Original signed photograph of the important conductor, the first to conduct Bruckner's 7th Symphony and to record Beethoven's complete 5th Symphony. Nikisch has boldly signed and inscribed to the pianist and conductor Sigmund Herzog. Mounting remnants on the verso; otherwise in very fine condition. 5 x 8 inches (12.6 x 20.2 cm). Read More...
186.
[Conductors]
Reiner, Fritz. (1888-1963). Signed Photograph inscribed with an AMQS from Götterdämmerung
Striking original photograph of the legendary conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, boldly inscribed to Wilford Gunn, clarinetist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Reiner has penned three bars of a theme in bass clef, marked piano, "sehr weich," which we have identified as the clarinet solo from Act I, Scene IV of Wagner's Götterdämmerung. Reiner has signed below and dated at the lower left: January, 1933. Signed during the period after his leadership of the Cincinnati Orchestra but before he took over in Pittsburgh, and shortly after beginning to teach at the Curtis Institute. Signed at the lower right in white ink by the photographer, Nickolas Boris. Despite one crease at the left edge, this is the finest signed photograph of Reiner we have seen. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25.1 cm).
Autograph signature from the English conductor, organist and composer widely regarded as Britain's leading conductor of choral works. He has signed on one of his own visiting cards; another hand has dated 1937. Light toning and mounting remnants on the verso; overall in fine condition. 4.5 x 3.5 inches (11.5 x 9 cm).
Large original photograph of the great Maestro. Signed and inscribed on the lower mount and dated 1928. Signed additionally on the mount by the photograph, R. Paganini of Milano. Scratch to the photograph at right, mount toned, else fine. 14 x 10 inches (26 x 26 cm).
Original invitation to a 1956 RCA dinner honoring David Sarnoff, hand-addressed to the great Italian conductor. Together with a telegram dated September 13, 1956 from Toscanini to Sarnoff, sending his regrets and best wishes. "Am deeply sorry that I cannot be with all the other people... but you know that with all my heart I will be near you and I wish you many more years of activity in that industry which you have practically created and brought into splendid blossom." Read More...
A small collection of autograph signatures from six great Austrian and German conductors of the Wagnerian repertoire in the early twentieth century. Included are an autograph signature and a signed picture, dated July and August 1930, from Ernst Knoch; two signatures from Walter Damrosch, one clipped from a letter and the other on an envelope; and signatures from Felix Mottl (dated November 7, 1901), Artur Bodansky (dated March 1932), Frederick A. Stocky (dated December 9, 1936), and Fritz Stiedry (dated 1941), each on a small card. A few with light creasing and toning; overall in fine condition. Sizes ca. 4 x 1 inches to 5 x 3 inches.
An autograph note from the great conductor to the impresario and Columbia Artists manager André Mertens, thanking him for his telegram on Walter's 85th birthday. Translated from the German: "Dear Mr. Mertens, I'm sorry that I am so late in thanking you for your telegram of kind thoughts on my 85th birthday. But countless congratulations are still lying unanswered on my desk. I send you all my good wishes for your health and all the best. Yours, Bruno Walter." He dates: Beverly Hills, October 14, 1961. In blue ink on a small white card, in very fine condition. 5.75 x 5 inches (14.5 x 12.4 cm). Read More...
Original 8 x 10 photograph of the great conductor, inscribed to the impresario and Columbia Artists manager André Mertens "in friendship," signed, and dated New York, April 1960. Walter is shown studying a score with his baton in his hands, in a dramatically-lit image. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.7 x 25.4 cm). Read More...
Original signed photograph of the Italian baritone who made his career in the United States, shown in his role as Tonio in Pagliacci. Photographed by Mishkin of New York. Corners have been neatly diagonally trimmed; otherwise in fine condition. 7.5 x 9.5 inches (18.9 x 24.3 cm). Read More...
Postcard portrait of the great Italian tenor with a facsimile AMQS from his role as Chopin in the opera by Giacomo Orefice, and with an autograph signature in bold ink to the right of the image. Orefice's fancified version of the composer's life premiered at the Teatro Lirico, Milan, in 1901, and Bassi recorded excerpts from the opera ca. 1903-1905. The postcard is addressed on the verso to the Argentinian collector Ramona Imaz Otaño and postmarked April 14, 1904. In fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (9 x 14 cm). Read More...
195.
