Royal Opera House Oral History Projects

1) ROH Development Oral History Project, 1997 - 2001
2) Verdi Centenary Oral History Project, 2001
3) ROH Living Histories Oral History Project

Respondent or information from other source:
Claire Judd, ROH Collections Administrator

Aims, policies, purpose/impetus for project:
1) Based around the redevelopment of the building in 1997-9, this project aimed to capture the impressions and opinions of a wide variety of people involved in the Royal Opera House development project. This included audiences and staff before the closure, specialist contractors working on the building site, and audiences and staff at the venues where The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera appeared during the closure. The project continued after the theatre re-opened in December 1999.

2) Funded by The Friends of Covent Garden, this project recorded the memories of singers, conductors, orchestral musicians, members of the Royal Opera Chorus, language coaches, directors, and music staff who have worked on productions of Verdi operas at the Royal Opera House since 1946.

3) This project is collecting reminiscences from former staff and artists who worked at the Royal Opera House from the 1930s onwards. The aim is to record the histories that are often forgotten or ignored, so while we are interviewing singers and dancers, the main focus is on stage and production staff, members of the orchestra and administration staff.

Dates: 1) 1997 - 2000; 2) 2001; 3) 2006 - ongoing

Key individuals and roles involved:
1) Managed by Francesca Franchi (Head of ROH Collections). A combination of 5 ROH staff and volunteers undertook interviews, and 3 volunteers prepared the summaries

2) Managed by Francesca Franchi and interviews and summaries undertaken by one interviewee - Jon Tolansky

3) I manage the project and15 volunteers have so far been involved in conducting interviews and preparing summaries

Paid or voluntary, training in oral history:
1) ROH staff and volunteers all received British Library interview training

2) Paid interviewer (radio interviewer)

3) All interviewees are volunteers, and receive British Library interview training before undertaking any interviews. They also periodically undertake in-House training

Project funded by:
1) Part of ROH Collections budget

2) Funded by The Friends of Covent Garden

3) Part of ROH Collections budget

Management of project: All projects managed by ROH Collections

Format of interviews:
1 & 2) Audio - cassette (Marantz CP430)

3) Audio - First 10 interviews recorded on Marantz CP430 (cassette), all subsequent interviews recorded on solid state recorder (Marantz PMD 660)

How interviewees are selected and located:
1) Interviewees were selected to cover as broad a range of subject areas of the development as possible, including administration, building work, audience and performer experience, both at the ROH and while companies on tour. Located through ROH contacts.

2) Interviewees were selected to cover a range of musical involvement (i.e. not only performers but musical support staff) and as wide a time range as possible. Located via ROH and the interviewer's contacts (Jon Tolansky is a former member of the Orchestra of the ROH).

3) Initially interviewees were approached at an over 60's reunion for former staff members. People who agreed to take part gave us their contact details and we contacted them again at a later date to arrange interviews (there are still lots of people left to interview). We have also been given the names of other former staff by people that we have interviewed, and so we also approach them about taking part.

Interview running time:
1) Average one hour (one cassette's worth).

2) Average one hour (one cassette's worth of recording).

3) It varies enormously - from about 40 minutes to ten hours (spread out over about 7 interview sessions).

Copyright in interviews. Assignment rights?:
ROH Collections. All interviewees are asked to sign a clearance form after undertaking the interview.

Location of interview copies. Accessibility to public/format:
Master copies are held in off site storage, while listening copies(cassettes and CDs) are stored in the ROH Collections office and at an off site store. Digital copies of the Living History Project are also stored on the computer system. Listening copies are to be made available to the public (at ROH and at the British Library), and summaries will shortly be available for the Living History.

Collection contact details/website:
Project at Royal Opera House Collections Online. Summaries for the other two projects will be available on the website in the future.

Interview transcripts/lists of topics or other content indexes:
There are summaries for most of the interviews in the Verdi and Development projects. Volunteers are in the process of compiling summaries for the Living History Project interviews.

Cataloguing:
All the interviews will be catalogued into our archive database (Adlib)

Future plans for project/interviews?:
1 & 2 were finite and will not be added to

3. We are also planning to extend the project to include interviewing members of staff who have worked at ROH for 25 years or more and are still working here.

We also plan to use excerpts from interviews from each project in future exhibitions and on the ROH Collections website

Materials used for publications, exhibitions, conferences, radio/TV programmes or performances etc or future plans for this?:
1. Development project interviews were used in two articles in About the House, the magazine of The Friends of Covent Garden

2. Selected Verdi Centenary project interviews have been used in radio programmes

3. Not yet, but we would like to include excerpts in future exhibitions

Project website: Royal Opera House Collections Online

List on a joint (possibly STR) website: Yes

Join listserv/emailing list/forum: Yes

Further information:
ROH Collections a/v Collection includes recordings of public events, such as Lunch & Listen, In Focus, organised by The Friends of Covent Garden & Education Departments. Listening copies are available at ROH Collections, although there are copyright issues.

