MS Mus. 1723

'Introductory document', i.e. typescript synopsis with various additional material, for 'Orpheus: a lyric tragedy', composed by Harrison Birtwistle, libretto by Peter Zinovieff; 1973. An early manifestation of the opera 'The mask of Orpheus'. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs of pictures drawn by the librettist's daughter, Sofka Zinovieff (then aged 12).

Peter Hall's copy ('copy no. 3'. Eight copies were made altogether).

With a letter (f. 3) to the theatre director Peter Hall from the composer and the librettist, dated 29 May 1973. Typescript, with an additional four lines in the hand of Peter Zinovieff. On writing paper of 'International Voice Movement Inc.'

'The Mask of Orpheus' was commissioned by Covent Garden in 1970 but passed to English National Opera, and was completed in 1984. It was first performed at the Coliseum, London, on 21 May 1986.

Contents as follows (taken from list of contents):

• 'General principles'
• 'A picture giving some elements of the Opera'
• 'Stage devices used in the Scenario and Libretto'
• 'The Characters'
• 'The Structure'
• 'Titles and time relationships'
• 'Artificial devices, structures and signals'
• 'The Orchestra'
• 'Conventions in the Libretto'
• 'The Libretto legending'
• 'Libretto Scenario, Act 1 Scene 1 (pull-out)'
• 'Libretto Text, Act 1 Scene 1'
• 'Formal names of all the parts of the Opera'
• 'Synopsis of the story with Sofka's pictures' ('Parados' – Act 1 – Act 2 – Act 3 – 'Exodus')
• 'Six Stories of the Passing Clouds and Allegorical Flowers'
• 'Examples of vehicles used in the Passing Clouds'