[Opera Singers]
Callas, Maria. (1923–1977). Signed "Medea" Photograph to a fellow "Demoniaca Medea"
Signed original Piccagliani photograph of Callas in the 1953-54 La Scala production of Medea. Boldly signed and inscribed in the lower blank margin “Ad Ada […] la “demoniaca” Medea con tanti auguri / Maria Meneghini Callas.” Small crease to lower left corner, otherwise in fine condition. 3.75 x 5.75 inches (9.5 x 14.5 cm).
A very striking original press photograph of the great tenor lying in state, with a young boy looking down into the coffin. Press caption on the verso reads (translated from the German): "In honor of Caruso's memory, his body, which was embalmed at the time of his death and is wonderfully preserved, is dressed every three years in the latest fashion. The ceremony, which is not widely known to the public, is carried out by his closest friends." 5.1 x 7.3 inches. Read More...
Rare signed postcard showing the Spanish operatic tenor, Golden age rival of Caruso and Bonci, who, in the course of his international career, earned a reputation as one of the most ‘difficult’ performers of his day. The postcard is signed and poetically inscribed in fountain pen in Spanish and signed “F. Constantino,” adding “Madrid 27-12-1904,” next to his image. Addressed on the verso to the Argentinian collector Ramona Imaz Otaño, with the original Spanish stamps and postmark. In fine condition. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (13.6 x 8.8 cm).
An extremely interesting unpublished 95-page autograph memoir of the important Polish tenor, closely associated with the French and Wagnerian operatic repertoires during the peak of his career at Covent Garden and the Met at the end of the nineteenth century, whose storied career included the creation of the title role of Massenet's Le Cid. He was the leading tenor at the MET before Caruso and opened an important voice school in Nice where he taught many great singers, including Bidu Sayao and Maggie Teyte to name but two. The memoir is written in several inks and pencil in a lined notebook, mostly in De Reszke's own hand and partly in the hand of his wife, the manuscript detailing the tenor's memories of his childhood, early musical experiences and training, and the first years of his career, leaving off around the year 1880. On the title page, a note of provenance in the hand of French actor Guy Ferrant explains that the manuscript was given to Ferrant to publish after Reszke's death. Accompanying the manuscript are several copies of six typewritten pages, apparently the beginning of an incomplete typed transcript of the manuscript. Read More...
A bold autograph from the supreme Norwegian soprano, signed across a program page from her September 7, 1957 concert of works of Grieg with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Malcolm Sargent. The concert, marking the 50th anniversary of Grieg's death, was part of the 63rd season of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. Left edge rough and one folding crease; overall in fine condition. 5.5 x 8.25 inches (13.6 x 20.9 cm).
Charming autograph note with whimsical signature from the German bass who settled in San Francisco in the late 19th century. Dated New York, March 19, 1883, the beautifully penned note reads: "Honored Madame, I thank you for your flattering wish to posses [sic] my autograph and I am most respectfully yours, [K]arl [F]ormes." Instead of the initial letters of his name, Formes has written a low "C" and a high "F" on a bass clef. On lined notepaper with an embossed stamp. Slight folding creases and mounting remnants on the verso; overall in fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.3 x 17.8 cm). Read More...
Autograph note from the legendary Golden Age soprano to the important French impresario, arranging to come to visit him that afternoon. Postmarked Paris, July 17, 1906. Perforated edges; folding creases; overall in very good condition. 9 x 5.25 inches (22.6 x 13.4 cm).
A lovely signed hand-colored photograph postcard of the Italian soprano who appeared in major roles of Puccini and Mascagni, and who was the mistress of Enrico Caruso (after her sister, Ada Giachetti, had been the mother of his children!) Giachetti has signed across the bottom of the image and dated Buenos Aires, May 15 [1905]. On the verso, the postcard is addressed to the Argentinian collector Ramona Imaz Otaño, with the original stamp and postmarks. In fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.7 x 13.8 cm).
Stupendous original signed Setzer of Vienna photograph of the great Moravian soprano, a star in Vienna and at the Metropolitan Opera, and the creator of important roles in Strauss, Janacek, Korngold, Wolf-Ferrari, and Suppe. She is shown in an elaborate costume and has boldly signed at the foot and dated 1931. Stamped on the verso by the photographer. In very fine condition. 6 x 8.75 inches (15 x 22.4 cm).
Signed postcard photograph of the renowned French-Spanish soprano in her role as Oscar in Un ballo in maschera. Boldly signed in purple ink along the right edge. In very fine condition. 3.5 x 5.25 inches (8.6 x 13.5 cm). Read More...