List of interviewees provided: Yes

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Interviewees for 1) ROH Development Oral History Project, 1997 - 2001

DP number, Name

Alan Thorne Terry Everett, Ted Slaymaker Matinee audience Matinee audience Gwynne Howell Domingo queue Nicholas Heath Charlie Simkin Alejandro Spina Nikki Spencer Elizabeth Bainbridge, Stephen Meade Heather Harper Audrey Henderson Ivell Arnold Royal Ballet mixed bill Royal Ballet mixed bill People at singalong Last Opera performance before closure Last few days (various) Gala audience Nicholas Payne Removal of pictures Removal of pictures Robert Tear ROH removals Ayden Hasirci ROH removals Gina Boaks Matt Elkin Richard Cherry Anne Godsall Caroline Dalziel Peter Meade John Seekings Richard hemmings Simon Taylor Michael Scott Jacqui Tipples John Fairclough Richard Outfin Mavis and Terence Emery Gillian Ollier Peter Morris Andy Warner Sonia Young Giulio Cesare rehearsal Giulio Cesare rehearsal Madeleine Watson John Harrison Ian Blackburn Labatts Apollo Jeremy Sutcliffe Helen Anderson At the Barbican Colin Maxwell Clive Barda, Stephen Wadey David Briggs Giselle general rehearsal Phyllida Ritter Richard pearl Alison Aram Colin Smith Covent Garden Archaeology evening Gary Whiffen Ken Ward Bert Whiffen Royal Albert Hall Ted Slaymaker Maltings Staff Catherine Ashmore Jonathan Reekie ROH site store Royal Festival Hall Royal Festival Hall Paul Holkham Nicholas Payne Royal Festival Hall Royal Festival Hall Pelham Allen Rob Moore Helen Anderson Hywel David Nicholas Payne Liam Wall Stephen Meade

Richard Wright Richard Wright Nikki Spencer Helen Anderson Richard Jarman Philip Moseley Richard Sadler Caroline Surfleet Philippa Rooke Jim Johnstone Derek Richards Sofie Mason Day after the announcement of closure Day after the announcement of closure Day after the announcement of closure Francesca Franchi Geoffrey Wheel Peter Morris Various staff Gemma Barraclough Petition to Downing Street Sue Banner Liam Wall Tour of site Paul Varnova Sue murray Caroline Surfleet Pelham Allen Ron Graham Jane Blackburn Paul Humphreys Tim Leach Marian Padina Topping out ceremony John McMurray Drew Brooke-Mellor Layla Amirshahi Caroline Bailey Friends of Covent Garden Friends of Covent Garden Colin Maxwell Anne Minors Eleanor Goldwin Hazel Province Heather Fordham Lorraine Ebdon Richard W Rogers Sir Colin Southgate Front of House tour John Fage, David Lobb Nicholas Heath Anne Marsh Tour of House Tour of House Michael Morris Michael Morris Sir Colin Southgate David Saffrey David Pritchard Sue Walter Box Office opening Box Office opening Corinne Jones-Lord Sara Gallie Crush Room Trust Room paint test Exhibition hanging Exhibition hanging Gawain day Preview performance Friends of Covent Garden lunch Friends open day Opening gala Olaf Ulrich 1st public performance 1st night opera ? ? Anna Kosicka Jeff Essen ? Various members of staff in staff restaurant Jeffrey Philips Bernard Haitink

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Interviewees for 2) Verdi Centenary Oral History Project, 2001

Interview Number		Name	Date
1		Patricia Schuman	01.02.2001
2	(2)	Sir Charles Mackerras	08.02.2001
3		Jon Vickers	02.03.2001
4		Inva Mula	04.03.2001
5		Mark Elder	15.03.2001
6		Sergei Leiferkus	23.03.2001
7		Galina Gorchakova	24.03.2001
8		Peter Glossop	10.04.2001
9		Jose Cura	14.04.2001
10		Elena Kelessid	17.04.2001
11		Alan Taylor	18.04.2001
12		John Bakewell	21.04.2001
13		Daniele Gatti	23.04.2001
14	(2)	Michael Skinner	25.04.2001
15	(2)	Sir John Tooley	27.04.2001
16		Peter Gellhorn	05.05.2001
17		Anthony Michaels-Moore	08.05.2001
18	(2)	Edgar Evans	11.05.2001
19	(2)	Harold Nash	14.05.2001
20		Ian Herbert	18.05.2001
21		Sir Colin Davis	20.05.2001
22		Maria Cleva	21.05.2001
23		Hugh Maguire	23.05.2001
24		Dame Joan Sutherland	11.06.2001
25	(2)	Sir Edward Downes	03.07.2001
26		Ileana Cotrubas	20.08.2001
27	(2)	Paolo Gavanelli	05.09.2001
28	(2)	Dennis OÕNeill	06.09.2001
29		John Barnett	21.10.2001
30		Roger Hagger	25.10.2001
31	(2)	Lord Harewood	30.10.2001
32		Elizabeth Sikora	07.12.2001
33		Thomas Hampson	11.12.2001
34		Robert Lloyd	13.12.2001
35	(2)	Richard Hazell	14.12.2001
36		Nada Pobjoy	17.12.2001
37		Sir Richard Eyre	19.12.2001
38		Eric Halfvarson	18.09.2002
39		Barbara Frittoli	20.09.2002
40		Carlos Alvarez	28.09.2002
41	(2)	Franco Farina	09.10.2002
42		Paul Findlay	11.10.2002
43		Jeremy Sutcliffe	19.11.2002
44		David McVicar	26.11.2002
45		Robin Leggate	27.11.2002
46	(2)	John Dobson	29.11.2002
47		Terry Edwards	02.12.2002
48		Victor Godfrey	28.12.2002
49	(2)	Elijah Moshinsky	06.01.2003
50		David Syrus	16.01.2003
51		John McCarthy	20.01.2003
52	(2)	Robin Stapleton	18.02.2003
53		Antonio Pappano	03.04.2003

