Opera devotee donates collection

HENDERSON (AP) An East Texas opera buff has bequeathed a lifetime collection of music memorabilia, including vocal scores, recordings and reference books, to a local opera company.

Directors of Opera East Texas, based in Longview, spent the past several days sorting through the collection of Harold Bailey Jr., of Henderson. Bailey died Dec. 30 of pulmonary disease at age 81.

Along with stacks of opera-related books, movies, magazines and personal notes, the group estimates the estate to include 1,000 vocal scores, 2,500 compact discs and 5,000 vinyl records. The material fills every closet, corner and dozens of bookshelves in Bailey's home.

Derrith Bondurant, the opera company's general director, told the Longview News-Journal for its Friday edition that it could take a year to catalogue the collection and appraise its value.

“It's priceless to me, though, because this was his entire estate _ his lifelong love and passion,” Bondurant said.

Bailey retired from his job as a computer analyst for Sinclair Oil in 1984.

Jimmy Bell, a friend of Bailey, said Bailey was a recluse who spent his life collecting everything he could find related to opera.

“While other kids were saving money to buy candy, he was buying opera scores and LPs,” Bell said.

After retiring, Bailey enjoyed sitting in a recliner with a stopwatch and a pitch pipe to critique performances. He wanted to give Opera East Texas a boost with the donation, Bell said.

Mark Johnson, a professor of music at the University of Texas at Tyler, said the collection will be a valuable resource for local students and music professionals.

“It's one of the most significant and important collections that I've ever seen,” Johnson said.

Bondurant said the opera company is looking for a place to store the material and hopes to create a permanent home in the form of a Bailey memorial library and museum.