Scope and arrangement
This collection contains professional material related to the bass singer Lorenzo Alvary, which includes artwork, biographical data, correspondence, press material, and photographs. The large series of operas consists of publicity material, such as clippings, photographs, and programs. His famous operas were Rosenkavalier, Cosi Fan Tutte, and Don Giovanni. The largest set of papers relate to his opera, The Spanish Lady and the Roman Cavalier, which was co-produced with the surrealist artist Salvador Dali. The legal papers found within his professional papers relate to the patent of the name for this radio show Opera Topics that Alvary hosted for over twenty years. There are three boxes of oversized material. There is no personal material within the collection.
The Lorenzo Alvary papers are arranged in four series:
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This series contains correspondence related to Alvary’s professional career. The correspondence includes letters from the Bel Canto Opera, The New Jersey State Opera, and the Organizzazione Internazionale Concerti.
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The professional material covers such aspects of Alvary’s career as an adjudicator and radio host of Opera Topics. There includes biographical data used for press releases, music score, programs, notes, and photographs. The legal papers relate to Alvary’s concern over the patent of the name Opera Topics.
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This series highlights Alvary’s career as an opera singer. All shows include clippings, photographs, and programs. Of notable mention is the opera, The Spanish Lady and the Roman Cavalier, co-produced by Salvador Dali. Materials in this production include artwork, and legal papers (1964 –1965).
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1961 - 1962, undated
This series contains original artwork by Salvador Dali, posters, photographs, and a music score.