An important grouping of four letters from the German composer and self-described anti-modernist, dated 1932 - 1940 and addressed to various figures at the Munich National Theater concerning the production of his operas. The first letter of minor content, the following three - culminating with an impassioned letter to conductor Clemens Krauss - are important letters, concerning some of his most enduring works and showing Pfitzner struggling to navigate the cultural landscape of the period and stay true to his artistic visions. Much has been written about Pfitzner's complex relationship with National Socialism (see Hans Peter Vogel and Michael Kater, in particular) and these letters - one signed "Heil Hitler!" and one griping about "the Jewish press," are highly interesting documents from a key period in the composer's life and work. Read More...
Show all available items in this catalogue matching:TLSOpera
Rare vintage press photograph of the actor/photographer/director leaning on the conductor's podium of Herbert Windt, who supplied the music for Riefenstahl's 1938 Nazi propaganda film "Olympia" documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics. 7 x 9 inches, upper left corner perished. Stamped 3-3-1938 on the verso.
163. Strauss, Richard. (1864–1949). München, ein Gelegenheitswalzer, AV or Op 125, TrV. 274. - Important Presentation Copy
[1937]. 20pp, a facsimile photostat of the original unpublished score made for a Nazi propaganda film about Munich, which was, ironically, suppressed by the Nazis (and only available in this form). One of ten copies that Strauss had made, this one was given to Willi Schuh (1900 - 1986), his biographer. In ink, Strauss has written "Facsimile" on the bottom left of the first page and signed it "All Rechte vorbehalten, Richard Strauss." [All rights reserved, Richard Strauss.] In very fine condition. Read More...
Typed letter, signed "Tietjen" in black ink. Addressed to Herrn Intendanten Professor Clemens Krauss, on letterhead of the "The General Manager and Artistic Director of the Prussian State Theater." Berlin C2, May 12, 1938. Usual folds, in fine condition. Translated in full: Read More...
Six autograph letters, 1939-41, from the Italian-German composer and teacher best known for his operas "Sly," "Il segreto di Susanna" (1909) and those based on plays by Goldoni, including "Le donne curiose" (1903), "I quatro rusteghi" (1906) and "Il campiello"(1936). He was professor of composition at the Mozarteum in Salzburg from 1939 - 1946, a post to which he was appointed personally by Adolf Hitler after the annexation of Austria and the Mozarteum becoming an institution of the Reich. Though Wolf-Ferrari was supported by Goebels and Hitler, he was, by most accounts, essentially a non-ideological figure whose crime was in not publicly taking a position against the evilness of the National-Socialist system. Just before his death, he confessed to his student Lualdi in Venice that for him… “It was a great humiliation to have lived in these times.” Read More...
Düsseldorf: Völkischer Verlag G.m.b.H. 1938. First edition. Octavo. 5-30pp., incomplete. Lacking title-page, pages 3, 4, 31, 32 and rear wrapper. Original illustrated stapled front wrapper. Text in German, gothic script. Front wrapper almost detached with slight creasing. Last page detached but present, that leaf creased with minor chipping on edges. Pages on bottom corner slightly creased throughout, otherwise leaves in very good condition. Even in the present condition, very rare. OCLC 20101201 recording 4 copies only, all in Germany. Read More...
Signed original postcard photograph of the great pianist. An attractive image of Ney at the piano in concert, boldly signed on the image and again in the blank margin. Approx. 9 x 13 cm and in fine condition. Read More...
An original vintage sepia postcard photograph of the celebrated dancer in "Scheherazade." Photograph by Bert, Paris. Published by Verlag Herm. Leiser: Berlin., ca. 1907. 8.5 x 13.5 cm. Significant horizontal crease, some pin holes at top and lower edges, otherwise fine.
The ballet, with choreography by Fokine, libretto and designs by Benois, and music by N. Tcherepnin, premiered 25 Nov. 1907 at the Maryinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, with Pavlova, Gerdt, and Nijinsky.
Highly unusual marionette head of the great dancer, originally crafted in the 1960s for an unrealized marionette performance of "Le Spectre de la Rose." Paper-maché, painted in oils, 5.25 x 4 inches.
Original drypoint on fine Chine paper, signed by the artist, lower left in pencil. Margins wavy, upper left corner (well outside plate) perished. 12 x 9.5 inches, with large full margins. Read More...
Extraordinary original 10 x 8 inch Louis Mélançon photograph of four of the greatest of all sopranos, boldly signed by each in silver, black or blue ink. In very fine condition.
Mayence: Chez les fils de B. Schott. [1851]. First edition, first issue. 37pp, upright folio. [PN]11369. In cloth binding. Very fine.
The Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7, was composed in 1826 but not published until after the violinist's death. Notable for its melodic style, the Concerto includes the famous third movement nicknamed "La Campanella."
Fine bronze portrait medal of the legendary violinist, issued in the city of his birth in commemoration of the centenary of his death. Recto features a strongly raised detailed bust portrait facing right. The Verso with the text: "A / NICCOLO' PAGANINI / IL COMUNE DI GENOVA / NEL / PRIMO CENTENARIO / DELLA MORTE / MCCMXL - MCMXL." 30 mm. In very fine condition.
Paris: Castel. 1865. First edition. Rare pamphlet biography, issued with a laid-in original albumen photograph pasted to the first endpaper. 36 pp. 19 cm. This copy from the library of French poet, novelist and dramatist, Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926), who also supplied the libretti or bases to works by Massenet, Georges, Erlanger and Chabrier.
Show all available items in this catalogue matching:EphemeraOpera
Superb quotation from the great soprano. On her "Craig Y Nos Castle" letterhead, she has written: "A beautiful voice is the gift of God. - Adelina Patti Sederstrom / 1907."
Magnificent signed doubleweight Endrey of Paris photograph of the great French chanteuse. A haunting image of Piaf, signed and inscribed in blue fountain pen ink in French to the widow of her great love, the boxer Marcel Cerdan: "Pour Marinette / Souvenir sympathique d'un tas de souvenirs / Edith Piaf." Some wear at edges/corners, none affecting signature or inscription, and otherwise fine. 20 x 25 cm. A truly remarkable association. Read More...
Original telegram from Piaf to her secretary Mme. Fauo, asking her to phone Jean Cocteau to tell him that she is planning to peform "Le Bel Indifferent" in Paris in October but that if he feels it won't be a bother to do it before, she consents. 1 page, Stockholm, 1947.
Cocteau's famous "Le Bel Indifferent," about an older woman and her younger, indifferent lover, was originally written for Edith Piaf and first performed in 1940.
Show all available items in this catalogue matching:BookSong
Original photograph of the Piaf receiving a kiss from an unidentified man, with Colette looking on. French photographer stamp (AGIP / Robert Cogen) on verso, ca. 1950. 18.3 x 13.2 cm. Fine.
Unusual 10 x 8 inch glossy photograph of the glamorous coloratura soprano and her husband, the celebrated American "Pops" conductor. Boldly signed by both in blue ink and in very fine condition.