Family photographs relating to the opening of Cyrano the musical at the Palace Theater in New York, and to the concert performance of King Oedipus, for Speaker, Chorus, and Orchestra, at the Whitney Museum in New York.

Among those photographed during the rehearsals for Oedipus, for Speaker, Chorus and Orchestra are Burgess (with musicians and chorus), and Stanley Silverman. The file also consists of informal photographs of family and friends at home ?prior? to the opening of Cyrano the musical and crowds (including Burgess, Liana Burgess and Andrew Burgess Wilson), gathering outside of the Palace Theater prior to the performance. There are also several photographs of the surrounding area, and a photograph of a sign which reads "National Arts Club May 17. Literary Award Dinner honoring Mr Anthony Burgess in Gallery."

Photographer: Probably Liana BURGESS primarily.

In late 1971 the producer, Richard Gregson, set out to make Cyrano the musical. The musical was to be based on Burgess's successful stage adaptation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, which had opened at the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minnaepolis in 1971 and which had been produced by Gregson. Michael Langham was to direct the musical, Burgess write the script and lyrics, and Michael Lewis to compose the music. The Broadway musical opened at the Guthrie in the early spring of 1973 and at the Palace Theater in New York in May 1973 with Christopher Plummer in the title role: it went on to win numerous awards.

It was also in May 1973 that the cantata of King Oedipus, for Speaker, Chorus and Orchestra was presented at the Whitney Museum in New York, with Burgess narrating. (Michael Langham, Artistic Director at the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota commissioned Burgess to write a new English translation of Sophocles' play, Oedipus the King, in 1972. The production opened at the Guthrie Theater on 24 October 1972, with text adapted by Burgess and a score by Stanley Silverman. After Oedipus the King opened, Burgess and Silverman adapted the script and music for concert performance as King Oedipus, for Speaker, Chorus, and Orchestra. It premiered at the Whitney Museum on 16 May.)

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