That the autograph manuscript of THE SAPPHIRE NECKLACE existed as late as the summer of 1880 is evidenced by the fact that Sullivan bought the manuscript score and performance rights back from the publisher Metzler having previously sold them to that firm in 1868. What happened after that is not known, although it is quite possible that Sullivan used much of the music in later works including the ballet VICTORIA AND MERRIE ENGLAND.
Chorley's libretto has, it seems, not survived, but judging from other work that is available to us such as THE MASQUE AT KENILWORTH (music by Sullivan), the libretto was probably impossibly weak. As KENILWORTH was first performed in September 1864, (and as Sullivan is known to have started composing THE SAPPHIRE NECKLACE as early as 1862), it has to be wondered if in fact KENILWORTH was an act from the NECKLACE that had been extracted to fulfil a commission from the Birmingham Festival.
Whatever the truth, THE SAPPHIRE NECKLACE remains shrouded in mystery. Only the Overture and two of the numbers (Recitative and Prayer "Then come not yet", and the aria "Over the roof") were ever performed, and of these, the Overture was published in an arrangement for wind band, whilst the vocal score of the soprano aria "Over the roof" and a madrigal "When love and beauty" were printed by Cramer and Novello respectively.
For the vocal score of "Over the roof" - click here.
To hear "Over the roof" sung by Penny Daw at the Sullivan Society Festival in 1999 - click here