Enormous presentation three-quarter Russian bust portrait, in medallion, of the legendary dramatic tenor, personally signed and inscribed to his daughter Margherita, "for my beloved daughter Margherita, Francesco Tamagno, 1 June, 1891." In fine condition with highlighting and hand-coloring in paint by the photographer. Set under Tru Vue conservation glass in gilt wood frame. 20.75"H x 16"W; framed 30.25"H x 25.5"W. Read More...
ALS of the singer and composer to an unidentified female. Dated "Monday night." 1 p. Bifolium with embossed initials "PV." "Dear Madam, you already know, I presume, that long ago I have given up singing at special soirées, except in the homes of a few friends. Be very kind when presenting my regrets to Madame la Duchesse de Maillé by thanking her for thinking of me." In very fine condition. 6.5 x 4 inches (16.5 x 10.5 cm). Read More...
Autograph letter from the Hungarian-born composer, one of the most important musical figures in late 19th and early 20th century Vienna, to the music publisher Ernst Wilhelm Fritzsch (1840–1902). Dated Gmunden, Austria, October 2, 1875. 3 pp. of a bifolium. In German. Goldmark offers the publisher two Lieder: "You can use them for [publishing] or for 'domestic music making' [i.e. leaving them unpublished]. In the latter case, I am asking not to assign an opus number to them because I might want to include them in some later collection." 6 x 4 inches (15 x 9.8 cm). Horizontal and vertical folding creases but otherwise in fine condition. Read More...
Sixteen rare postcards, each depicting one class or venue of the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, France, with their professors or leaders named and identified, ca. 1925. The students are not identified. Printed by Ménard, Fontainebleau. Each card in oblong format, 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 13.8 cm). In fine condition. Read More...
114.
[Instrumentalists]
Schweitzer, Albert. (1875–1965). "...that you will regret one day to have deferred its publication" – Autograph letter and secretarial letter, both signed
Two letters of the Alsatian physician, theologian, philosopher, organist and musicologist to G. Schirmer, Music Publishers, New York. Read More...
An interesting set of two typed letters signed by the composer addressed to the Dutch musicologist Salomon Andrianan Maria [S.A.M.] Bottenheim (1880 - 1957), general secretary of the Nederlandsche Koorvereniging, and secretary of the conductor Willem Mengelberg at the Concertgebouw. The letters are concerning, explicitly or by context, the premiere of Stravinsky's Violin Concerto, which was first promised to the Concertgebouw but finally premiered in Berlin. In the first (1 page. Letterhead of 167. Boulevard Carnot, Nice. May 5, 1930; 8vo. on thin paper, two hole punches to left edge, folds, overall fine), Stravinsky complains of a lack of response from Bottenheim and asks him "Why do you force me to provide you with heads of Pasteur? [the French postage stamp with portrait of Louis Pasteur] Do you collect them?...if you decide to respond to me, I ask you to please write to me at Pleyel in Paris, where I am traveling tomorrow. In so waiting, please receive, dear Mr. Bottenheim, my friendly regards, even if you absolutely don't deserve them." In the second letter (1 page. Letterhead of 167. Boulevard Carnot, Nice. December 27, 1930; 8vo. on thin paper, marked "copy" in ink by Stravinsky who also adds the address of the Lotti-hotel, two hole punches to left edge, small tears and separations around edges, else fine), the composer advises Bottenheim of his unanswered telegram of one week earlier reporting that the Violin Concerto premiere had already been fixed in Berlin but that he wished to maintain the planned concerts in Holland and expresses his concern that perhaps the lack of a reply indicated that he had not received the telegram. He concludes by stating that it is "of capital importance for me to confirm that his engagements in Holland will be maintained" so that he can fix the date for the premiere in Berlin. He "waits impatiently for your answer and hopes that you will not put me, with prolonged incertitude by your silence, in a most disagreeable situation." Each letter approx. 27.4 x 21.4 cm. Provenance: Pierre Boulez Collection. Read More...
ALS from the Paris-based pianist and composer to the music publisher Eugene Troupenas (1799-1850) in Paris. London, August 1, 1848. 3 pp. Large bifolium, with address, postmark and wax seal to the fourth. Usual folds, a few small stains and tiny hole or tears, overall fine. Translated from the French, in part: Read More...