Performing arts | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Performing arts

Showing 49 - 60 of 65 results
Collection guide
Flynn Collection

About 1750 musical scores comprising general musical arrangements by Flynn, and also both printed and manuscript orchestral and vocal scores, scripts and parts arranged for Radio 3GB.

Collection guide
Title page of the musical score for Mozart's Marriage of Figaro

W.A. Mozart (1756–1791), Boosey and Sons’ Complete Edition of Mozart’s Opera, Figaro, for Voice and Pianoforte, with English and Italian Words, London: Boosey and Sons, 1854–1864, Hince Collection (Music), MUS Hince 2 collection M 76, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8596647

Figaro!

Searching for the 18th-century character in the Library's rare books and music collections.

Blog
Collection guide
Fahey Collection

Personal papers of Warren Fahey’s activities as an entrepreneur, musician and writer from 1967-1998 and a collection of folkloric recordings.

Collection guide
Celia Craig, a woman with very short brown hair, smiling and holding large book of sheet music with the title 'Symphonic Overture'
Exploring the letters of legendary musician Miriam Hyde with Celia Craig

Read about Creative Arts Fellow Celia Craig's experience of exploring the papers of musician Miriam Hyde.

Blog
Collection guide
Don Banks Collection

Discover the legacy of Don Banks, one of Australia’s most innovative composers, in the Don Banks Collection. Featuring music manuscripts, sound recordings, and personal papers, this collection celebrates Banks' pioneering work across jazz, classical, and film music. A true trailblazer, his fusion of genres continues to inspire and shape Australia's cultural landscape.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Divall Collection

Music scores and music related material created or collected by the composer, conductor and musicologist Richard Divall.

Collection guide
Program advertising a play called The Geisha at Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre

Sidney Jones & Harry G. Musgrove (Firm) & J.C. Williamson (Firm) & Her Majesty's Theatre (Sydney, N.S.W.), "The Geisha" : souvenir programme, 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-69061919

Discovery video: The PROMPT collection

The PROMPT Collection is a collection of collections. It relates to the performing arts industry in Australia from the 1880s until the present.

Video
Book open to title page with text reading 'M. S. Armstrong', 'Plays in on act', 'Thomas', 'Penny Dreadful', 'Drought' and 'Published by Edwards & Shaw Sydney'

Millicent Armstrong, Plays in One Act, 1958, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2333051

Discovering and reviving the plays of Millicent Armstrong

Hear from Dianna Nixon about how she's bring the plays of Milicent Armstrong back to life.

Blog
Six women ballet dancers standing in a line

Greg Power & National Library of Australia, Annabel Knight, Juliette Barton and dancers during dress rehearsal for Sid's Waltzing Masquerade by Aszure Barton, Sydney Dance Company, The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, 1 September 2009, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-132043442

Dance collection

Our dance collection contains portraits, manuscripts, oral history interviews, photographs, music scores, personal papers, theatre programs and memorabilia.

Information article
Print of two women in dresses holding hands. One has a trumpet in her other hands and is leaning over a sign reading 'Free Masons Hall Readings & Music'. Photoshopped on top is a teal circle with text reading 'Friends Event'

John Thornthwaite and Mather Brown, Ticket for an Evening of ‘Readings & Music’ Held at Free Masons Hall, c. 1790, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647

Coffee with the Curator: The Excellencies of Musick

Dr Susannah Helman provided her insights into the Jamie and Michael Kassler Collection.

Event
A black and white image of a man holding a microphone on a stand with 2 hands. He is holding the mic close to his mouth and has his eyes shut. He is wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.

Leigh Henningham, Brian Johnson, lead vocalist with AC/DC performing during the Back in Black Tour, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Victoria, 27-28 February, 1981, nla.obj-3128575954

Celebrating 50 years of AC/DC

To celebrate this milestone, we are sharing 3 recently acquired photographs of the band

News article
Four ballet dancers posing with their arms out and leaning in various directions

Bodenwieser Ballet performance of Blue Danube Waltz, with Moira Claux, Elaine Vallance, Nina Bascolo and Biruta Apens, 1953, nla.obj-234841849

Capturing movement: Dance photography and Gertrud Bodenwieser

Explore the dance style of Gertrud Bodenwieser through photographs with 2023 National Library Fellow Wesley Lim.

Blog

Need help?

Our librarians are here to guide you.

Ask a librarian