades, including discussion of their scenic qualities.
- Chapter 5 North America and the Antipodes: The scenic presentation of the operas in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and Europe. Scenery organisation for The Pirates of Penzance and following American premières. Transportation of scenery. Rare photographic evidence of the early Australian productions.
- Chapter 6 Epilogue
- Appendices of equipment
- Bibliography
- Index.
- Notes:
-
- Limited edition.
- National Library of Australia's Nf copy is no. 120; supplementary information and errata issued in August 2019 loosely inserted inside the front cover.
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Skelly, David, author
- Also Titled:
- Backdrop to a legend : the scenic design of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
You may copy under some circumstances, for example you may copy a portion for research or study. Order a copy through Copies Direct to the extent allowed under fair dealing. Contact us for further information about copying.
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 2018
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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