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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes
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Lionel Mapleson
(1865-1937), English music librarian from
London, began his association with the Metropolitan Opera in 1889, as a violist
in the orchestra. He soon became librarian for the company, drawing upon the
enormous collection of scores and parts formed in England by his father and
grandfather. During 1902-03, the last of his major years as opera's first
pirate recordist, Mapleson was near the bottom of the Met's pay scale. His
weekly salary was $48.20 and his employment included three preliminary
weeks at half salary, twenty-two weeks for the season; there was a
supplementary payment of $15 at the end of the season. His total pay for
1902-03 was $1,147.70. Mapleson remained with the Metropolitan
until his death, probably the longest tenure of any individual in the company's
history. Announcements: Side 3/Band 4; Side 9/Band 2; Side 12/Band 11
Family recordings: Side 12/Band 12