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Interviewees for 3) ROH Living Histories Oral History Project

Red text indicates interviews recorded on cassette

Interviewee	Interviewer	Date	Files
1. Alastair Davidson	Janette Harris	15/11/06	3
2. Gertrud Stelzel	Judy Mattei	20/11/06	3
3. Anthony Tunstall	Mavis Robinson	21/11/06	2
4. Peter Mattei	Keith Richards	24/11/06	3
5. Valerie West	Anne Sinstadt	27/11/06	2
6. Jeannette Sinclair	Pat Taylor	29/12/06	3
7. Gilbert Vernon	Barry Davies	28/2/07	3
8. George Hallam	Janette Harris	14/5/07	2
9. Gary Grant	Barry Davies	15/5/07	3
10. Clifford Starr	Anne Sinstadt	16/05/2007 14/06/2007	6
11. Anne Finley	Mavis Robinson	23/05/2007 11/06/2007 27/06/2007	3
12. Victor Godfrey	Keith Richards	12/6/07	1
13. Ron Freeman	Anne Sinstadt	24/07/2007 31/07/2007 11/09/2007 18/09/2007 10/10/2007 17/10/2007 21/11/2007 05/12/2007 16/01/2008	10
14. Ruth Gayfer	Maggie Smith	3/9/07	8
15. Wendy Robinson	Ursula Steiger	5/9/07	1
16. Michael Hogan	Maggie Smith	12/9/07	1
17. Joan Yudkin	Rosalind Erskine	17/9/07	1
18. Janet Chivers and Pat Coppel	Rosalind Erskine	17/9/07	1
19. John Constable	Janette Harris	24/09/2007 12/10/2007	2
20. John and Wendy Bacon	Rosalind Erskine	25/9/07	1
21. Brian Groombridge	Keith Richards	1/10/07	1
22. Leo Kersley	Barry Davies	3/10/07	1
23. Barry Castle	Jo Pestel	29/10/07	1
24. Michael Johnson	Francesca Franchi	7/11/07	2
25. Anne Wyburd	Jo Pestel	21/11/07	1
26. Jennifer Thorn	Ann Brumfit	5/12/07	1
27. Patricia Arnold	Pat Taylor	31/12/07	1
28. John Healey	Katherine Thompson	11/01/2007 29/01/2008	2
29. Keith Grant	Mavis Robinson	21/12/2008 12/02/2008	3
30. Dame Beryl Grey	Keith Richards	22/1/08	1
31. Jane Nicholas	Janett Harris	20/2/08	1
32. Barbara Booroff	Keith Richards	28/3/08	1
33. Jane Leigh-Breese	Ursula Steiger	2/4/08	1
34. Cliff Corbett	Ann Brumfit	15/4/08	2
35. Alex Paul	Keith Richards	22/4/08	1
36.Alan Carter	Barry Davies	24/4/08	1
37. Judith Eagle	Janette Harris	24/4/08	1
38. Patrick Strevens	Barry Davies	28/5/08	1
39. John Dobson	Keith Richards	19/06/2008 05/08/2008 29/10/2008 06/12/2008	4
40. Yvonne Minton	Janette Harris	5/9/08	1
41. John Woolf	Mavis Robinson	16/9/08	1
42. Dame Antointette Sibley	Pat Taylor	22/9/08	1
43. Pierro Faggioni	Francesca Franchi	3/10/08	1
44. Daniel Hussey	Jo Pestel	22/10/08	3
45. Michael Brown	Barry Davies	23/10/08	1
46. David Rees	Jo Pestel	23/10/2008 22/01/2009	3
47. Ted Pursey	Stephen Martin	10/11/2008 26/01/2009	3
48. James Gibson	Rosalind Erskine	10/11/2008 01/12/2008	2
49. Richard Gregson	Mavis Robinson	12/11/2008 01/12/2008 14/01/2009	3
50. Philip Gammon	Ann Brumfit	13/11/08	1
51. Josephine Veasey	Janette Harris	26/11/08	2
52. Prunella Sedgwick	Ann Brumfit	6/1/09	1

Oral History Survey Pages Main Page Introductory Report Index of Projects Appendices External Links Royal Opera House Collections Online

21st April 2009

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