The Royal College of Music is one of the world's great conservatoires, training gifted musicians from around the world for careers as performers, conductors, composers and teachers. Since its foundation in 1882, it has developed an unrivalled collection of manuscripts, instruments, portraits, programmes and archives which are used to support and add breadth to the students' studies. This collection is now open to an ever-growing general public.This latest title in the Director's Choice series presents a selection from the College's treasures, giving an insight into their history and their place in the work of this busy conservatoire. These include world-famous items such as a Mozart manuscript and Thomas Hardy's portrait of Haydn, and less well-known items such as opera set designs and Elgar's foray into map design.