PRICELESS RELICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1928, Page 2

PRICELESS RELICS

■—-- - - - SOUVENIRS OF THE GREAT. A collection ol relics, the value of which in hard cash it would bo impossible to estimate, is hoarded away in the heart of London, locked, boiled. and haired, hidden from the eyes •f the* thousands who would delight in examining it.

Every unit of this collection has j some connection with the history of tlni Royal Coven t Garden Open Theatre and the famous singers and conductors who have appeared there. 4 lie ownership of these relics is split un among people who have to store s hem for saftoy’s sake', but who would gladly licln to stock an opera museum in London .such as exists at the Paris and Milan Opera Houses.

Mr Richard Northcott, the archivist of the Royal Covent Garden Opera who is pleading lor such a national collection .recently allowed an interviewer to examine his own personal collection. ‘•f am goiiur lor this tooth and nail v;,id Air Northeitl. “There is Jenny Lind’s daughter living, just round the corner. Sla* owns a priceless collection of relics and woidd gladly letie them. At the present they are warehoused for safety, and no one eve sees them. And here is :'i*.- ittle lot--‘oddments’ I call them. i<>r want o a bettor word.” Mr Northcott*s “oddments” make r valuable collection in themselves. Tn eluded in it are Caruso’s favourite walking stick and the tiny horseHmc mascot which he always wore; the gold watch--pear .shaped—given by George 111 to Angela Catalini. a replica of which Nelson gave to his daughter and a priceless miniature of Cataliir so fashioned as to contain a pocket mirrow.

ONLY TWO COPIES EXTANT. Brahms and Handel are both re-pro seated, the former hv one ol his visit - ing cards, autographed, and the latter by an excellent print ol his, cook, who. besides singing the bass part ie the first performance ml the “Messiah in Dublin, was a capable ’cellist. Only two other copies of this print are ex taut, one- of which is in the British AI useuiii. There arc also the batons of thro* famous conductors one of Xikisch. wli • conducted the first performance o' ‘Lohengrin’’ at the ; Royal Ttalbm i Opera House, one used by Riehte;

when lie conducted ‘‘Gotterdammc rung,” and the actual baton used b Alielmel Costa at the opening performance of the Opera House on April ( 184", when “Sem.irainide” was given Another interest mg relic of Costa - a- card on which are mounted si: miniature Razors .ol different size: Tins was presented to him by th members ol the orchestra when bcaic less at the age of 2-J. he was appoirr. ed assistant conductor at the Roy;

ji aiuui Opera House. I'ml,ably the most unique relic i Air Nurthcott’s collection is a gold lo sea! small enough to be concealed n t!„. palm, of the hand, containing .* niii'icai box which plays “Bon \ ova:AL Duinollot.” an old Fiench air. da* mg from 1820. This was picsente lo the composer Donizetti in ISJo h Eaimy Pcisiimi. for whom he wrot“Licia di Lammermoor.” the fir lierforiuamc of which was given a Hi,. Covent Garden Opera House u 1-8-fiY

OTHER INTERESTING RELICS.

From a further quantity of relic* each one of which is of interest to th* public, the music lover, and the goi oral collector alike, one might mentio particularly a porcelain model of All Billingto.n. the world-fanious soprano and a collection of her* letters, tie intimacy of which is so pronounce that it is doubtful whether they slmiifi over have been published.

A casket forged from metal tak-m (’inin. the great hell of the Royal Ital ion Opera House after it was burnodown in 1898, with a part of the box office' containing some of the lead pas* in checks in use at the time; a lod of Bo‘*«ini’s hair, linin'’ Caruso relic n jewelled crown worn by Patti, th dagger worn by Mario when im,per snouting Rmfieo. and a complete mode' of a performance of “The Merry Yv he ol* Windsor,” with scenery, actor orche-tra, and a-udienee i n mplele i coloured paper executed by Beverley (lie famous scenic artist, who mus have exceeded Job in the matter o' patience.

This work is particular! v interest jug in that the artist ran out ol pap ,*,- ;l nJ the bottom right hand conn* of the prossceuium is constructed o'l of a visitug card of Percy Ryssli Slid ley.

Those arc just a few examples o the hundi'vds of v duahie -ml interesl Ip-r ndics whhh, Mr Northcott dcobir cs could he 'got together in a fort-nigh if only a suitable building could b< obtained.