Up for sale is an authentic, highly collectible mid-20th-century vintage theatre programme from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for a landmark production of Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece opera, "Otello".
Staged on Monday, 17th October 1955, this historic document marks the highly significant opening night production of the Covent Garden autumn season. This performance features an extraordinary international lineup of opera royalty, including the legendary Chilean tenor Ramon Vinay performing his world-renowned, definitive interpretation of the title role of Otello.
Conducted by the celebrated maestro Rafael Kubelík, this magnificent production features spectacular scenery and costume designs by the eminent French theatrical artist Georges Wakhevitch. Printed by Fosh & Cross Ltd., London, this original sixpenny programme is a quintessential piece of British post-war theatrical history and classical music ephemera.
Notable Cast & Production Credits:
Conductor: Rafael Kubelík
Producer: Peter Potter
Scenery & Costumes: Georges Wakhevitch
Full Principal Cast: Ramon Vinay (Otello), Otakar Kraus (Iago), John Lanigan (Cassio), Raymond Nilsson (Roderigo), Michael Langdon (Lodovico), Marian Nowakowski (Montano), Forbes Robinson (A Herald), Gré Brouwenstijn (Desdemona), and Noreen Berry (Emilia).
Physical Details & Specifications:
Format: Original 8-page printed theatrical programme booklet.
Size: Approx. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm).
Date of Performance: Monday, 17th October 1955 (Genuine period original printing, not a modern facsimile).
Condition Report - Authentic Vintage State:
Interior/Surface: The programme is complete and entirely legible throughout, featuring crisp internal typography. The heavy cream paper stock shows honest, age-related surface foxing, light storage marks, and minor corner/edge creasing consistent with a genuine 70-year-old theatrical survivor.
Binding: The original vintage metal staples are sound and securely hold all pages flat. Free from major tears, annotations, or paper loss. Please carefully review all high-resolution gallery images in image_4dca45.jpg, which display the precise internal cast configurations, production credits, and honest vintage patina.
Shipping & Heavy-Duty Document Protection:
Fast & Free UK Delivery: Dispatched quickly via Royal Mail to ensure your items arrive promptly. Sent same day if ordered before 10 AM, otherwise next working day.
Premium Archival Packaging: To guarantee this rare 1955 opening night programme arrives at your door without any further edge wear, bending, or moisture damage, it will be enclosed in a clear, acid-free protective sleeve and shipped completely flat inside a rigid, heavy-duty cardboard board-backed envelope.
Global Shipping: Proudly welcoming international opera and classical music collectors via the eBay Global Shipping Programme.
Multi-Buy Store Discount: Building a vintage opera collection or stocking up on historic theatre ephemera? Add 2 or more items from our shop to your basket to automatically trigger an instant 5% to 20% discount on your entire order at checkout!