Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for La Sonnambula at La Scala in 1955. She has signed and inscribed across the image. Photographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and copyright-stamped on the verso. Mounting remnants to the verso; overall very fine. 3.75 x 5.5 inches (9.5 x 13.8 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for La Sonnambula at La Scala. Photographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and captioned at the foot, dated 1956–1957. Very fine. 4 x 5.75 inches (10.5 x 14.8 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for the 1958 Dallas Opera production of La Traviata and has signed and inscribed across the foot of the image, dating 1969. Photograph with some light surface wear; biographical notes to the verso in another hand; some light mounting remnants to verso; overall fine. 4.25 x 5.75 inches (10.6 x 14.7 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for the La Scala production of La Traviata. Photographed by E. Piccagiani for La Scala and copyright-stamped to the verso. Poor contrast to signature; mounting remnants to verso; overall fine. 3.75 x 5.5 inches (9.5 x 13.8 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for the 1953–1954 run of Medea at La Scala and has signed across the image, dating 1960. Photographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and stamped on the verso. Mounting remnants to verso; one fingerprint; overall very fine. 3.75 x 5.5 inches (9.5 x 13.6 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for Donizetti's Poliuto at La Scala in 1960. Photographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and copyright-stamped on the verso. Mounting remnants to the verso; slightly poor contrast to beginning of signature; overall fine. 3.75 x 5.25 inches (9.3 x 13.5 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for Donizetti's Poliuto at La Scala in 1960. Callas has inscribed, signed, and dated 1961 at the foot of the image. Photographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and copyright-stamped on the verso. Mounting remnants to the verso; rather poor contrast to signature and parts of inscription; overall fine. 4 x 5.75 inches (10.5 x 14.6 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in costume for Un Ballo in Maschera at La Scala in 1957. SPhotographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and copyright-stamped to the verso. Mounting remnants to verso; overall fine. 3.75 x 5.5 inches (9.5 x 13.8 cm).
Signed photograph of the legendary diva, who is shown in a relaxed portrait, laughing in a white jacket and pearls. Photographed by E. Piccagliani for La Scala and copyright-stamped on the verso. Mounting remnants to the verso; overall fine. 3.75 x 5.25 inches (9.4 x 13.5 cm).
An interesting late-19th-century sammelband of vocal exercises and treatises on the voice, including parts I and II of Manuel Garcia's seminal treatise l'Art du Chant in French and German, as well as volumes of vocalizes by Italian composer and pedagogue Nicola Vaccai, Italian voice teacher Giuseppe Concone, and the little-known author Anna Ballard. Hardcover, bound in half leather, with leather ownership label of Helen M. Lough to the front board. Spine and edges rubbed; some internal toning and foxing; binding tight and overall very good. 10.5 x 14 inches. Read More...
Autograph letter signed from the important Italian opera singer known for his powerful and agile voice and acting skills, to Italian composer Ferdinando Paer. Lille, May 12, 1832; 1 p. of a bifolium. Translated from the Italian: "My dear Maestro, many coincidences did not permit me to see you before my departure, to express my sentiments of gratitude. But please believe that I am utterly aware of this duty, and I will find a way to make up for this involuntary failing. Receive my most hearty thanks, and believe me your most humble servant. Farewell, L. Lablache." Addressed to Paer on the verso. Folding creases; some light edge wear; overall fine. 8 x 10.25 inches (20.9 x 26.2 cm).
1945: Boosey & Hawkes. 1945. Signed book by the superlative German soprano, creator of several Strauss roles and a rare singer equally at ease in roles from Puccini, Beethoven, Wagner, as well as song repertoire. 8vo, publisher's brown cloth lettered in gilt. Inscribed and signed on the front free endpage.
Signed program from an April 1960 performance of Verdi's Aida at La Scala. Soprano Birgit Nilsson has signed over the cast listing and conductor Nino Sanzogno, mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato, and bass Nicolai Ghiaurov have signed next to their photographs on internal pages. Program includes plates of costume and set designs. In fine condition. 6.75 x 9.5 inches (17 x 24 cm).
134.
