This is a rare single page broadside (programme) from the Gala Performance of the ROYAL OPERA COMPANY in Honor of the Coronation of KING EDWARD VII and QUEEN ALEXANDRA at London's Covent Garden on Monday, June 30th, 1902 ..... The evening included performances of Georges Bizet's "CARMEN" (Act II), Giuseppe Verdi's "RIGOLETTO" (Act II) and Richard Wagner's "TANNHAUSER" (Act II) as well as the "CORONATION ODE", specifically composed for this performance by Dr. ELGAR and Mr. A. C. BENSON and performed by the Sheffield Musical Festival Chorus and soloists Mme. NELLIE MELBA, Mme. KIRKBY LUNN, Mr. BEN DAVIES and Mr. FFRANGCON DAVIS ..... "CARMEN" starred Mlle. EMMA CALVE in the title role, Mlle. HELIAN, Mlle. JEANNE MAUBOURG, Mr. LAWRENCE REA, Mr. SALEZA, Signor SCOTTI, Mr. GILIBERT, Herr CHEN REISS and Mr. HAMILTON EARLE with the opera conducted by Mr. PH. FLON ..... "RIGOLETTO" starred Mme. NELLIE MELBA, Mlle. BAUERMEISTER, Signor ENRICO CARUSO, Mr. MARCEL JOURNET and Mr. MAURICE RENAUD in the title role with the opera conducted by Signor LUIGI MANCINELLI ..... "TANNHAUSER" starred Mme. NORDICA, Mr. POL PLANCON, Herr LEWANDOWSKI, Herr SIMON, Mr. ERNEST VAN DYCK in the title role, Mr. DAVID BISPHAM, Herr MUHLMANN and Mr. HAMILTON EARLE with the opera conducted by Herr OTTO LOHSE ..... Historical Note: ENRICO CARUSO (February 25th, 1873 – August 2nd, 1921) made his London debut at Covent Garden on May 14th, 1902, as the "Duke of Mantua" in Verdi's Rigoletto. Covent Garden's highest-paid diva, the Australian soprano Nellie Melba, partnered him as "Gilda". Caruso made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in a new production of Rigoletto on November 23rd, 1903, this time with Marcella Sembrich opposite him as "Gilda" (Wikipedia) ..... DETAILS: The single page, one-sided program measures 8" X 11 3/8" inches and includes wonderful graphics, production credits, list of the members of the operas and performance date on the front. The backside is blank ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) There is a clipped corner at the top left, moderate creasing from having been folded into quarters and age spots. Despite these flaws, this rare program will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any opera aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.