Rare original photograph of Nijinsky in Fokine's "Le Spectre de la rose," boldly signed and inscribed in black ink "Souvenir de / Waslaw Nijinsky / A Monsieur Rector 1916." Stamps on the verso ("Warslav Nijinsky," "Serge de Diaghileff's Ballet Russe," "The Metropolitan Ballet Co., Inc. Metropolitan Opera House New York"), lightly trimmed along the the lower edge, with small tears to the right blank edge, one repaired from verso with tape, light stains and surface creases throughout, but overall a fine signed example of an iconic image, uncredited on the present example but taken by Auguste Bert of Paris in 1911. 14.5 x 20 cm. Read More...
Small original photograph of the great dancer, by photographer Tom Murphy. Nureyev is shown seated in a white shirt in a quiet backstage moment. Very fine. 3.5 x 5 inches (8.9 x 12.8 cm).
Original photograph of the important dancer, who is shown in profile looking up and to the right. Stamped on the verso by photographer Dominic of London. Some light edge wear; overall fine. 7.75 x 9.5 inches (19.5 x 24 cm).
Signed program from the Spanish soprano, known as an exponent of Verdi and the bel canto repertoire. She has signed boldly on the cover of the program for a solo recital, given with Nina Walker on January 30, 1977 at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. 14 pp. Some light edge wear; overall fine. 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17.1 x 23.5 cm).
Original Piccagliani portrait photograph of La Divina in Bellini's Il Pirata. Stamped by the photographer on the verso. Light wear to the edges; overall in fine condition. 6.75 x 9.5 inches (16.9 x 24 cm).
Attractive promotional photograph of the legendary diva, taken from the cover of the 1997 book Giovane Callas ("Young Callas") by Bruno Tosi. Photograph on cardstock. Very fine. 9.75 x 13.75 inches (25 x 35 cm).
Vintage promotional photograph of La Divina in an elegant flower-patterned dress and headpiece. Stamped on the verso: "S. Hurok presents Maria Callas." Fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.2 x 25.8 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in a glossy portrait by Christian Steiner for Angel Records, and has signed in black marker at the foot, dating 1974. Two slight diagonal creases; overall fine. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.8 x 17.6 cm). Together with an earlier clipping on Callas' concert reading of Il Pirata at Carnegie Hall.
Typed document (1 p.) signed by the great Russian bass, regarding a contract to sing Don Basilio in Barbiere di Siviglia at La Scala on April 4, [1930]. March 31, 1930. Chaliapin has signed at the foot. Hole punches, small loss to the right edge; overall very good. 8.25 x 11 inches (21 x 28.2 cm).
1960 program from a performance of bass Boris Christoff with the Symphony of the Air and Julius Rudel at Carnegie Hall. The concert took place on January 31, 1960 and included arias by Gluck, Mozart, Verdi, Mussorgsky, and Prokofiev. Booklet 23 pp., together with a single-sheet program. Fine. 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18.5 x 24.8 cm).
Signed LP box set of the complete Mussorgsky songs, recorded by the great Bulgarian basso. Christoff has signed and inscribed on the title page of the booklet: "To Ira, very sincerely, Boris Christoff. New York 1960." The set includes 4 LPs (Angel Records 35602–5) and an 84 pp. booklet containing notes, Russian texts to the songs with translations in English, French and Italian, and illustrations, enclosed in a handsome red cloth box. Ownership signatures to the booklet, box and records. Part of booklet split away at binding; otherwise overall very fine. 12.5 inches (32 cm) square. Read More...
Signed postcard photograph of the Spanish soprano known for her roles in La Boheme, Manon and Madama Butterfly, and as a specialist in French and Spanish art song. She is shown in her role as Butterfly and has signed and inscribed boldly at the foot of the image; another hand has dated 1952 at the lower left. Together with an original recital program from De Los Angeles' performance with Graham Johnson at the Royal Opera House on October 16, 1977. In very fine condition. Photograph 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm), program 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17.2 x 23.5 cm).
Signed photograph of the Italian coloratura, known as one of the most popular opera singers of the 20th century. She is shown in a clipped halftone photograph as Rosina in The Barber of Seville, taken "on the night of her farewell performance in the Metropolitan Opera" [in 1930]. She has signed twice, once across the image with poor contrast, and again at the foot. Light toning and corner wear; overall fine. 5 x 7 inches (12.5 x 18 cm).
Original color photograph of the noted Turkish bel canto soprano, inscribed and signed on the verso to pianist Nikita Magaloff and his wife Irene. Gencer is shown in a fur hat and coat in front of a mirror, and has penned on the verso (translated from the Italian): "Christmas '83 / Dearest Irene and Nikita, Here is the photograph that the Maestro liked. All the best for Christmas and the New Year, also from Ibr. / Leyla." Small piece of mounting tape on verso, otherwise very fine. 7 x 5 inches (18.3 x 12.7 cm). Read More...
A unique, obsessively crafted album page with 49 identical original miniature photographs of the great Italian tenor, each individually mounted and surrounded by four "Beniamino" captions. An amusing and quite striking item which must have been made by Gigli's biggest fan! 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19.4 x 24.1 cm), mounted to 8.5 x 10 inches (21.5 x 25.3 cm). Read More...
Four original postcard photographs of the great Moravian soprano, star in Vienna and at the Metropolitan Opera, and creator of important roles in Strauss, Janacek, Korngold, Wolf-Ferrari, and Suppe. She is shown in three portraits in different costumes, as well as in a scene with two male co-stars in the Vienna Opera. Several notes in an unknown hand and one long message in German on the versos of the postcards, with one stamped and postmarked December 1, 1913. Some light wear to the edges, but overall in fine condition. Each 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 13.7 cm).
Original postcard photograph of the great Moravian soprano, star in Vienna and at the Metropolitan Opera, and creator of important roles in Strauss, Janacek, Korngold, Wolf-Ferrari, and Suppe. She is shown in an oval portrait stamped by Letzer of Vienna. Also copyright-stamped and stamped by the seller at the lower left. Mounting remnants to the corners and verso. Overall fine. 3.25 x 5.25 inches (8.4 x 13.2 cm).
Signed halftone photograph from the German soprano particularly known for her roles in Strauss, Wagner and Beethoven. She is shown in her role of the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier in a clipped photograph and has signed boldly at the foot. Slight toning and uneven edges; else fine. 4.5 x 5.75 inches (11.7 x 14.7 cm).
Signed photograph postcard of the important Swedish Wagnerian soprano as the Mona Lisa, holding an armful of flowers and with the requisite enigmatic smile. Ljunberg starred in the opera by Max von Schillings at the Staatsoper Berlin. She has boldly signed and inscribed the postcard across the image and dated 1931. In very fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 13.8 cm).
Signed halftone photograph of the great Italian tenor, regarded at the Met as Caruso's successor in dramatic roles. He is shown in a clipped halftone photograph and has signed boldly at the left, dating January, 1937. In fine condition. 5.25 x 6.5 inches (13.4 x 16.2 cm).