[Opera]
[Opera]. Collection of Signed Wiener Staatsoper Programs, 1960–1961
An impressive collection of signed and programs from the 1960–1961 season of the Wiener Staatsoper. Included are programs from Così fan tutte, signed by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; Turandot, signed by Leontyne Price and conductor Francesco Molinari-Pradelli; Don Giovanni, signed by Karl Böhm, Rudolf Jedlicka, Teresa Stich-Randall, Erich Kunz, Luigi Alva, and Emmy Loose; Die Walküre, signed by Birgit Nilsson and Regine Crespin; Don Giovanni, signed by Eberhard Wächter; Der Rosenkavalier, signed by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; La Bohème, signed by Geraint Evans, Graziella Sciuti, and Hilde Güden; Othello, signed by James McCracken, Aldo Protti, and conductor Alberto Erede; Die Macht des Schicksals (La Fotza del destino), signed by James McCracken and Aldo Protti; Arabella, signed by Lisa Della Casa; André Chénier, signed by Francesco Molinari-Pradelli; Zauberflöte, signed by Heinrich Hollreiser[?]; Don Carlos, signed by James McCracken and Nello Santi; Die Entführung aus dem Serail, signed by Lovro von Matačić, Kurt Böhme, and Murray Dickie; Die Hochzeit des Figaro, signed by Erika Köth and Benno Kusche; Elektra, signed by Jean Madeira, Christl Goltz, and Max Lorenz; Fidelio, signed by Andre Cluytens, Gré Brouwenstijn, and Wolfgang Windgassen; Othello, signed by Aldo Protti and Sena Jurinac; La Traviata, signed by Phillis Curtin and Giuseppe di Stefano; Ein Maskenball (Un ballo in maschera), signed by Giuseppe di Stefano, Antoinetta Stella and Rita Streich; Tosca, signed by Nello Santi and Franco Corelli; André Chénier, signed by Ettore Bastianini, Antoinetta Stella, Lovro von Matačić, and Carlo Bergonzi; Das Rheingold, signed by Rita Gorr and one other; and unsigned programs from Madame Butterfly, Aïda, and Die Macht des Schicksals. Read More...
135.
[Opera]
[Opera]. Group of Signed Program Pages
Collection of signed programs and program pages from opera performances of the 1970's–1990's. Included are programs or program pages from: Verdi's I Due Foscari (October 20, 1981 with the Opera Orchestra of New York), signed by Carlo Bergonzi, Renato Bruson, Donnie Ray Albert, and Michael Crouse; a July 6, 1990 concert at Tanglewood, signed by Dawn Upshaw; Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (November 7, 1975 at the Metropolitan Opera), signed by Teresa Kubiak; Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda (October 27, 1988 at Carnegie Hall), signed by June Anderson; Verdi's Rigoletto (November 4, 1977 at the Metropolitan Opera), signed by Cornell MacNeill [?] and Ileana Cotrubas; Smetana's Libuše (March 13, 1986 with the Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall), signed by Gabriela Beňačková-Čápová [?]; Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra (at the Spoleto Festival of 1983), signed by Esther Hinds and Jeffrey Wells; Britten's The Turn of the Screw (April 30, 1978 at the New York City Opera) with an unidentified signature, possibly Eileen Schauler. Overall fine. 5.5 x 9 inches (14 x 22.5 cm).
Two autograph notes signed (n.d.) from the important British tenor to Betty Randolph Bean, director of Boosey & Hawkes in New York, one sending a copy of a letter from John Parker Murdock inviting Pears to a performance of War Requiem (November 12, 1982), and one inviting her for a visit in Aldeburgh and mentioning: "Ben improves slowly." Overall fine; first letter stapled together with the copied letter and original envelope. 6 x 8.25 inches (15 x 21 cm) and 3.25 x 5 inches (8.3 x 12.7 cm).
Three opera scores by Puccini, from the collection of the American composer David Diamond, and each with his blind stamp to the title page. Included are the piano reduction scores to Gianni Schicchi (Milan: G. Ricordi, 1944; 180 pp.; dated Rome, January 1952 on the rear endpaper); La Fanciulla del West (Milan: G. Ricordi, 1944; 338 pp.; dated Rome, February 1952 on the rear endpaper; with a clipping laid in); and Suor Angelica (Milan: G. Ricordi, 1944; 96 pp.). All hardcover, red cloth boards with gilt lettering. Somewhat faded, overall fine. Each 8 x 10.5 inches (20.5 x 27 cm). Read More...
Postcard photograph of tenor Giovanni Martinelli and soprano Tina Poli-Randaccio in Puccini's Fanciulla del West, ca. 1910. The postcard has been signed by an unidentified relative of Puccini at the foot. Addressed and postmarked with a note in German on the verso. Together with a clipped color portrait of Puccini. Postcard rather silvered but otherwise fine. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (14 x 9 cm).
Striking vintage photograph of the beloved Brazilian opera star holding both her hands palms-out towards the camera. A typed caption on the verso gives a palm reading, indicating that the singer has "a well developed intuitive sense" and "a continual desire to push forward to greater goals." Photograph by Mrs. Pat Terry. Stamps and notes to the verso; some light scratches to the image and ink strike-throughs at the lower right. 10 x 8 inches (25.7 x 20.3 cm).
Large lithograph portrait of the great soprano in her role as Cendrillon, ca. 1822. Engraved by F. Villain after Nicolas-Eustache Maurin and published by Gihaut Frères, Paris. 12.25 x 16 inches (31 x 41 cm), laid down to a slightly larger cardboard mount and sold together with a hand-colored period blue and gold window mat. Foxing to the engraving; edge wear to the mat and some light toning. Overall very good. Read More...