Silk theatre programme produced for the world premiere of Samuel Barber's opera Antony and Cleopatra, the inaugural performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Centre, New York, 16 September 1966.

White silk programme edged with a white silk fringe and printed in black, red and yellow nk with the name of the theatre, the programme including the names of all the performers and their roles, and the names of the production staff. The programme is headed with a sunburst image printed in gold and black, and a red 'ribbon' motif edged in gold framing the text on three sides.

Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A

This satin programme was produced for the world premiere of Samuel Barber's opera Antony and Cleopatra, adapted from the original William Shakespeare by Franco Zeffirelli, the inaugural performance at New York's Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Centre, 16 September 1966.

Cleopatra was played by Leontyne Price, Antony by Justino Diaz, Caesar by Jess Thomas, Charmian by Rosalind Elias, Enobarbus by Ezio Flagello, Iras by Belen Amparan, Octavia by Mary Ellen Pracht, Agrippa by John Macurdy, Mardian by Andrea Velis, Clown by Clifford Harvuot, Messanger by Paul Franke, Soothsayer by Lorenzo Alvary, Lepidus by Robert Nagy, Maecenas by Russell Christopher, Dolabella by Gene Boucher, Thidias by Robert Goodloe, Decretas by Louis Sgarro, Alexas by Raymond Michalski, Scarus by Ron Bottcher, A Captain by Dan Marek, Soldier of Caesar by Gabor Carelli, and Guards by Robert Schmorr and Norman Scott. Choreography was by Alvin Ailey, the Director of Ballet was Alicia Markova, the Chorus Master was Kurt Adler, and the Musical Preparation was by Ignace Strasfogel and Lawrence Smith. The new production was made possible by a gift from Mr. Francis Goelet, and the commemorative programme, designed by Julian Tomchin, was given by the Japan Silk Association & International Silk Association (USA).

This silk programme was produced for the inaugural performance in New York's prestigious Metropolitan Opera House in the Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts, on 16 September 1966. The production was the world premiere of Samuel Barber's opera Antony and Cleopatra. Silk and satin prgrammes were regularly produced in the 18th an 19th centuries to mark the production of special events in the theatre, so this 20th century silk programme was following that tradition, and the gold sunburst motifs on the programme reflect the chandeliers in the auditorium.

The Metropolitan Opera was founded in 1883, with its first opera house built on Broadway and 39th Street by a group of wealthy businessmen who wanted their own theatre. In the company’s early years, the management changed course several times, first performing everything in Italian (even Carmen and Lohengrin), then everything in German (even Aida and Faust), before finally settling into a policy of performing most works in their original language, with some notable exceptions. The Opera House in the Lincoln Centre is on Broadway at Lincoln Square, in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

S.1666-2014