No 42 -- Summer 1994 Edited by Michael Walters
In 1970, a Mr. M. Baruch advertised for sale in THE SAVOYARD, a set of records of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE complete on 6 "glass" 78 rpm records. I replied expressing interest, suggesting that they would probably be worth about 10 pounds, but querying what "glass records" meant, and expressing doubt as to whether the records could constitute the complete opera. I received the following letter:
2 Campfield Street, Falkirk, Stirlingshire. 5 February 1970.
Thanks for your letter of 1st inst and I note you are prepared to pay 10 pounds for the records. I have received a few offers of rather less and am considering them though I prefer a G&S enthusiast to have them rather than a general collector such as I heard from through the "Record Retailer".
I really do not know whether it is a complete opera on the 6 records as it is a long time since I played them. As you know, they are in London at my sister's place and as she is 80 years of age she does not play them now and I shall wait till I am in London again and make sure. As far as taping them is concerned I have already arranged with a friend of mine to do this.
Yours sincerely, M. Baruch.
PS. I rather think it is a complete opera. As you know, it is rather shorter than the others except TRIAL and may posssibly only take 6, but as I say it is years since I played them and really don't know.
This wasn't exactly an acceptance, and as I was very hard up at the time (10 pounds was a lot of money then!) I did nothing, hoping to hear further. As I heard nothing I wrote again some time later.
18 July 1971.
Dear Mr. Baruch, You may recall that about 18 months ago we had some correspondence regarding a set of records of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE which you wished to sell. I have let the matter slip subsequently, but I am interested to know what, if anything has happened to these records, and if there is any possibility of getting a tape recording of them. You did mention that you were planning to have them tape-recorded yourself. I hope you are keeping well. Yours sincerely, Michael P. Walters.
[There was no reply].
29 December 1983
Dear Mr. Baruch, In sorting through some old papers, I came across some correspondence I had with you about 13 years ago in connection with a set of "glass" records of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. It is to my great shame that I admit that I never pursued the matter, but as [The Sir Arthur Sullivan Society] (which did not exist when we were last in touch) is preparing a published discography of all records of Sullivan's music, it occurred to me that I ought to endeavour to find out something more about these discs, if possible. That is if you still have them. I enclose some papers [copies of GG], which might perhaps amuse you. Yours sincerely, Michael P. Walters
There was no reply to this letter either. Mr. Baruik is probably now dead so probably I shall never find out what the glass records were. Possibly they were glass-acetates, possibly they were a private performance. Has any reader any ideas?
Web page created 31 July 1998