Photographs from the J. Warren Perry Collection

One exceptional example of how much information can be found in the images of opera productions in the Perry collection is the set of photographs and drawings below. The two set design sketches were drawn by Oliver Smith for a new production of Flotow's M artha at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in January 1961. The photographs show what the realized set design looked like.

The following description is applicable to all the images below:

Subject: Flotow's Martha
Location: Metropolitan Opera, New York
Principals: Victoria de los Angeles, Lady Harriet; Rosalind Elias, Nancy; Richard Tucker, Lyonel; Giorgi Tozzi, Plumkett; Nino Verchi, conductor; Oliver Smith, set design; Motley, costume design; Carl Ebert, director.
Date: January 26, 1961
Photographer: Louis Mélançon

No. 1: Oliver Smith sketch Flotow's Martha, Act I, scene 1	No. 2: Oliver Smith set design Flotow's Martha, Act I, scene 1
No. 3: Oliver Smith sketch Flotow's Martha, Act II, scene 1	No. 4: Oliver Smith set design Flotow's Martha, Act II, scene 1

The costume design for the same production is by Motley (stage name for Elisabeth Montgomery). Victoria de los Angeles is wearing the same dress in image no. 2 above. An enlarged view of the dress is also available as image no. 6 below.

No. 5: Motley sketch for Victoria de los Angeles's dress Flotow's Martha, Act I, scene 1

No. 6: enlarged view of dress from image 2 above.

Table of Contents
	Introduction	Vocalists	Conductors	Composers
	Instrumentalists	Opera Productions	Concert Halls	Ensembles

April 2001 Music Library Staff musique@acsu.buffalo.edu http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/music/exhibits/perry/metmartha4.html